Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-04-25

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The Memphis Aralanchr Of the oti tra>
walls with prodigious item which the as
founded writer proclains to be nothing less
than the greatest wonder Of the age,
eclipsipc the mnelstrom, the ocean tides the
Geysers. Natural Bridge and even Niagara
Falls. in fact eve-ything, the Asalanche it
self not excepted" After his startling ex,
osdium the chroniclcr thus divulges: This
wonder of wonder lies in and il possessed by
our sisler State Of Arkansas. Those who
are acquainted with the geology Of the
State know that il presents, in its physical
consormaticn. q greater variety. perhaps,
than any other State in or on, Il he federal
uui,n. Travelling in the western part Of The
State. the explorer or close observer will re.
mara that tho country beeoues h!ly, ord
often the forests and elades ere in,ssru pied
10 their wonted continuity by rolling prais-
les. Beyond and e.ill further west these
h;lls terminate in the Ozark mountains. -
In this vicinity our wonder lies.
Before entering into : descriptions Of the
"noviur msss al Sock !" and 10 relieve all
doubts hat nav arise upon tae subject, we
v,n ataae that our ipSsranation Is from y
prominent lawyer snd distinguished pctt'<
Fan of Tcrpessse, now residing IN tho CITY.
~ rec,jvsd the particulars d the matter
1row ! cosplc 81 young English nob'emsn,
one Of wbea q relative Of bis They
have visited the ias southwest IN search o.
scientific know':dge, WIN : view OF makS
ing report o. their travels ana exper.eoce
in these Wild and unsettled regions. Iher
letter. containing minute description Of
the moving mass OF rock, We could not
obtain, as u was sent with the request tha'
4 30 forwarded TO England. Southwe.t.
about hvc miles from the source Of tue 81.
Francis river, witch rises IN the ozark
mountains, and short distance from the
boundary line which separates Missouri
from Arkansas, 10 strip OF limestone OF
green stone. ranging from between one OF
wo miles in with. II - '"terspefsed mere
and there with piats OF land, IN many ca
ses over IN ecrs In length, peculiarly Scn
in soil, and making the strange And
perhaps hitherto unknown coniofma
ton Of the swampy and rocky soil
At the extreme northeast extremity OF thi'
rocky section the water tiom the Ss. Frencii
pours in, especially In the spring and fal
season, IN . heavy volume. The stream. foi
Il 10 nothing elae than stream, although
its current 10 swift beyond parallel, takes I
zigzag course through the rock, being par
ticuiarly swift at the above mentioned ex'
tremity. and again cmpties into the 81
Francis. AT this extremity Is solid mas
OF rugged and picturesque rock, almost ova
in shape, washed on oil aides by rspi'
current, and moves directly and seguarl,
back and forward; always In motion, On
creating deep aud heavy sound which ca
be heard for miles. AZ first ito motion
hardly perceptible to the ordinary vision
but % the sound lncreases aud the strang
eye rest mors directly and infinitely, III
object becomes palpable. On either side {
this immense movable substance. which. q
we have said before, is surrounded by
swift current. are here and there eddie
threatening instant destruction to every
thing coming within its yawning and awf,
reach. The mass Of rock 10 covered Wit
wild vegetation, which grows up thickly an
spontaaeously.
portion OF the rock lies directly unds
the base OF the mountains, and ns il is al
ways moving, IL washing the sides gradua
y away. Another strangc fact in this con
nection il, that the landscape thercabout
presents always . grayish hue. This ma
result from the color OF the sandston
mountains. We think, in all likelihood
that it does, but these gentlemen, VIII
have written upon the subject, seem to er
terrain different opinion. They attrlbu,
II to the dense mist always about the rocl