The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1822-07-30


The article is as follows
A PHENOMENON.-Prof Silman in his val
liable work. the American Journal OF Sciences and
Arts, introduces a communication with the following
Editorial remarks We have hesitaed as to the adj
mission Of this piece, because name may be always
reasonably required when extraordinary things
lated. On inquiry, however, find that the belief
stated 70 exist by our anonymous correspondent is
tuay entertained in the vicinity and therefore have
concluded to let the thing take its chance with the pub
lie, without in any way committing ourselves the
truth Of the opinion entertained"
The Editor then proceeds to publish an account
from his anonymous correspondent, Of certain SELF
MOVING ROCKS, found in the town of Salisbury
and state Of Connecticut Two ponds are in that town
united by canal, in Of which appears this phe-
nomenon. II is thus stated. September 1919 the
distance of the largest rock TO birch tree on
the shore, by admeasuTment, fifteen rods and thir-
ty-nine links. On the l3rn February 1921 the dis
lance of the same rock from the tree was by adj
measurement twelve rods and thirty-sevon and half
links. Subsracting therefore twelve thrtyscven from
fifteen thirty-aine. leaves three rods and two links
which this rock moved in less than eighteen months
II Is stated that the gentleman measured ii each
time with the same chain. He goes TO state, that
twelve years ago, the same rock moved but FIVE feet
year-its motion is therefore accelerated IT APP
proaches the shore lie has spoken particularly Of
this rock because tits the only one, whose exact pro-
gress has been ascertained All the stones however,
he states in this lake move cm the largest TO the
smallest, and leave track trench behind them Of
greater less magnitude in proportion 10 the size of
the stone-The largest rock weighing probably forty
fifty tons, has ploughed up tic sand gravel before
Il nearly above the surface, while on the other side
the water is three or four feet deep. We have been
thus particular from Justice 10 the author, and we
could not but be forcibly impressed with professor
Siiimans preliminary remarks in every stage Of the
inquiry, viz whether an account of phenomenon in
communicated for the press the Of the
writer should be given.
Our earth according 20 geoogists is undergoing
such strange mutations there many silent and
dormant energies in the physical world, evolving
impossib --o' seoo'ie - y '@J' "'a' :
But at least we have right to demand the name a
the witness who testihes the existence Of such ex
traordinary facrs. We win suppose that person
should make oath 10 such strange circumstances in
Of Justice and should refuse the surrender Of his
this would Of itself lead To suspicion and his
whole testimony, however consistent would be dis
credited Every who states facts for pub
lie investigation may be considered in the light of this
witness and he is much bound by the same rule 10
accompany bis statement by his name. if the life.
the liberty, the property of his neghbor was TO be
affected by the evidence.
According the BON ton philosophy Of our dav ev-
cry man is much bound furnish an explanation
as he is a phenor We have. in nine cases out
Of ten, will venture to say found a much greater
mystery the explanation than in the prodigy itself
Philosophical solutions have become mere mat
tiers ofcourse, and we poor vulgar wghts, doomed
to take such explanations with without evidence.
on trust We bound 10 make this sacrifice when
ever false and ongeared philosophy puts its hoof ia
mhary upon our lap, looks IN our face and brays out
an explanation. No. no, gentlemen. you are too hard
upon u.s. give the phenomena of nature & welcome
we will readily yield our assent with all humility
10 well attested facs-but in common human
ity. and common mercy, from your solutions; such
prodigies astonsh much than all the wonders
OF physical nature.
We have had an acquaintance with gentle
man Of much intelligence, and observation, who
lives in the interior of this county, in the neigh
borhood of several ponds. As he frequently trav-
elled over them in the winter and in the spring,
he had noticed several rocks, which ne believed
had approached the shore. Surprised at this
and suspecting he might have misremembered
he measured the distance ofseveral rocks on both
sides Of a pond from shore upon supposition that
possibly, one shore, might be gaining, and the
other losing by the shifting Of the waters.
And to satisfy himself whether this was oc-
casloned by alluvion, he ascertaned, also, the
distance from the rocks to certain trees. Having
made correct memoranda Of these admeasure-
ments, he repaired to the spot the next year, a
bout the same time, and found that the rocks, on
both sides of the pond. had actually moved tow
ards the shore many feet. 10 several successive
ttdlS,ht Iidtic ttC SAINT opSGfNdllOiS, heeprg n
record Of the annual advance ofthe rocks to the
shore. AS this phenomenon appeared on both
sides of the pond, from the observations, lie was
convinced that alluyion was not the cause, and
that the fact was certain. He had ascertain
eddy frequent observations at different seasons of
the year, that whatever might be the cause, the
effect was produced only in tie spring. Our in
telligcnt acquaintance was, for a long time,
puzzled TO account for so singular fact and
II was, If we recollect Alright, while he was med
ltating upon the subject, that he perceived
the ice had formed very convex surface upon
the Pond-the middle Of the pond being very
considerably higher than its level near the
shores. a short time after, when the pond was
breaking up, he noticed that the convex surface
was gradually sinking to a level. Ii instantly
occurred to him, that this must produce a pro-
digious pressure towards the shores, and that
tins was adequate to the effect, which had SO
much surprised him. Upon examination he as
certained that the rocks which protrnded them
selves above the surface of the pond had all adj
vanced towards the shore leaving deep traces of
their progress, while such as were below the ice
had remained stationary. This afforded 10 our
Trend satisfactory explanation. and we see no
reason for hesitation upon the subject, or for form
ing different opinion.