The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-10-29
THF RISGING ROCKS.

Thes.. celebrated rocks are found on
the farm uf Abraham Mench, in Potts
glOVe township. three miles northeast OF
PottstOwn. PENNSYLVANIA They cover
square space of three quarters OF an
acre. In this tract powders are piled UP
on powders of all shapes aud forms, and
so prOmiscously arranged that consider
able agility is required to walk over,
them without falling. As one steps
from rock TO rock a ringing sound, pro
duced b. the nails in the boot heels. is
plainly heard. On rapPing the stones
with 4 hammer. quite remarkable aCOus-
tic properties arr revealed Some Of
them give forth rich, full-tone, which
would probably vie with the best bell
metal il the stones were fashioned into
bells One of them III particular, from
j. 5 depth of tone, is known as the State
house bell. This was at one time among
the largest of the rocks. 1t has been
broken off. however, but still has preseT-
we'd its strong full-tone. The general
sound produced by striking the smaller
stones resembles that of blacksmith's
anvil, some having a little clearer ring
than others, 10 two sounding just alike.
In passing from one to another Of the
large rocks one is reminded of the tap
ping of car wheels by the train inspect
OF. Thousands of people visit this nat
ural phenomenon every summer. The
rocks themselves bear evidence Of this,
the edges being battered off by hammer
strokes, and the sides of many having
names carved on them, some parties who
were unwilling to take the time or trOu-
ble to chisel their names upon the rocks
having resOrted to paint, and consider
able daubing has been done IN various
cOlors The advertising fitnd has not
failed TO put in his appearance and we
are now made aware of the merits of pa
tent medicines, of the place to buy car
pets and the like, on every hand. We
/ have not heard any satisfactory explain
/ alton Of the cause OF the ringing or bell
like sounds of these rocks. Some says
/ it is owing to there being a cavern I'M
der them. This, however can have moth
ing to do with it, as when the rocks are
removed they still have the same sOund.
One large and sOnOTous bOwlder was ta-
ken to the Centennial, and created a
great deal of attention there. Another
( was sent to England afterwards. There
is probably a metallic substance in this
gIouu Of powders to which the ringing
SOUND may be attributed. We have not
heard, however, of any geological anaIy-
sis being made. Half a mile east of the
Ringing Rocks, and in the same range OF
hills. there is another group of powders
which are much visited. Here a lofty
pile of rocks surmouuts Il cavity of con-
siderable depth. the whole being known
az the Stone House" Near by the
stone house is a large bnwldeT, some fif-
teen or twenty feet high, which, from
its peculiar contour, is called the Hay
Stack" Besides their acoustic qualities
there is another singular circumstance
about the Ringing Rocks which visitors
r.y.1y- foil fp notion Many pf thpuD have
very strange marks, OF Indentations. At
some points these resemble the tracks of
a horses hoof Others are like the track
Of a wagon. Some of the larger inden-
tatious are said to resemble an elephant
foot. and fac similics of the human foot
are claimed to be found among the small
Cr ones.