The New Hampshire Gazette

FROM THE N. Y. COURIER.

Moving Stones.

We have been politely favored with a letter from a gentleman of respectability in Ulster county, which we now lay before our readers; and we think it will stagger the most incredulous.

Sir—Having been informed that you had expressed a desire to receive a detail of the extraordinary occurrence which has lately taken place in this vicinity, I embrace the opportunity of communicating to you the following particulars, as the result of my inquiries. Reports had become so various, and the whole transaction was so mysterious, that in order to avoid, if possible, all misrepresentations, I resolved to visit the place said to be the scene of the transaction, and make my inquiries of those who had been its witnesses. Accordingly, on Tuesday, the 4th of this month, the Rev. Mr. Gosman of this village agreeing to accompany me, we went to the spot, and told the person living on the farm what our business was, and requested him to relate as precisely as he could what had occurred. He said, that on Wednesday the 20th Sept. his son, a young man about 18 years old, and a lad about 14, were in the field topping corn; that while thus employed, the former was hit on the back by a small pumpkin, which appeared to have proceeded from a small wood adjoining the cornfield; supposing that it had been thrown at them by some person concealed in the wood, they thought no more of it, until they saw several stones falling in succession about the cornfield, and apparently coming from the same wood; they then were confirmed in their suspicion, and immediately searched the wood, but found nobody. One of the stones had hit the lad, but so gently as to do no injury. They then told the owner of the farm, (Mr. Snyder) what had happened; he thought as they did at first, that the stones had been thrown from a wood, and was resolved to ascertain it: for this purpose he went to the field with the young men, and soon witnessed what they had before related. All three then went in pursuit, but could find no person. After having left the field for some time, about 4 o'clock in the afternoon they returned to it, and on going across the cornfield towards the wood, Mr. Snyder was hit on the back by a stone; but (as in the former case) so gently as to do no injury. At this time they saw several stones moving in different directions about the field, and so contrary one to another, as made it impossible that the whole were thrown by one, two or three persons. The stones were generally from a half to two ounces in weight, but some much larger; one in particular, which was seen coming over a tree about 30 feet high and landed about 115 yards from it, weighed 3 pounds. This stone, upon the principles of projectiles, describing a parabola, must have moved through a distance of 230 yards: I have the stone in my possession.

The field on which all this occurred, is a low, level piece of ground, remarkably free from stones, and of a fine loamy soil.

The next day (Thursday) the same two young men, together with a boy 10 years of age, went to another field a quarter of a mile distant from the former, and were there also at work topping corn; they had not long been there, before the same phenomenon appeared. Stones moving in every direction, and in great numbers, some falling perpendicularly from a height of about 30 feet, others appearing as if they had been tossed a distance of 10 or 30 yards, some apparently proceeding from an orchard at the foot of the hill upon which this field was situated; others, by their motion, seeming to have commenced and ended their movement in the cornfield. One of these stones struck the young lad on his knee, but, as in the two former cases, was perfectly harmless. The astonishment of the family now became so great, that they were induced to send for two of their neighbors, who came, and together with the female part of the family, making a number of nine persons, stood and witnessed the scene.

On this day, the moving of stones ceased, and was not renewed until Friday, 30th Sept. Before this time they had finished topping the corn, and consequently the field was so cleared that appearances were still more distinct. The following fact, I think, deserves particular notice.—Mrs. Snyder went to the field, and as she was walking where there was no other person, a stone of about 2 1/2 lbs. wt. passed closely by, and fell a few feet before her; she immediately looked around, but saw nobody. She followed the stone, took it up, and found it moist on one side, as if just taken from its bed on the ground. She returned towards the place from whence it appeared to come; and perceived an indented spot on the ground moist, and designating, evidently, that a stone had lately left it. She applied the stone to the hole, and found that they exactly corresponded—there that stone remained until Mr. Gosman and myself saw it, and were convinced of the fact. The distance which it moved is 14 yards.

Since that day nothing further has been seen.

I have now related in a simple manner the principal facts as they were stated to us by Mr. Snyder and his family; and with respect to them, generally, I have only to remark, that in no case whatever, has there been seen, a stone immediately leaving its position; though, in many instances they were observed at a distance of two feet from the earth, slowly ascending and descending—some even appeared to have a kind of retarded motion. Nothing violent, but every thing mild, seems to have marked the dispensation. No volcanic effect appears either on the stones or on the ground—all around that stone, which has been particularly noticed, was firm and undisturbed.

As it regards the credit, due to the whole narrative, Mr. Gosman and myself can say, that not a doubt exists in our minds, independent of the consideration, that no motive can be assigned for misrepresentation or deception. The character of Mr. Snyder is such, that no person acquainted with him, can question his veracity. Not only is he a man of acknowledged truth, and of high religious standing, but he appears to have a mind perfectly free from all superstitious prejudice or bias; thus placing the transaction as remote from all imposture or deception as can be conceived.