Facts relating to Diluvial Action. 29 



the puddingstone was also broken up in large square blocks, 

 and occasionally pieces of the old red sandstone were detached 

 from the bottom of the valleys. It is probable that previous to 

 the deluffe, there was little or no soil on this section of the coun- 

 try, that the hills, valleys, and streams, were the same previous 

 to the deluge that they are at this time, excepting that the hills 

 were dilapidated and lowered, and the deep valleys were made 

 still deeper by the tremendous cataracts and surges, the water 

 being carried violently over the high ledges and hills, and then, 

 in crossing the ridges from west to east, falling 1000 or 1200 

 feet into the valleys. While contemplating such a scene, our 

 imaginations must fall infinitely short of the reality. The 

 single wave that totally destroyed the town of Lima, or the surge 

 that overwhelmed the Turkish fleet in Candia, comes nearer to 

 the terrific scene than any similar events that are recorded. That 

 these large masses of rock should be broken up and thrown 

 upon the tops of high hills will appear in no way surprising, 

 when we consider what must be the effect of the precipitation 

 of the cataracts into deep valleys, and of their subsequent violent 

 refluxes over the high hills ; a power more than sufficient to 

 raise the larger masses of rock that were left on the high grounds 

 in the county. 



That water has the power to carry rocks and other heavy 

 bodies over the tops of mountains, is evinced by the simple 

 fact, that the only place where the millstone is found within 

 200 miles, is at Kizerack, on the west side of Shongham Moun- 

 tain, 15 to 20 from Esopus or Kingston, up the Roundout Hill. 

 At this place, all the country or Esopus millstones are sold. 

 Now, over a greater part of the west side of Shongham Moun- 

 tain, which is composed of the millstone grit, this rock has been 

 carried to the height of 1000 or 1200 feet, so as to pass over 

 the top of the mountain, and it lies scattered through the coun- 

 try for many miles east, between Newburgh and the Shongham 

 Mountain, and as there is no other similar stone within 200 

 miles, this is conclusive evidence that the violence of the surge 

 carried the rock over the top of the mountain, and left them in 

 the position in which we now see them ; some of the stones weigh 

 from three to four tons. 



Professor Eaton, in his geological survey of the Kattskill or 



