New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-09-22
FLORIDA PHENOMENON.
Part Of Orange County Changed to a
Lnke-An Iuteresfinx Story.

A/uAc-<A0 AuteECSlAO8 SIOrys
The last Palatka Herald has letter from
Orange county, Florida, containing thrill
ing narrative of the sinking of a good Dor
ton OF Orange county and the formation Of
a lake where it once stood. After relating
the experience of one man, he goes to an
other, whose account is as follows:
More and more wonderful! Mr.. Alexander
X. Foster has just come in with more mar
vellous and startling reports. He says that
on his way from Orlando to MillOnyille,
after crossing Fort Matlin branch, he left
the road to avoid the constant bagging to
which lie was subjected. The safest place,
blackjack ridge running parallel with the
road. which he accordingly took. After
riding perhaps mile his horse commenced
begging, aud for some distance it was ques-
tionable whether he could get through. He
however reached more solid footing. Again
he commenced begging. At this time he
noticed remarkable and portentious sounds
In his rear
Inc begging grew worse as he progress we'd,
until lie he'd to dismOunt. There seemed no
escape for him; both he and his horse were
still begging. The sounds in his rear in
creased more and more, and became more
and more alarming, and the route IN front
more Doggy. He dare not stop, as this
would have rendered it impossible for him
to have extricated himself: he neither dare
nor could look behind him. His whole
thought and aim was to reach terra firma.
At last, after the most superhuman exer
tons, both he and his horse. exhausted to
the most extreme degree. reached solid
ground. Turning to examine into the cause
of those fearful sounds in his rear he saw
the most terrific and appalling sights it has
ever been my fate to listen to. The first
thing that attracted attention was that the
trees were moving, first giratOry motion
Of the top. then some sinking gradually out
of sight, the tops revolving more and more
rapidly as they sunk and disappeared
others following. and as they fell revolving
and describing arcs of circle against the
sky. Then the whole earth as far as the
eve could reach, sinking. and its place sup
piled by a sea OF waters, rushing seething,
boiling with the noise OF mighty cataracts.
and ever and anon casting to tine surface
the roots, tops or bodies Of mighty pines
and oaks.
Ii l could only tell it to you in the Ian
guage of the awe-stricken witness. 1t
must have been, beyond comparison. the
most feartully appalling and awe-inspiring
sight ever witnessed. The horse and man
lie now painting at the memory of the hor-
rOrs they have so miraculOusly escaped.
People are rushing from the scene OF dis
aster. Our camp is crowded with the ter
inhabitants from the country
in our rear. Everybody is waiting the fore
bodings and horrible expectations. They
believe the day of judgment has come. This
phenomena appears more
and more extraordinary. The country for |
two or three miles from here to Lake Melin |
3 entirely submerged. and is now one vast |
axe. Nothing authoritative from beyond, |
though ruMors are rife that Orlando is |
'wallowed up and the whole chain OF lakes |
% Lake Conway are now united and form |
IN immense inland sea We leave imme-
lately and in terror for our Own fate
In haste. yours,
A. F. STCRGES.
Apopka. Florida.