Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-10-25

mar mao not lHt laLttI prOIulhCu that
their children, if they have any, shall
be piously educated IN the faith of their
mother.
Knocking Hole an Cheat River.
The following curious story is told
il a special dispatch to the New York
Sun from KIM wood, ". Va, dated
the 18th instant About fifteen miles
north OF this place, along the Cheat
rive, can be seen some Of the most
rugged ard inspiring scenery to be found
anywhere IL West Virginia, If not IN
North America, east Of the Rocky
mountains. On either side OF the river,
for prob-bly half mile, there Is per-
pendicular wall OF solid limestone
about $50 feet il height. From the top
Of these walls. or cliffs, on the east side
Of the river, the cIdggy and timbered
mountain, with slope Of about sixty
degrees, looms up more than two thou
sand feet. Near the top OF this noun
tain has stood for unknown age a great
rock, measuring twen.y feet from the
top to bottom. and averaging about
eighteen feet IN thickness. Itcontained
about nine thousand four hundred and
eighty cubic feet OF hard, fint-like lime
stone. and allowing one hundred pounds
70 each cubic foot, the weight OF the
monster was six hundred and forty
eight thousand pounds. or three hun
cred and twenty-fOur tons. Just be
low and against the lower SIDE Of this
rock was large OAK tree, which
seemed 10 be the only suppoI. the rock
had TO keep it from dashing down into
the river.
] first heard Of the rock q few weeks
ago from . party Of Kingwood young
men who had been down in that region
examining al extensive cave, which
they explored from an entrance near the
bank Of the river to q considerable dis
lance IN the mountain without finding
either BEGINNING or end. for In some
places 1t wen, far down into the earth
and IN other places lar bach and up into
the mountain. They SAID that II was
the intention Of several persons VINO
lived IN that neighborhood 10 cut away
the large oak tree which stood below
the rock and g'se the rock g start down
the mountain. On last Wednesday, the
18th. one Of the party received letter
informing him that a crowd had been or
gained and that the work would begin on
saturday the 10Th. went down on
Friday morning. and OF Saturday went
TO the scene. There were aJOut tGer-
ty-five persons present from the neigh
borhood. The work was done nv q
company Of SIX nen organized Tor that
purpose. The tree was cit down and
fell crashing over considerable preci-
pice and lodged, but the great rock
stood unmOvel. The next thing to do
was 10 find how much Of the rock was
IN bedded " the earth. Digging snu
shOvelling continued for nearly two
hours. ard owing to the steep sl0pe OF
which the men had 10 stand, 1t was no
easy work. Great care mad 10 be exeT-
cised also. for II was impossible to tell
al what mOmen, the rock would start
laundering down the mountain. IL was
decided 10 be TOO dangerous 70 die any
longer, for the rock was then apparent
~ II position 10 lose is equilibrium
from the slightest touch. One OF the
men pushed against il with his hands.
but It's WEIGHT defied MS strength. A
lever was cut and fnlcrum was erect
ed. The lever was soon bending be-
meath the united weight and efforts Of
several men Of no ordin-ry size. ] was
up the mountain probably twenty yards |
from the rock 10 ge, q good view Of its /
course 20 the river, and was watching
closely for the start.
q" Now she goes . . came 10 ny ears, /
and ! could see the TOP OF the gleat /
rock going out from the mount@in-now 4
SLOW, nov faster. now 3 crash. and then 1
crashes upon crashes. The scene pre-
sented by that rock tearing and thun-
dering down the mountain can be imae-
med. but II cannot be described. IL
had a tendency 10 confound the sense
ard bewilder the reason. Great trees
were torn from the earth and hurled
into the ar like twigs IN a whiri-
vino, ard the trunks of mammoth
oaks were torn and shivered II quick
On and Oh 1t went, making
D clean-cut road from the start. The
trembled and the spectators
stood spellbound. The rock gained In
speed as II neared the river. which vas
IN view al the lower end Of the great
limestone walls. IL now struck the
asst precipice, and, after going outward
md downward for more than 200 feet,
1 fell into the river with roaring
sound.
After the dust and leaves and fiying
pieces Of limbs had settled we conld see
! peculiar action Of the water, but we
we're too lar of to discover the cause.
A walk of more than q mile around. as
I was next TO impossible 10 60 straight
iown the mountain from where we
we're. brought as to the river but IN
'tead of seeing the rock we saw the
water rushing from every direction
Town into huge hole probably thirty
eet square. During the half hour we
we're there not less than ten saT-logs
we're drawn into the whirl and disap-
Il Is supposed that the cave extends
indcr the river, and that the weight OF
he immense rock coming down with
iuch force and rapidity caused the roof
o give WAY. Whether or not the water
Vill soon III the hole up and the river
low on as before win depend upon the