The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-10-07
A FLORIDA PHENOMENON.
Part Of Orange County Changed to a
Lake-An Interesting Story.

The last Palatka Herald has a letter from
Orange county, Florida, containing a thrill
ing narrative of the sinking Of a good por-
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.. Alexun-
der K. Foster has just come in with more
marvellous and startling reports. tie says
that on his way from Orlando to Millonville,
after crossing Fort Matlin branch, he left
the road to avoid the constant bogging to
which he was subjected. The safest place,
he thought, would be. on the crown of a
high blackjack ridge running parallel with
the road, which he accordingly took. After
riding perhaps a mile his horse commenced
begging, and for some distrnce 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 p]ortentious sounds
in his rear.
The begging grew worse as he proceeded,
until he had to dismount. There seemed
no escape for him both he and his horse
were still begging. The sounds in his rear
increased 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 sok behind him. His whole
thought and aim was 10 reach terra tirma.
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 chose 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 a giratory motion
ofthe 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 acres of a circle against the sky.
Then the whole earth, as far as the eye
could reach, sinking, and its place supplied
by a sea of waters, rushing, %seething, boil
ing with the noise of mighty cataracts, and
ever and amor clsting to the surface the
roots, tops or bodies Of mighty pines and
oaks.
If l could only tell it to you in the Ian
gnage of the awe. stricken witness. 1t must
have been, beyond comparison, the most
fearfully appalling and awe-inspiring sight
ever witnessed. The horse and man lie now
painting at the memory Of the horrors they
have so ~miraculously escaped.
People are rushing from theascene of dis
aster. Our camp is crowded with the ter
ror-stricken inhabitants from the country
in our rear. Everybody is waiting the fore
holdings and horrible expectations. They
believe the day of judgment has come. This
extraordinary phenomena appears more and
more extraordinary. The country for two
or three miles from here to Lake Melin is
entirely submerged, and is now one vast
lake. Nothing authoritative from beyond,
though rumors are rife that Orlando is
swallowed up and the whole chain of lakes
to Lake Conway are now united and form
an immense inland sea. We leave imme-
diately and in terror for own fate.
In haste, yours,
A. f. STURGES.
Apopka, Florida.