Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1851-05-24
'MisfeIIamfons.
The sspIit Rock, in the Pacific.

x The sSplit Rock, in the .Pacifics :
From 'Royings in the Paci6c'--A new Book,
The eIsland Of Rotumah was sort Of occa.
SIGNAL station for our author Near it was 4
IFemarkable object, called Split Rock
small island split in two by some convuIsion d
Nature, leaving passage through it. A visil
made to this place, IN company with Emery
who had lived for some years on a neighbor-
ing island to which he had givenqhis name. il
one of the most interesting passages in nsthe
'Rovings,' for the picture of wonderful nature
phenomena..as well as Of the power that man
can attain in feats Of agility. j.
'yVe steared for the south side Of the island
that we might paddle through the split AS
we neared, the weather was SO calm that
though no soundings could be obtained close
to the island. and the side were rounding
rose perpendicular from the water, the long
CLASSY unduIations of the ovean laved the
rocky base without creating ripple, We ap-
pronehed within an oars length Of this I'M
meHse rock; IFS grandeur imposed feelings ot
awe, and Icould scarce reconcile to my mind
that we were in safe position. However. j
left il to Emery, who was an Inexperienced hand
On gaining the passage, I felt still at my ease,
it is only sufficient width TO admit of ca
noe being padded through. and is about two
hundred feet in length. The two sides of the
cleft correspond exactvaand at about one
third from the summit of the opening a mas
sive block is firmly wedged; and, fFnm its ap-
pearance. I am confirmed in the opinion that,
in the convulsion that caused this singular
phenomenons as the fearful chasm was about
to close, the upper part Of the island tottered
from its centre and tumbled into the yawning
quit, where it got immovably ianned and
prevented closer union. leaving this passage a
memorial of the terrific convulsions that mnst
have troubled these seas, and reminding man
of the insignifcance of his works when COM
pared with the grand and mighty operations
of Nature. The water in the passage appear
ed of immeasurable depth; and the long
smooth rolling swell that swept through il
seemed like the convulsiohs of some monster
of the deep. We had only one native with us
who had beento the island before; and he de-
sired us TO turn face about, that we might
work the canoe through stern first, as theland-
ing place was on our larhoard hand, and the
7outrigger being on the larboard side Of the
canoe, we shonld get dashed to pieces unless
I'VE shifted L was somewhat startled, and,
being no swimmer, did not altogether relish
the Intelligence :but the inperturable cooIness
with whictold Emery setto work caused me
TO suppress any observation felt tempted to
make. On clearing The passage, prepared as I
was for an awkward landing place, was not
quite prepared for what saw.
TThe island is q wall Of rock shooting up
wards from four hundred to six hundred feet
high, and cnrving like horseshoe, the south
eastern termination of the curve being split
and riven into thousand pinnacles and rocky
needles. The passage we came through is
exactly in the centre of the crescent; but, in
stead of finding the sea placid in the hollow
rs it was outside. It was t6mbIng about, foan1-
ing and see:hiRg ike boiling chaldron. roar
ing and dashing up the rocks as if trying to
overlap the opposing barrier, and in IFS re-
treat forming such eddies that l momentaiilv
10 be shivered like the rocks around
us. The whole swell Eos the ocean sets into
this 'hollow,' md even if there is no breeze,
the contracting points Of the curve confine the
rolling bilIows, which in their recoil create this
dancing turmoil o,gH -a % gHs feea
5'ANelI was it for us that the natives from
Wea had padded into the hollow before US,
as they were accustomed 10 the island, and to
land on its steep and slippery sides. The way
they managed was admirable. They balanced
their canoes so close TO the precipitous rock
that the lashing surge broke just under their
hows and went roarine hundred feet above
them. Wondering what they were going to
do, we noticedatwo Of them plunge into the
crest of . gigantic roller, and when it had
spent itself and ! expected to see their man.
gIed remains swept back in its rushing retreat.
the men we're standing on the rocks high over
head, smiling and nodding to us. One of them
had long rope coiled round his waist, and he
threw the end oft down to us: Emery gave
it to me. and told me. when the next swell
hove us nearly on level with the men. to
leap with all my might towards them. NY
at this cool request was too great
for utterance, but somehow did as 1 was de-
sired. Watching the favorable moment, Il
gave spring, and the natives who held the
rope, seconding the impetus, ierkd me along
side Of them like fish outof water; Emery