The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1871-10-05

STARTLING PHENOMENON.
A Large Portion Of a County in Florida
Changed to Lake-Trees, Houses and
People Engulfed.

A Large Portion Of a County in Florida
Changed to Lake-Trees, Houses and
People Engulfed.
The Palatka (Pla.) Herald has let
ter from Orange county, containing a
thrilling narrative of the sinking of a
good portion Of Orange county and the
formation of lake where il once stood
The account is as follows =
Mr.. Alex K Foster has just come in
with marvellous and starting reports. He
says that on his way from Orlando to Mil
lionville, after crossing Fort Metlin
branch, he left the road to avoid the con-
slant begging to which he was subjected
The safest place he thought would be on
the crown of a high black jack ridge
running parallel with the road, which he
accordingly took. After riding perhaps
a mile his horse commenced begging, and
for some distance it was questionable
whether he could get through. He, how
ever, reached more solid footing again
he commenced begging, and this time he
noticed remarkable and portentous sounds
in his rear. The begging grew worse as
| he progressed, 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, because more aud more alarming,
and the route in front more boggy he dare
not stop, as this would have rendered it
impossible to have extricaled himself, he
neither dare nor could look behind him
| his whole thought and aim was to reach ter
ra firma. Atlast, ,aiter the most superhuman
exertions, both he and his horse, exhaust
ed to the most extreme degree, he reach,
ed the solid ground. Turning to examine
into the cause of those fearful sounds in
| his rear, he saw the most terrific and APP
palling 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, ther
some sinking gradually out Of sight, the
tops revloving more and more rapidly as
it 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 eye could reach
sinking and its place supplied by sea Of
waters, rushing, seething, boiling with
the noise of mighty cataracts, and ever
and anon casting to the surface the roots
tops or bodies of mighty pines and oaks
1fI could only tell it to you in The
language of the awe stricken witness. L
must have been, beyond omparsion, tn,
most fearfully appalling and awe-inspir
ing sight ever witnessed. The horse AM
man lie now painting at the memory 0
the horrors they have so miraculously es
capped.
AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER.
People are rushing from the scene 0
disaster Our camp is crowded with tn
terror stricken inhabitants from the coun
try in our rear. Every body is waitin
with forebodings and horrible expecta
tions.
They believe the day of judgment ha
come This extraordinary phenomenon
appears more aud more extraordinary
The country, from two to three miles from
here to Lake Metlin, is entirely submerg
ed, and is now one vast lake. Nothin!
authoritative from beyond, though ru
mors ars ripe that Orlando is swallowe,
up, and the whole chain of lakes to LAX
Conway are now united and form an i'm
mense inland sea- We leave immediate
| lv and in terror for our own fate