Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-02-06
: Louisa Mao.
EARTHQUAKE.
Askeii!e, Bnacombe County, NJ C.
December 10, 1911,
TO THE EDITORS OF THE STAR.

TO THE EDITORS OF THE STAR.
GENTLEMEN,
take the liberty to transmit the
| following account OF an earthquake which hap
pencd on the night between the 18th and 10Th
inst
For several niShts'previous, the Aurora b.
reals brilliantly illuminated the sky with its
trembling corruscations the late appearance
OF splendid comet, and the bood-like color
OF the sun Tor several days, had alarmed great
many suPerstitious people. They talked of
war and when the news of Governor Halri-
sons dcar-bought victory arrived, il brought to
their recollection all those appearances which
arc still believed Gas these are now) TO have
been the awful precursors of that bloody war
by which we gained our independence
One Monday morning, about one O'Clock, the
inhabitants OF this place were reused from their
peaceful slumbers by dreadful sound some
waggoners who were uP at the time it began, said
1T resemblcd, but was louder, than If 100 wag-
CONS were driven az full speed down the noun
tam THIS gave us a considerable alarm the
timId took to prayer. expecting every moment
(as they say to hear the sound Of the last trum-
pet Inc more courageous vcnturcd to omen
theif doors to discover what occasioned the
noise. \ sudden trembling of the earth caused
| fresh terror and alarm, from which We had net
time to recover when we felt violent shock
which lasted about three minutes, and was at
tended by q hollow rumbling noise, and ended
with dreadful crash leaving behind stron .
sulphurous stencil
For the remainder ofthe night it was still and
cain, but was spent by us in trembling anxiety.
When the wished for morning came, we
were happy to find no lives were lost but while
some OF us were in the street congratulatinr
each other on our happy escape, VIC were again
alarmed by much louder noise than any we
had heard before it was quickly followed by
more violent shock, which gave the earth an
unduiating motion resembling the waves OF the
sea- Two oil those who were standing with
me, were thrown off their feet the rest of us
with difficulty kept from falling, while two or
three cows that were near us were unable to
stand, and testified their fear by their loud bel
lowing, which with the cries of the women and
children and the terror that was depicted in the
countenances of the men, presented scene of
horror l am unable to describe.
1t IS somewhat strange that its effects were
more violent in the vallies than on the noun
tains a LANYARD, in a valley near this place had
several watts displaced--the edges of sone were
raised three feet above their former level, o.
theirs were moved partly round and left in A
zigzag manner. 1t would far exceed the bounds
otthis letter TO describe all the phenomena pro-
duced by this awful convulsion of nature
rocks moved, hills shook, houses shattered,
&c.
- 'N"-Si'uA Si'ohEI has taken place Ill the
| manners of the people Ibelieve so many fer
vent prayers never were put up in this place as
were on that fearfulnight and morning. think
what has been done may be termed revival in
religion.
have just seen gentleman from Knoxville
who passed Sunday night with Mr. Nelson at
| the Warm springs from his account his situ.
Ton was more terrifying than ours. Tor sever
OIL ourSprcvious TO the shock the most trcfnen
dous noisewas heard ffomihe neighborinc noun
t2ns. At intervals it Yes quiet but would be-
gm witt so much violence that each repetition
vas Believed TO be the last groan Of expiring
nature. The shock at that place did but little
damage except to a few huts that we're built
| near tie springs for tho accommodation of The
iny"!ids. The Illuminating OF The mountains was
accompanied with flashes Of FIRE seen issuirr
from their sides Each fash ended with n s,,an'
or crack, like that which is heard on dischar :.
ING an electric battery, but 1000 times rs loud
ms induced aim 10 believe that the Earth
| quake vas caused by electric auid.
In tho morning It was observed that LARGE
stream OF warm water temperature bv Fab. I41
degrccs) issued from assure in n rock on the
side OF the mountain, which had been opened
the preceding night. While they were exam.
inmg It, another shock wac felt which lasted
two minutes. Although perfect calm, Tire tops
% the trees appeared to be greatly agitatcd tho
earth shook violently, aud the water of the
Warm springs at tbattipe oyerfowed by French
Broad River, was thrown up several times 10
the height Of thirty or lo Get.
Several masses Of stone were loosed from
their ancient beds aud pgccipiiaicd from the
SUBMITS aud sides of the mountains One in
particular, veil known to western travellers by
tne name OF TIC Painted Rock, was torn from
US base and tell across the road tina; leads from
hence to Knoxville T. has completely shut mn
tie passage for Wagons A great many pco.
PIE VINO were moving Vcstwardly arc IN pitia.
D,e SITUATION 1T this incicment season, being ina.
D'c 70 proceed until new road is made round
me i0SS, mo easy issk y in this tlcy arc cheer
'u'iy assisted BY thcir neighbors.