A MOVING BOG.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1111, 29 May 1883, Page 1

A MOVING BOG.

A correspondent of an Irish contemporary gives the following account of a physical phenomenon of a singular though not unprecedented kind at Castlerea, County Roscommon. Ha says—•“ Having heard many reports about this moving bog, 1 resolved to visit the scene of devastation. Never have I witnessed as strange a phenomenon. About midway between Castlerea and Ballinugare, a distance of six miles, there is a gentlysloping vale, abounding in rich meadow and pasture lands. The road at this point is somewhat higher than the adjacent fields. Along this valley the bog has forced its way. On reaching the road it was held in check for a considerable time, but eventually it burst across, and rushed with amazing rapidity, covering in its course upwards of 120 acres of fine pasture lands. One farm house stands quite surrounded with the mud, the occupants having had to flee for their lives, leaving behind a cart on which they were busily heaping some of their furniture. All communication between Castlerea and Ballinagare is cut off, huge masses of bog, coated with heather, remaining on the road for nearly a quarter of a mile, fully 10 feet deep. Being anxious to view the source from which it issued, I started up the field towards the bog. I found it commenced about half-a,mile from the road, having formed a large subsidence of amazing extent, from which a stream of mud was still irresistibly forcing its way. The gigantic masses of bog borne along, in apparently sporting mimicry, bafle de- ; ecription. 1 entered a cabin on skirts of the bog, which I was surprised to find clean and comfortable, despite its gloomy surroundings. The old man fold me that this bog has been showing signs of moving for many years back. He attributes the cause to defective drajgage, the water havingscarce'y any outlet; He stated that it started very suddenly, reaching the road nearly half a-mile distant in ten minutes. He sorrowfully pointed out to me, his fine little fields, on which he appeared to bestow much care, the most of them now covered with fully 26 feet of bog. It has now forced its way to the river Suck, which flows thrpjigh this town, and immense quantities are passing towards Ballinasloe.”