Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-01
ONThRIo's PROTEAN HILLS.
Monster Shifting sand Dunes on the
Canadian shore of Lake Erie


The interesting and wonderful feature
Of the natural scenery Of Lake Erie
shores are two immense conically-shaped
sand formations m the township or
Houghton, Norfolk county. Ontario, JUS
west Of Long Point.
These hills are composed Of the light,
silvery sand peculiar 10 the shore Of
the lake, with the one dissimilarity. that
IL appears lighter I'm bulk than the shore
sand. and drifts more readily with the
wind. They are situated about a mile
apart. the one 10 the cast being the
larger. II measures about 200 feet in
height from the watef-levcl, 100 feet IN
length. and so feet in width. When
viewed from Tie surrounding country II
appears IKE a vast symmetrcaily formed
giants grave. erected on the lofty pro-
montory which lies high above
and whose precpitous cliffs wall In the
lake for miles. rhe perfect and clear
cut outlines and gracefully-rOunded sum-
NIT. which towers robiy high. excite
in one q desire TO ascend the steep ac-
clivity. Notwithstanding the difficulty OF
"a climb upon an incline OF nearly ~ d.
rrees from the horizontal. made even
more laborlOIs by the loosoness OF the
and. which the climber sinks into above
his shoc-tOps at every step. But he is
right generously rewarded when the sum
nit Is reached. for the prospect is beau
tlful. Looking inland. the country un-
folds Itself. with IT'S delcc'ahlc meadows
and fields Of grain. for miles and miles.
while in the opposite direction the mag
niAcent view OF Eres broad eXpanse
stretches to the horizon.
These hills. besides their present inter-
st, have a strange evolutionary history
ascrihed - them. as recorded by some Of
fhe early settlers IN the vicinity. At one
time the summit Of the large hill pre-
sented circular plateau with Il crater
opening into a vast funnel-shaped chasm.
with sides nearly vertical. which extend
I'D down to "A great depth. The bottom
II this great amphiiheatre was 80
-eet ia diameter and upon this natural
arena the pioneer youths OF many years
ago played the game Of baseball with
the advantage OF requiring no heldcrs,
Tor, no matter where the bah was thrown
or batted. upon striking the sides IL would
fan TO the feet Of the players. No trace
whatever is now LETT Of the crater. Many
are the forms the hill has assumed since
then.
II il Is the action Of the strong south
westerly gales. which for 80 miles have
al liltlfl sNDtif lDfH tflf lAhNs
upon the loose sand Of the cliff why are
other hills not thus formed 10y the same
force all along the shore in this locality.
where the sand appears the same as here?
There IS = sand-mOund close 20 the large
hill nearly - feet high. which has the ap-
pcarance OF growing similar 10 the others.
IL Is enclosed on three sides with a thick
growth Of large trees. which IL is gradual
ly covering up.
These hills slowly but really change their
positions. ever retaining some graceful!
ana strange shape. The old trees that
form a dense growth near by are gradual
ly swept over and completely buried IN
sand. In many places their utmost
branches only pr0trule above the surface
Of the sides Of the ruthless sand monster
that smOtherei and settled upon them.
In time. as the hill moves on, these trees
axe again revealed. broken and dead. OF
course. with whitened trunks ana MANNED
limbs.
Some twenty years ago the summit OF
the large h.ll was crowned by the Obscrva-
tory Of the United states Lake Survey.
From this observatory. one In the high
lands OF Pennsylvania, and another on
Long Point. a triangle was formed, and
| the most accurate chart Of the lake at
| that time was issued. At present "A bea-
con Is The only structure on the hill hay-
| ing been erected in connection with the
survey now being made Of the lake BY
the Canadian Government