Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-20
AN UNNATURAL PHENOMENON.
A 3OO-TOn Rock Rolled Down the Noun
tain Goes Through Cheat Rivers Bot
Fyom he Mem York Sun.

| A 30O-TOn Rock Rolled Down the Noun
tain Goes Through Cheat Rivers Bot
tom.
F-op the Mem York Sun.
KINGwooD, w. VA, oct. l2.-About u
miles north of this place, along the Cheat
river, can be seen some Of the most rugged
and inspiring scenery to be found any
where in West Virginia, if not in North
America, east Of the Rocky Mountains.
On either side Of the river, for probably
half mile, there is a perpendicular wall
OF solid limestone about $50 feet IN height.
From the top OF these walls or cliffs, on
the east side of the river, the craggy and
timbered mountain, with slope OF about
60 deg, looms up more than 1000 feet.
Near the top Of this mountain has stood
for unknown ages great rock, measuring
20 feet from the top to bottom, and aver
aging about IL feet in thickness. 1t con-
tanned about 9,4S0 cubic feet of hard flint
like limestone, and allowing 100 pounds
TO each cubic foot, the weight Of the mon
ster was $4,000 pounds or 324 tons. Just
below and against the lower side of this
rock was large oak tree which seemed
to be the only support the rock bad to keep
it from dashing down into the river,
first heard OF the rock a few weeks
ago from party Of kingWOOd young
men, who bad been down in that region
examining an extensive cave, which they
explored from an entrance near the bank
OF the river to a considerable distance in
the mountain without finding either be-
ginning or end, for in some places il went
tar down into the earth, and in other
places far back and up into the noun
tain. They said that il was the intention
Of several persons who lived in that
neighboThoOd to cut away the large oak
tree which stood below the rock,
and give the rock start down
the mountain. On Wednesday, Oct.
Z, one Of the party received
a letter informing him that
crowd had been organized, and that the
work would begin on Saturday. the 10th.
went down on Friday morning, and on
saturday went to the scene. There were
about twenty-five persons present from
the neighbOrhOOd. the work was done
by company OF six men organized for
that purpose. The tree was cut down,
and fell crashing over considerable
pecipice and lodged, but the great rock
stood unmOyed. The next thing to do was
70 find how much of the rock was i'm
bedded in the earth. Digging and shovel
ing continued for nearly two hours,
and, owing to the steep slope on
which the men had to stand, it
be exercised also. for it was impossible to
tell at what moment the rock would start
numbering down the mountain. 1t was
decided TO be too dangerous to dig any
longer, for the rock was then apparently
in position to lose its equilibrium from
the slightest touch. One of the men
pushed against 1t with his hands, but its
weight defied his strength. A lever was
cut, and a fulcrum was erected. The
lever was soon bending beneath the united
weight and efforts of several men Of no
ordinary size. | was up the mountain
probably twenty yards from the rock to
get a good view Of its course to the river,
and was watching closely for the start
Now she gOesP' came to my ears, and
| could see the top of the great rock going
out from the mOuntain-nOw slow, now
iaster, now a crash, and then crashes
upon crashes. The scene presented by
that rock tearing and laundering down
the mountain can be imagined but 1t can
not he described. 1t had a tendency to
confound the sense and bewilder the rea-
son. Great trees We're torn from the earth
and hurled into the air like twigs In a wbirl-
wind, and the trunks of mammoth oaks
were torn and slivered in quick success
sion. On and on it went, making "A clean
cut road from the start. The mountain
trembled, and the spectators stood spell
bound. The rock gained in speed as it
aeared the river, which as in view at the
lower end of the great limestone walls. Ii
now struck the last precipice, and, after
going outward and downward for more
than 200 feet it fell into the river with a
roaring sound.
After the dust and leaves and flying
pieces of limbs had settled we could see n
peculiar action of the water, but we were
too far of to discover the cause. A walk
Of more than a mile around, as it was
next to impossible to go straight down the
mountain from where we were, brought
rs to the river, but instead of seeing the
rock We saw the water rushing from ev-
cry direction down into huge hole prob
ably thirty feet square. During the half
hour we were there not less than ten saw
logs were drawn into the whirl and disap-
peared.
1t is supposed that the cave extends
under the river, and that the weight of
the immense rock coming down with such
force and rapidity caused the roof to give
way. Whether or not the water will soon
till the hole up and the river flow on as
before will depend upon the extent of the
cavern and the existence of an outlet to
carry the water from the cavern to some
other stream, or to some other part of the
country.
left that district on Sunday afternoon,
and the water was then still rushing
down the hole, carrying saw logs and
every other floating substance with II.