The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-02-11

the ives. Side by Vr.nch Broa;i River, Ga the
east Site it is separated b. a-narrow ALLEY
loverhuns, IN some places by large r,cks)
from that ridge called French Bread Mou,.-
tams their bare rocks, stuntcd vegetation
ana arid surface, shew that they ioag have
telt that subterranean fire which probably
gave heat 10 The Warm Springs, aud has at
last burst odt with such dreadful fury. 1t
still continues to burn with great yiolencc,
and throws up lava, scoria, ashes, calcined
stones and Nilrihed matter, i'll great quanti-
ties, and with the most tremendous noise.
The quantity OF lava discharged ut the be-
ginning ot the eruption was Immense: il ran
down the mountain in Il stream of liquid FIRE
tor more than three quarters of mile. ana
has formed a dam across French Broad River
so high as to overflow about two hundred
acres of prime bottom land, to the great in
jury OF the owners. e Rz ar,t,P
In the night time, the ignitcd stones. Gin
ders. &c. which are thrown two or three
hundred feet in tie air, present grand al,-
pcarance, and havea great resemblance to-
artificial Ere works, such as rockets, axe
During the day a column of whitish smoke
issues ircIn the crater; ut night it has u
ftame Like appearance, and where it has been
driven with the wind, has withered the snail
dwarf pines which had taken root in the bar
rem soil of this and the neighborins moin-
tains; their bark and leaves are incrusted
with yeilowish powder, Which has an a.
rid taste and strong lPhuric smell
No person has had cour age sufficient to ap-
lproach the crater /; but those who were ac-
quainted with the top of the mountain be-
iore the eruption, say that il was uneven s.
very rocky. The crater appears Judging
by the smoke to be twenty yards in dia-
| large mass fell in, with gM,aternoise than
the loudest artillery Iii shook the country
ronnd, and was echoed from the mountains
and vallies. The lava, where cold, has the
appearance of vitrifed basalt--1he stone on
| the mountain is hard and coarse grained.
| with an uneven conchoidal fracture-but ne
appearance of basalt. The scoria are sono-
rous' have ferruginous appearance, and
shew strong magnetic attraction.
| Notwithstanding the terror which seized
me on viewing this awful sight, could not
help smiling at the Credulous simplicity of the.
people who inhabit the mountains. They
view 1t with as mucn awe and terror as the
Children of Israel did Mount Sinai Some
say the end of Time is arrived, and think
the cisater is the mouth of the " bottomless
pit the fantastic appearances of the cleo
trio fluid, which is seen darling in various
shapes thro' the smoke after night, by the
help of fancy they transform iuto spirits, de-
wis, &c. These wild ideas have been en-
creased by the declaration of an itincrant
preacher, who calls upon them to repent,
not in the language of Jonah, " Yet forty
days, 6e- but saying, " Behold the place Of
punishment for the wicked 20
In few days, shall so and take another
view OF this Western Erna. 1t is hoped,
that 1T will draw the attention of some Geo
iosist or man OF Science, who will be able to
give CORRECT description of it. Ihave seen
but two pieces of pumice-stone.--You &c.
JOHN CLARKE EDW ARDS
The seat OF this Eruption is in the county
OF !'uncombe, in this. State. Register.