Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-02-03
4gisfellarrecns
Some Famous Rocks.

SEINE Famous Rocks.
A few miles from Liskeard, in Cornwall,
England. on one OF the great moors which
distinguish that part of the British domin-
ions, 10 remarkable pile Of granite rocks
occupying the summit of steep hill, and
known by the name OF the Cheese
wiring" from its supposed resemblance to
acheese-press. As one looks on the seven
stones, some of them Of enormous weight.
which compose this singular edifice nine
~ feet high, it il not easy to form rea-
sonable conjecture how they came there.
bearing such an undue weight at their top,
yet 80 accurately adjusted as to brave the
highest winds that can blow across that
unsheliered moor. No one, of course.
can tell with certainty how the Cheese
wring'' came into ifs present position.
One conjecture is, that these stones were
originally thrown one upon another by
the force Of the earthquake or earthquakes
which scattered the rocks around them,
and that they were at first imbedded in
earth; the rains, however. which pre-
vail to 50 great an extent in CornwalI9
have gradually washed the soil from their
sides. and, as they happen to balance
themselves so firmly as still to maintain
their centre Of gravity, they have been
left outstanding, a remarkable beacon in
their vicinity. DIR. M'Culloch's opinion
is, however, that the "Cheese-wring"
is only part of much larger
heap Of granite which has been
gradually disintegrated by the ac-
ton OF the atmosphere and the
natural tendency Of the rock to split into
assures. As the stones in question hap
Dened to have the centre of gravity pre-
cisely in the perpendicular of the whole,
they have retained their singular position,
while neighboring masses. wanting that
condition, have been totally overthrow.
The most remarkable rock Of this kind,
called Logging or Logan stone, is near
the Lands End. in Cornwall. situated on
a peninsular of granite. The stone is
poised upon pyramid Of rock. very near
the edge of the precipice, down which 1t
seems TO threaten. every instant to fall. A
very small force, or even strong wind.
will put this stone. though computed to
weigh upward Of eighty tons. into state
of vibration. which continues for some
minutes. The common report is, that.
after the occurrence we are about to re-
late, il has never vibrated so well as for
merly. The narrative is extracted from
lively book. called "Rambles beyond
Railways :-''
''ln the year 1924, a certain lieutenant in
the royal navy, then in command of cut
ter stationed off the southern coast of
Cornwall, was told Of an ancient Cornish
prophecy, that no human power should
ever succeed in overthrowing the Logan
stone. No sooner was the prediction
communicated to him than he conceived
morbid and mischievous ambi-
ton to falsiy practically an asser-
ton which the commonest common sense
might have informed him had sprung
from nothing but popular error and pop
ular superstition. Accompanied by n
body of picked men from his crew. he
assembled to the Logan stone. ordered
several levers to be placed under it at one
point, gave the word 'heave.' and the
next moment had the miserable satisfac-
ton OF seeing one of the most remarkable
natural curiosties in the world utterly
destroyed. for aught he could foresee to
the contrary. under his own directions
but fortune betriended the Logan
stone. One edge of it rolled over, and be-
came fixed by a lucky chance in crevice
in the rocks Immediately below the gran
tie slab from which it had been started
Had this not happened. it must have
fallen over n sheer precipice. and been
lost in the sea. BY another accident.
equally fortunate. Two laborng men. at
work in the neighboring place. were led
by curiosity secretly to follow the lieuten-
ant and his myrmidons up to the stone.
Having witnessed. from secure hiding
nlQpQ all that papurrad tho f,ua IL,
informed the lord of the manor of the de-
struction.
The news spread through the district
and thence throughout all Cornwall The
indignation of the whole country. was
aroused. Antiquaries who believed the
Logan stones to have been balanced by
the Druids; philosophers who held that It
was produced By an eccentricity of natu-
raj formation; ignorant people who cared
nothing about Druid or natural formations,
but who liked to climb up and rock the
stone whenever they passed near it tribes
keepers in the neighborhood. to whom it
brought customers by hundreds; tourists
Of every degree, who were on their way
70 see it-all joined in one general clamor
Of execration against the overthrower of
uho ioNh' ~ idii IcppIt vi tie aIaiC was
forwarded to the Admiralty and the lieu
tenant was officially informed that his
commission was in danger unless he set
up the Logan stone again in its proper
place. The materials for comprising this
achievement were offered to him gratis
from the dockyards; but he was left to his
own resources TO defray the expense of
employing workmen to help him. Being
awakened 10 a sense of the mischief he
had done. and his disagreeabe position
with the Admiralty, he went to work TO
repair his fault. Strong beams were plant
ed about the Logan stone. chains were
passed around 1t. pulleys were rugged and
capstans were manned. After a weeks
hard work and brave perseverance on the
part of every one employed in the labor.
the rock was pulled back into its former
position, but not into its former perfection
Of balance it has never moved since Ne
froolr. ,,,n~aA k,r,r,