Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1892-10-30
A WONDERFUL CT OWING STONE.
A Spring Trickies Over IL aud Petriaes
Each New t.rowth of Moss.

In deep, dark ravine, in North Beaver
township, Lawrence county, is a phe-
pomenon in the shape Qf n growing rock.
Fifty years ago, when IL was first noticed,
III inverted wooden ail would almost
cover it, Today it is great bowlder,
ten feet in height aud fifteen feet or
more in circumfcrende, and weighing
not less than fifty tons. During the sum
mer months It is COVERED with dense,
rich moss two or three inches deep,
through which the water from spring
tricklcs continually.
The wonder maker \ the little spring,
so small at this season that "A few pals Of
water dipped from it would drain it dry.
But il works in a mar ner very different
from the dripping waiter in caves that
carries burden of limestone in solution
with il, and leaves its wonders in stall
agmites and stalactitck.
The outer formation Of this rock has a
limestone appearance, but once remove
the moss and chisel ny TO the gritty sur.
face, and the real bealhty and peculiarity
OF the rock Is seen. a cellular forina-
tion, like mammoth sponge, is tliscov-
cred and about the eel Is is stone as hard
as adamant, ON cutting further in. this
cel-llke substance ~ FOund 10 continue,
but II seems to have been transformed
into translucent flint
This remarkable peTrifaction has been
wrought by the actipI VI the water from
the spring upon the moss. The water
seems to have the singular property Of
turning into stone everything that is
brought in contact with ii for any
length of time. IL has an acid taste.
and Is doubtless heavily charged with
mineral substances, although thus far
1t has never been anAlyzel. The most
remarkable fact about IT is that it ac-
complishes 50 much in 81 short Il time.
The moss grows luxuriantly in the dark
hollow, and the lapidescent quality Of
the water has operated year after year
upon the layers Of M oss, turning them
into honeyconb of STONE. and adding
to what was at first ilil rock, until
today there il this ,,rcaL bowlder of petri.
tied vegetation. \ 81, rt time after the
moss begins To grow in the spring il
commences To solldifN at the roots and
the petrifaction follows closely on the
track Of the growins moss like the
formation of coral on the work Of the
coral insects. As il progresses the dark
green Of the vegetation becomes yellow
ish. then changes to brown. and darkens
as the rock grows older.
The moss Is not al that Is perpetuated
in stone by the actiu II of the water.
Plants, leaves, twigs, every vegetable
substance that has fallen on the rock
and lain there has been impregnated
with il, and, as by thetonch Of an mex.
orable fate, been turnei into stone by it,
Stratum upon stratum of the moss stone
has grown over them, and many such
objects are now to be T pund Theoretically
sealed deep in the heart Of the rock.
To the mineralogist he rock is a mine
Of treasure and delight No one ever
chisels into that flinty bowlder without
coming upon leaves and twigs petrified
among the moss and occurring many fine
speciments to rejoice bis heart and make
enyious less Fortunate mortals. Those
who have visited il thu : far say there is
not another such curiokity known in the
world
The people in the ntighborhood have
long known Of the rem larkable qualities
of this spring. Mrs. William Allsworth
first discovered ii nearly fifty years ago.
Then the rock was ten feet or more be.
low the spring. Now il has climbed up
the side of the bank until il is partially
above the level Of the spring, and has
turned the water Of the little brook that
comes down the rayine somewhat out Of
its course.
Mr. Allsworth and same Of his neigh
bors intend To try the experiment of fas.
teuiug "A frog or some other creature in
such "A way that the wtter will have
chance 10 act upon IL, anl sec whether
II will till up animal tissues with its
mineral burden as il hn done the ve.;e-
table ones that have c,me in continued
contact with il. They firmly believe il
will. and there seems little reason TO
doubt IT,
Heretofore the spring and the wonder
fui rock it has huildel have been little
known outside the Immediate neighbor
hood The little rayind where it is situ.
atea puts down through rough aud bro
ken country near the II Heayer river, and
the wonder is difficult If access This
comparative inaccrssibi |ity has saved ii
in large measure from The raids of relic
hunters. aud prevented the accumula-
tiuns from being greatly. disturbed.
Now and then the cur |ous have visited
It, and of late few geologists have
studied it. and specimens Of the strange
formation have been car ried of. but the
bowlder shows no apparent diminution
The water still works it7 miracle of pet,
ritieatiOu, and will donb1le less continue TO
do 50 as long as il has d chance to act
upon any living tissue New Castle Cor.