The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-12-06
WONDERFUL WATER.
A PsnnsyIvania Spring That Turns Mos
and Froas Into stonc.

/ A Pennsylvania Spring That Turns Moss
and Frogs Into stonc.
North Beaver Township. this county,
IL the posscssor OF q wonderful phenom-
enon, which heretofore has mover been
chronicled in the newspapers This is no
less than averitable growing rock. Not a
boulder with roots deep in the ground
and branches that reach out into the air.
but one which has in half a century
sprung from diminutive lapideous sub
stance that patent bucket could cover
to one that would weigh fifty tons or
more. This remarkable curiosity Is in q
deep ravine, through which ripping
cascade known rs Leonard's Run
gurgles its winding way through
q precipitous country to the Beaver
river. The rock is about ono
mile and quarter from the little ham,
let Of struggling houses known as West
Moravia. on the Eric 81 Pittsburgh
railroad, about six miles south Of New
Castle, and Is situated on the farm OF
w. s. McGinnis. 1t presents to the
view OF tho curiosity-seeker strong
precipice about ten feet in height and
some fifteen feet In circumference, crop
ping out OF the high bank of the ravine.
Covered In places to depth Of two or
three inches with II deposit OF dense moss
at this time Of tho year, and dripping
wet from the contents Of spring ut the
summit which trickles down over 1t. At
the first view no one would take it for
tanned considerable limestone; but once
apply a chisel to its gritty surface after
the moss is removed andra strange
metamorphosis reveals itself. Under
the outer layer which has been harden-
ed by contact with the air, it is dis
covered that the substance Is honey
combed like mammoth sponge; the
cells being surrounded by stone as hard
as adamant Dig further in, and this
cellular substance continues; but 1t
seems to have been calcined in trans
lucent tint. There are tons upon tons
of this, and 1t is as heavy as granite, and
yet every ounce OF it is undoubtedly
petrifed moss and other vegetable mat
ter. The explanation of this wonderful
petrification Is found in the spring
which saturates it. The spring which
at this season OF the year would be
drained dry II couple Of pals Of water
were taken from it, has the singular
property Of turning every vegetable-and
for all that is known to the contrary,
fish or animal-that it constantly acts
upon into stone. This labidescent
quality Of the water has year after year
operated upon the layers OF
moss which have accumulated OH
what was once n small boulder until the
present conglomeration Of rock is the
result. The moss grows very rapidly
and profusely in the dark hollow where
the curiosity is located, and the rock has
added to itself, month after month and
year after year, like a rolling SNOWFALL.
until 1t is now one huge mass Of petri-
ied vegetation. The water which pro-
iuced this has slightly acid taste, not
unlike that Of some of the celebrated
medicinal springs. It's action is remark
ably quick, considering what IL accom-
plishes. In but few days after the
moss begins to grow it commences to
'olidify at the roots and the pctrifac-
ions follow Immediately in the track of
he growth, changing the dark green OF
,he herb in its progress to color re-
'embling brown sugar.-Now Castle
Pa Guardian.