Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-03-26

convex, thus fitting each other perfectly.
How far these pillars extend downward, or,
in other words, how deep they are in the
ground no one knows. They cross the
North Channel and are seen at Staffa, Scot
land. The rock is what is called basalt, and
the hexagonal form of the pillars is due, it
is supposed, to an intense heat to which this
rock was at one time subjected. When the
Giants CauseWay sprang into existence no
one knows. 1t is manifest that it is the
work of God, and not of any created being.
Still it strikingly resembles a work of man.
It is this resemblance to work of man that
gives to it interest.
1t is not possible to learn when or why it
was given the name which it bears. There
is tradition which the guides tell with
apparent delight and which is very old and
exceedingly plausible. 1t is as follows :
At one time, away back in the dim past,
there lived two noted giants, one in Scotland
and the other in Ireland. The name Of the
Scotch giant was Benandonner, that of
the Irish Fin-Mac-Cool. The Caledonian
giant lived at Staffa and Fin Mac-Cool
had his abode somewhere in the north of
Ireland, in County Antrim. Benandonner,
it seems was the hero of all Scotland. 1 can
the graphic language of an Irishman,
che Just bate out all that came before him."
Not only so, but he spoke very disrespect-
fully of Fin -Mac-Cool and declared that
were it not for wetting his feet he would
cross over the sea and give Fin good drub-
bing. BY some one whose name is no long
er remembered Fin-Mac-Cool was informed
of the boasting threat of Benandonner.
Previous to this Fin -Mac-Cool and Benan-
donner were not on very good terms; Ben
andonner had "bate out" some of Fin-Mac-
Cools friends. The threat of Benandonner
stirred the Irish blood in the veins of the
generous Fin -Mac-Cool. In order that Ben
andonner might cross over from Staffa to
Ireland and not wet his feet, Fin-Mac- Cool
constructed bridge or causeway across the
North Channel. Benandonner came over
to Ireland on this causeway. The two
giants met, and instead of Benandonner
drubbing Fin n-Mac-Cool n-Mac- Cool drub-
bed Benandonner. The Caledonian giant
was we'll "bate"-so we'll that he dete$gnin-
ed never to 60 back to Scotland, but having
received permission from Fin-Mac-Cool he
remained in Ireland. Mac-Cool's bridge
or causeway being of no further use, was
suffered to 60 to ruin. All that now re-
land, another portion on the Island Rath-
lind and the part in Ireland. This tradi-
ton, however interesting when told by a
glib tongued Irishman, will not SATISFACTORY
" account for the Giants Causeway. There
is in the north of Ireland sheet of basalt
varying in thickness from ten to thousand
feeet. This sheet covers several hundred
square miles. 1t is a volcanic lava, and
was most probably poured over the country
when in molten state. COlumnar basalt
is principally found along the coast from
Port Rush to Fairhead. 1t is most evident
thaFat some period in the past Great geo.
logical changes have taken place in the
north of Ireland. 1t is probable that in
the future some great geological change
may take place. The natural cause by
means of which God constructed the Giants
Causeway has ceased to be operative. 1t
may, and probably will be-, again aroused,
and other Giant Causeways be constructed.