Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-04-03
DIsLoDGING TABLE ROCK.

OAoAoOu1Nd liable hOCA.
George Wilkes writes: :sI said had some
thing to do with the fall of Table Rock, that
broad shelf on the Canada side, which in 1866
looked over the very cauldron of the seethng
waters, but which tumbled into it on certain
day in the month or juno Of that, by me, well
remembered year. About noon on that day,
l accompanied lady from the Clifton House
to the Falls. Arriving at Table Rock, we
left our carriage, and as we approached the
projecting platform, pointed out to my COM :
panion a vast crack or fissure which traversed
the entire base of the rock, remarking that it
had never appeared to me before. The lady
| almost shuddered she looked at it, and
shrinking back, declared that she did not care
about going near the edge. ssAh," said l,
taking her hand, s'you might as well come on,
now that you are here. l hardly think the
rock will take notion to fall merely because
We are on it.''
ssThe platform jutted from the main land
some sixty feet; but to give the visitor still
more fearful projection over the raging wa
ters, wooden bridge, or staging, had been
! thrust beyond the extreme edge for some ten
| feet. This terminated in a small box for Wis
itors to stand IN, and was kept in its position,
| and enabled to bear its weight, by ponderous
load OF stone heaped upon its inner ends. The
day was very bright and hot, and it being al
most lunch time at the hotels, but very few
visitors were out so we occupied the dizzy
| the awful waters, We streached our heads til
mildly oyer the frightful depth below, and we
| felt ou.hatures quail in every fibre by the
deafening roar, that seemed to saturate us, as
| it were, with an indefinable dread.
s'This terrible place. said 1. "Look un-
der there, and see what a mere shell we
stand. For years and years the teeth of the
torrent, in that jetting, angry stream, have
been gnawing at that hollow, and some day
this plane must fall.''
"My companion shuddered, and drew her.
self together in alarm. Our eyes swept the
roaring circle of the waters once again; we
gaZed about in fearful fascination, when sud-
denly turning our looks upon each other,
each recognized corresponding fear. 81 do
not like this place!'' exclaimed l, quickly.
'sThe whole base of this rock is probably dis
integrated, and perhaps sits poised in a sue
cesSlon of steps or notches, ready to fall out
| and topple down at any unusual perturbation.
That fisure there seems TO me unusually large
to day. think we had better leave, for do
not fancy such finish; and, besides, my pa
per must be published next week.
s'With these very words-the latter uttered
jocosely, though not without alarni-seized
my companions hand, and, in absolute panic,
We fled as fast as our feet could carry us to-
wards what might be called the shore. We
first burst into laugh when we gained tho land,
and jumping into our carriage, felt actually as
If We had made fortunate escape. We roll
ed back toward the Clifton, but before we had
proceeded two minutes on our way, thund-
ering report, like the explosion of an earth
quake, burst upon us, and with roar the
ground trembled beneath our wheels. We
turned to find that the Table Rock had fallen.
We were the last upon it, and it was doubtless
the unusual perturbation caused by our flying
footsteps that disturbed the exactitude of its
equilibrium, and threw 1t from its final pose.
In a minute more the road was filled with
hurrying people, and during the following
half hour we were told hundred times i'm ad-
vance of the next morning journals, that lady
aud gentleman WHO were on the Table Rock
had gone down the falls. We are told that
the trot of a dog would shake old London
bridge from end to end, when it would not be
disturbed by the rolling wheels of heavy load
ed trains. Table Rock had not been run up
on in the way l have been describing for years
perhaps never and therefore, whenever |
hear it spoken Of, always shudder and feel as
If had something to do with its fall.''
A SKELETON SToRY.-There is very strange
story current in Kittaning just now, in which
it is related that a farmer named Hooks. resi-
ding in one of the adjacent townships, has be-
come suddenly rich through the discovery of
certain buried treasure, with the existence of
which he became acquainted in the following
singular manner. While digging a hole for
fence post one day. he struck upon hollow
substance. which he afterward discovered to
be the skull of human being. Being a ger
tleman of weak nerve, the sight at first appal- |
ed him, but resuming his labor he succeeded
in digging out the entire skull, beneath which |
he found brass kettle containing some beads
and other relics, and also small box, within
which he found paper on which were words |
written in the French language. This writing |
he afterwards took to Freeport, and had it |
translated by the Catholic priest then residing
there. 1t stated among other things that the |
deceased formerly resided at lie B9uf, In E. |
rie county, and that certain treasures of which |
he was possessed were buried at particular |
place in that locality. Shortly after this, Mr.. |
Hooks absented himself from his family, and |
was not heard of in the neighborhood for some |
time. However, one pleasant morning he re-
turned, enjoying the very best health, and has |
ever since been in the enjoyment of such |
quantities of money as TO lead his neghbors to |
infer that he availed himself of the informa-
tion conveyed by the mysterious writing. and
has become possessed of the wealth of the de-
funct Frenchman. The story is related by a
gentleman of undoubted veracty, who is ac-
qainted with Mr.. Hooks and his circumstan-
ces, and AYERS that the facts are substantially
true We have stated them.
The N. Orleans True Delta says that at an e.
lection for trustees in the town Of st. Martin
vile, on the Sd, all doubtful voters had, be-
fore depositing their ballots, to take the oath
of Being citizens of the United States.
An Irishman working on the canal lately
IL B. - 4