Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-07-24
LETTER FROM JAY EDD.

MoRAvIA, PA, July Is, 1874.
DEAR JOURNAL AT last am able to move
about perpenlicularly, and will endeavor to
contribute a mite that may be Of interest to the
readers of the JOURNAL. To-day | have been
rambling around over hills and hol0ws, ad-
miriag the beauties Of nature, and enjoying the |
cool breeze. have made few observations,
a description of which may not be without |
interest.
On the farm OF Squire Alsworh, one mile
west of this place, is natural curiosity, |
which, / suppose thousands have been to see,
but | have never seen it written up. 1t is uuth-
ing more or less than huge rock. But what
makes it curious, is that it is composed en-
tirely of moss, peirifed. The moss grows on
the rock little spring bubbles forth Just
above it and rickles down over Ind through it,
thereby causing petrfactiou. Moss may be
seen pelriied, semi-petriied, or in natural
state, all within the space of two feet square.
The rock is situated in the side Of deep ra-
vine. and is known here as " The Mineral
Rock" probably socalled because just bove II
is coal and limestone. aud few feet below it.
iron ore. II is about as large as village law
yer's Office and juts out over the chasm about
| six or seven feet. How far it extends back into
| the bill side is not known. notwithstanding
| the innumerable pieces broken of and carried
away by visitors, it continues to grow very
fast. An old inhabitsnt can remember when it
"werent more'n half as big" q send you a
sample by mail.) On the under side of it is a
smooth surface on which nothing grows.
Hundreds Of names, written with lead pencil,
can yet be seen, but time aud the water have
rendered many unreliable. The water from
the spring is clear as crystal, and no doubt
comes of the limestone rock. 1t is said to
possess wonderful curative power, especially
in Rheumatic diseases.
Immediately bove the spring stands a lord
iy bsech, the trunk, roots and branches of
which are literally covered with cut initials,
&C., some dating back as Tar as 1918
/ This rock is in the midst Of grand, romantic
and picturesque scenery. The ravine for Il
mile is very narrow, dark and winding some
parts Of it has never been penetrated by man.
Near to the Mineral Rock is a beautiful
evergreen grove of about au acre. The hem
lock trees are small and thickiy set, and the
branches are so interviewer that the rays Of the
sun never get through. This is favurile re-
sort for picnic parties from the cities, being St
close to the railroad. Two different parties
D assembled there on the 4th, one from Pitts
u burgh, the other from New Castle. The ollcer
s OF the Z. T. W. Il G. r. r. will visit it il
! August.
It The next object worthy Of note is tree
and thereby hangs tale" Sixty years ag'
a man named Robert Smith Ia brother of John
e was out hunting rabbits having no gun will
q him he carried small withered walking stc
V that had been cut from a water willow sePera
f months before. A hare started up with the d"I
l. and Robert in pursuit. In running, the can
- stuck in tue soft earth and Robert being in
, a great hurry, did not wait to pull it ou
Three days after, he went to look for his can
:, and found ii spronted. He Strengthened it u
II aud left it in the ground and to-day the trun
:" of that walking sti-k measures 7 #. 8 in.
circumference. 1t has been struck by ligh
s. ming at three different times, but still lives,
9. obtained the above facts from son Of Rot
=. srt Smith, who resides here.
- Politics in this country is no more. Poop
- talk of nothing but base ball and the come
~ The crops will be but fair. The continue
. dry weather has proved very injurious to a
le kinda of vegetation. Hay and oats will
worry short aud light the potatoe bugs VI
1t with us in countless millions, but farme
ce dosed them with paris green, and they ha
|. left. Some say they are now in New lol
ID holding convention. The rose bugs are ma
be ing sad havoc among the apples and grape
at Other fruit will he plenty. HorsethieSes ii
.o I" too numerous to mention" Greenbacks a
scarce. Hundreds of poor tramps pass dali
-, begging th,er bread. The panic has not beg,
to "let up" yet, and woe unto to the labo
~ ing man,if it lasts through another winle
"' I will not further iutrude on your space.
~ More anon, JAY EDD.