Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-02-19
THE RINGING ROCKS.
A Geological Curiosity in the Neigh
bOrhOOd OF Philadelphia.
From the Reading (pa.) Times and Dispatch.l

From the Reading (pa.) Times and Dispatchl
few days ago representative OF the
Times and Dispatch paid visit to the
geological wonder known rs the Ringing
Rocks, In Montgomery county Ring
ing Hill, as the people there cali the en-
inence on which the celebrated rocks are
found, is on the farm of Abraham Mensch,
in Pottsgrove Township, three miles
northeast of Pottstown. The ringing
rocks cover space Of about three
quarters of an acre. In this tract bowl
ders piled upon powders of all shapes
and forms, and SO promiscuously ar
ranged that considerable agility is re-
quired to walk over them without falling.
As one steps from rock to rock, ringing
sound, produced by the nails in the boot
heels, is plainly heard. On tapping the
stones with hammer quite remarkable
acoustic properties are revealed. Some
of them give forth a rich, full tone which
would probably vie with the best bell
metal If the stones were fashioned into
bells. One of them in particular from
its 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 pre-
served it's 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, and no two sounding just
alike. In passing from one to another of
the larger rocks one is reminded of the
tapping of car wheels by the train in
spectors. Thousands ofpeople visit this
natural 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 upon them, some
parties who We're unwilling to take the
time or trouble to chisel their names upon
the rocks, having resorted to paint, and
considerable daubng has been done in
various colors. The advertising fend
has not failed to put in his appearance;
and we are made aware of the merits of
patent medicines, of the place to buy
carpets and the like upon every hand.
We have not heard any satisfactory ex-
PLANTATION of the cause Of the ringing or
bcll-like sound of these rocks. Some say
it is owing to their being cavern under
them. This, however, can have nothing
to do with it, as when the rocks are re-
moved they still have the same sound.
One large and sOnorous bowlder was
taken to the Centennial and attracted
great deal of attention there. Another
was sent to England year or two ago.
There is probably a metallic substance
in this group of powders to which the
ringing sound may be attributed. We
have not heard, however, of any geolog-
ical analysis being made Half mile
east of the ringing rocks, and i'll the same
range Of hills, there is another group of
powders which are much visited. Here
a lofty pile of rocks surmounts cavity of
depth, the whole being
known as the Stone House. Near by the
stone house is a huge bowlder, some
fifteen or twenty feet high, which, from
its peculiar contour, is called the Hay
Stack. Besides their acoustic qualities
there is another very singular circum-
stance about the ringing rocks which
visitors rarely fail to notice. Many of
them have very strange marks, or inden
tations. At some points these resemble
the tracks of horses hoof. Others are
like the track of wagon. Some OF the
larger fluctuations are said to resemble
an elephants foot, and fac-similes of the
human loot are claimed to be found
among the smaller ones.