South Branch Intelligencer

PHENOMENON.-By a gentleman recently from Prince William county, Virginia, we have been informed of a remarkable occurrence which took place on the Neabsco tract, about four miles from Dumfries, on Monday night, during that heavy thunder storm, which, it will be recollected, overspread the whole heavens, and apparently visited every quarter of our country. The earth for several acres, which was previously firm and good suddenly (from its present appearance) sunk to the depth of about four feet, and cracked open in innumerable places throughout the whole mass, as if it had been blown by gunpowder.- The thunder and lightning there was awfully heavy and severe, accompanied by an abundant shower of hail which, however, was not so injurious to the grain as to the window glass. Numerous persons have visited the spot, but are totally unable to account for the remarkable phenomenon.- Some suppose it to have been produced by the shock of an earthquake, although the people residing in the neighbourhood experienced, or rather observed no sensation during the storm to justify such a conclusion; as from the continual glare of lightning, and heavy peals of thunder, with a combination of apprehension for their personal safety, they might have had a shock of an earthquake which they attributed to the effects of the raging storm.--Georgetown Metropolitan.