The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1877-01-19
From the Westminster Adcocate.
Rocks of Deer Creek. Hartford County, Md.

From the Westminster Adcocdte.
Rocks of Deer Creek. Hartford County, Md
Amid the hills of southern Pennsylvania
the little stream Of Deer Creek takes rist
in the form of a pure, bubbling spring
whose clear, bright waters gush out into
the sunlight as if they knew of the romance
that is to mark their future journey to the
Susqnehanna. Making its way among
hills ana meadows, receiving now and then
an addition to its threadike waters, Deel
Creek grows into brisk, busy str. am
measures the rich landscapes of Pennsyl
vania lying south of its source, and flows
across the dividing line of Mason and
Dixon into Maryland. The entire course
of this little stream is marked with scenery
of the most romantic description. not suf.
ticiently imposing to be called grand, MOI
so highly picturesque as those magic scenes
around which poets delight to throw the
glow of heavenly beauty but in every
respect pleasing, because its wildness
makes no attempt to awaken feelings OF
awe, but simply seems to soften and modify
such, into lively and pleasant admira-
ton.
AS the little stream threads its way
southwark, and reaches the romantic hills
of northern Hartford, the scenery gradually
assumes wilder aspect. Two ranges OF
lofty hills run parallel with the creek, some.
times approaching and almost hiding its
waters as they silently follow the deep and
| guarded path nature seems so kindly to
| point out to them.
| Here and there the hills on each side
suddenly recede, and leave on each bank
as if to let in the light, an unguarded space,
each of which is shaded by the spreading
branches of the overhanging trees, and
these, as if still to deny the creek touch
of sunlight, spread their foliage almost
over it, and supply the shadow withdrawn
by the receding hills But we will weary
your patience by dwelling upon the milder
scenes of Deer Creek, when my object is
to present to you one of its grander pic.
lures.
The Rocks of Deer Creek are located in
the northern part Of Hartford county, about
fourteen miles south of the Pennsylvania
line, and twenty five miles from the source of
the creek. AS we have before remarked,
the entire course Of the stream is romantic
and pleasing; but here nature seems to
mock the attempts of the hills and rocks
| above to appear grand or rugged. Here
she rises suddenly into sublmity; here
she gives evidence that some fearful hour
Of the unpierced past has witnessed throes
that have reared high into air mighty
wall, and hurled into formless heap mum.
herless fragments ut rock. The features
which have won for this scenery its celebrity
although not as much as it deserves. arc
its wildness and true natural grandeur.
Running almost ut right angles with the
stream, is high rocky range, called Rock
Ridge" through which Deer Creek finds
its path. Here, where its waters pass this
natural barrier, are two gigantic peaks,
one on each side of the stream, lifting
their storm-beaten heads far up into the
air, above the tops of the tallest trees that
grow round their bases. The right hand
peak is particularly remarkable, as its
bald, bare crest, standing almost lost in its
giddy height, jets far out over its base, as
if it would span with its rugged length
the frightiul space that yawns between it
and its opposite peak. Standing at this
wild height, out on the projecting point,
and gazing down into the little noisy
stream made turbulent by the thousand
boulders lying in confusion at the bottom,
| the mind is filled with a strange sensation
of awe at the contemplation of natures
wonderful operations. strange freaks, and
tathomless mysteries. The lofty range of
hills here seems to have been at some time
in the distant past unbroken, and what
impresscs the mind so deeply while view
ing these giant rocks, is the inevitable
conviction, that some tremendous convul-
sion has laid open this massive barrier, and
at its sides, left standing wild, and bare.
and alone, these solemn guardians of this
gateless chasm; that these myriad frag-
ments, piled and heaped so confusedly
around, are but resting where natures re.
sistless forces relinquished them; and that
these pointed lodges that show to the eye
their torn and jagged sides, are but mem
berless trunks whose limbs have been torn
away and hurled into disorder below
The noisy creek viewed from these elevated
rocks, seems to flow quietly among the
thickly scattered obstacles, as if resting
from its triumphant struggle to find gate
| way through the ridge, and as the pent-up
waters of the reservoir sink down to their
passive level after bursting the banks
which confine them, it seems to be seeking
ut the bottom of the chasm the smoothest
path for its restless wanderirgs. Direct
ing the eye from either height to the op
poste one, it spans frightful chasm, across
which voices float like echoes, and at times
are almost lost in the depths of the inter-
vening space. Tall trees assume the ap
pearance of saplings to the downward
gaze, and the proud head of one grand old
| rock looks as if it would throw out over
the trees and smaller rocks clustered at its
foot, protecting shadow from the burning
flame that pours upon it, or break the
force of the storm that hurls itself against
its unyielding and changeless crest.
While it cannot be claimed for this
scenery that it possesses that imposing and
| awe-exciting grandeur found in the noun
tain wonders of the world, yet these tower
| ing rocks cannot be gazed upon without
experiencing the liveliest sensations of
wonder. The visitor is struck with the
romantic appearance of stream and rock,
and wonders what historic truths, could
they speak, would be revealed what wild
legends would they relate of the deeds of
savage hero, and what veil of Indian
romance they might throw around these
wild crags, and over this busy little stream
On the top of the right-hand peak, q short
distance back from the overjetting point,
are two cavities in the rock, each forming
u seat Just large enough for n single person.
These have been named the Kings and
Queens Seats" and from their appearance
and close proximity to each other, it is
natural to conclude that they have been
cut in the rock-probably by the Indians.
How suggestive of other years and
scenes are these rude, rocky Seats how
wildly can we picture the wild unlettered
savage shaping out these lofty thrones
from which to view the far-reaching forests