Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1870-11-26
THE EARTHQCAKE 1872.
what the Methhdists Gained by It
Curious story Of Iecunseh.


Father Cartwright, in this autobl-
ography, gives some some facts to
show that this earthquake proved an
element of strength to the Methodists.
He says:
"In the winter of 1912 we had a
very severe earthquake. 1t seemed
10 stop the Mississippi, broke fiatboats
loose from their mo0rings, and opened
large creeks, or assures, in the earth.
This earthquake struck terror to
thousands OF people, and under the
mighty panic hundreds and thous-
ands crowded to and Joined the diff
ferent churches. There were many
very interesting incidents connected
with the shaking Of the earth at the
| time. Two i will name. / had
preached i'm Nashville the night be-
fore the second dreadful shock came,
to large congregation. Early the
next morning arose and walked out
on the hill near the house where /
hnd preached, when | SAW q negro
woman coming down the hill to the
spring, with an empty pail on her
head. Ut Is very common for ne
groes TO carry water this way with
out touching TIE pail with either
hand.) When she got within a few
rods of where | stood, the earth be
gan to trcmble and jar; chimneys
were thrown down, scntfolding
around many new buildings fell with
loud crash, hundreds of the citizens
suddenly awokc, and sprang to the
streets loud screaming followed, fol
many thought the day of judgment
had come. The young mistresses OF
the above named negro woman came
running after her, and begging her tU
pray for them. She raised the shout
and said to them, "My Jesus is com
ing in the clouds ofheuven, and can't
wait to pray for you now; 1 must go
and meet him. told you so, that he
would come, and you would not be-
leve me. Farewell. Hallelujah
Jesus Is coming, and l am ready
Hallelujah Amen" And on she
went, shouting and clapping hel
hands, with tho empty pail on hel
head.
Near Russellville, Logan county
KY, lived old Brother Valentine
Cook, of very precious memory, with
his wife Tabitha. Bother Cook was
II graduate of Cokesbury College, al
an early day in the history of Metho
dism in the United States. He wa.
II very pious, successful pioneer
preacher, but, for the want of u suffi
cicnt support for his rising and rapid
ly increasing family, he had located,
and was teaching school at the time
of the above named earthquake. II,
and his vile weIe in bed when the
4, 10, "a, n,1
lie sprang out of bed, threw open
the door, and began to shout, anC
started with nothing but his night
clothes. He steered his course Fast
shouting every step, saying, "MyJe
sus is comingw His wife took afte
him, and ut the top of her voice crieo
out, 90, Mr.. Cook, don't leave me-
80, Tabby,h said he, "my Jesus il
coming, and / cannot wait for you,
and on he went, shouting at every
jump, my Jesus is coming; ! cam
wait tor you, Tabhy."
The years of excitement by these
earthquakes hundreds Joined tht
Methodist Episcopal Church, an,
though many were sincere and stoOt
firm, yet there were hundreds that NJ
doubt had Joined them from mer,
fright,
The earthquake gave Tecumsch
the Shawnee cheiftain, the reputation
of q prophet among the Indians O
Alabama. n few months previous
to this event, he WAS on his mission
to the Southern Indians, to unite III
tho tribes of the South with those o
the North in his grand scheme of eX
terminating the whole white rae,
from the wide extent of the Missis
, sippi Valley, from the Lakes Vt the
North To the Gulf of Mexico. Drake
in his memoir OF Tecumseh, give
this aneCdote:
On his return from Florida, Tecum
sch went among the Greeks in Alaba
ma, urging them to unite with th,
, Seminoies. Arriving at Tuckabatche,
n Creek town on the Talapoosa river
he made his way to he lodge of the
chief, called the Big warrior. Ii,
} explained his object, delivered his
war-talk, presented n hundleot sticks
gave piece of wampum n hutchet
all of which the Big Warrior took. 60
" hen Tecumseh, reading the spirit
and intentions of the Big Warrior
looked him in the eye, aud pointing
his finger toward his face, said
l"Nour blood Is white; you have
taken my talk but you do not NEAR
to fight 4; ] know the reason; you dl
not believe the Great Spirit has sem
me, you shall know; l leave Tucka
batchee directly, and shall so straigh
to Detroit. When ! arrive there
will stamp on the ground with my
foot, and shake down every house II
Tuckhabatchce.n So saying, h,
turned and lett the Big Warrior il
utter amaZemrnt ut both his manne
and threat, and pursued his journey
The Indians We're struck no less witt
his conduct than was the Big War
lrior, and began To dread the arriva
ufthc day when the threatened calam
ity would bcmll them. They me
often and talked over the matter
and counted the days carefully 4
know the time when Tccumsel
4. would reach Detroit. The mOrnin:
they had tiXcd upon rs the period q
. his arrival at last came. \ might.
rumhling was heard the Indians al
ran out of their houses, the earth bo
gan To shake ; when Mt last, sur
enough, every house in Tuckaha
hatchhrc was shaken down Tn
: exclamation Was In every mouth
, recumSeh has got 10 Detroit ~
!. The chcct was electrical The mes
sage hc had delivered TO the Big Wal
rio, was believed and many of III