New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-10
ROCKS SLIDING IN CONNECTICUT
CARRYING TREES, EARTH AND BoULDERs BEFORE
THEM.

THEM.
Near the depot of the Danbury and Norwalk
Railroad at Bethel Conn, may be seen series OF eleN
ton. of varied heights abrupt and barren In some
instances while in others their sides, hahthg to""r"
the vey present fertile spots aud great trees thriving
anono the rock nerstices. These elevations e1tend
northward several miles and many OF them resemble Tue
famous East Rock the city OF New-Haven Locauy
they arc known Shelter Rock and tho VISITOR does no
90 amiss OF the rock when he ascends any one OF ne
Shelter Rock proper Is one ana hai h'ieS 'lo 'no
depot and rises 500 from the level OF surrounding
cmntry 1t Is composed Of vast among which man
rarely ventures Near the base are patches OF under
brush among which millions Of white birches grow
Alonp the sides OF the rock havo struggled for
ages and some have attained great size. liner" are
shrubs and evcrgrcens, vines and cenars all growing
together after fashion aud seeming to agree that simple
existence is all they can expect the northern
side of the rock catches the rays OF the sun Whcn ~
meridian, and from among the dark shadows last
winters ice still fingers The rock rises fuy 800 rect
almost perpcndicularly from point 200 feet from tho
base and utng out here and there. as II 10 warn IN
truders TO keep respectful distance, are prodglous
bouldors lust on pose and only held In position by
handful OF earth the roots OF some tree or shrub
glance upward at boulders suggests thoughts OF
danger aud the possibility OF crash NJ any moment
For generations been the features OF Shelter
Rock and meantime changes In nature tho processes vi
decay and other caIses have combined TO place the
text Last Augusts earthquake, without doubt, was a
factor aiding the preparation and r0sts OF the recent
winter have In no small way assisted. = nm I'll,
on Saturday evening, April 4. at about 9;3O rumhlng
sounds. repeated crashes, and loud report were
observed comiug from tue direction OF the rock They
resfmbed the falling OF great building Several
citizcns among them DR.. George Benedict living mile
distant heard the crash and the Thought occurred 70
each that a cyclone approaching. Darkness made
Investigation impossible that night. hut on Easter day
hundreds the place, and were Impressed WIN the
yA,ness the slide. Conflicting accounts oil the mel
dent having circulated, TRIBUNE reporter VINO
visited found that though tho accounts OF the
height ami quantity OF earth anu rock
dsplaced varied, they In the main correct me
track of slide beg 100 feet from the bdse II sixty
feet In wi lth and covered with PROSTATE trees and
distoued no ks aud Three bOulders whose path
wav among the Debris cOnd be traced lay full sight at
the foot OF the declivity the largest by fair estimate
Weighing $50 TONS the others varying In size from 30 10
so tons. -, -, A.. -
Apparently the largest boulder being nc the top. was
the rst no leave s bed and with ncaleulabe speed had
rushed down tue mountain side ono chestnut tree a
foot in diameter 100 feet from the sta ting point was
found cut OF by the boulder and It's trunk rent In twalni
further down black oak fifty feet high and two feet in
diameter at the root mad been cut square OF with
saw. This boulder's closing act was blow upon a
rock OF nearly LIS from which IL gave bound
and rested finally between two smaller bOulders nifty
feet away The quantity OF earth Displaced was not
large. but the weight OF rocks can be measured by
OF tons