Mary Munton emailed us looking for her relatives (click here to read). Mary also forwarded a fascinating press clipping she found on the Internet from an American newspaper dated 1867. It reported a discovery made by her ancestor, William Munton, of a live frog found inside a stone at Waltham quarry. (William is buried in Waltham graveyard.)
A Live Frog ln a Stone
1867 press clipping
“I, William Munton of Waltham, England, quarryman, hereby certify that I was a witness to the discovery of the stone and frog now before me (in possession of Mr. Simon Hutchinson of Manthorpe Lodge, Grantham) in the stone quarry at Waltham.
The frog was found about 10 or 11 feet below the natural surface in rock that was perfectly solid, with the exception of the cavity occupied by the frog’s body. When the stone was split open, the frog was seen to be alive and in size equal to the cavity which his body had occupied.
It continued to live for the space of about 10 days after being released from the stone and was afterward preserved in spirits by the late Mr. Stow of Waltham. Before the stone was broken by the workman’s sledge no crack or crevice was anywhere visible, Witness my hand this 1st day of December, 1866.”
After giving the above Mr. Hutchinson made these comments: “It is not difficult to imagine that in the ages passed this frog was enveloped to mud, which subsequently hardened into stone, remaining sufficiently porous to admit air and moisture enough to maintain a torpid existence.
That, like the seeds of vegetables burled enormously deep, remains dormant until some accident brings them within the influence of moisture and light sufficient to reanimate and develop them. As to the age of the frog In question, I offer no theory or opinion.”
St. Louis Republic