The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-09-28
Miscellany.
Startling Phenomena in Florida

The last Paiatka Herald has letter>from
Orange. county, Fla, containing a thrilling
narrative Of the sinking ofa good portion Of
that county and the formation Of lake where
bit once stood. After relating the experience
Of one man, he goes to another, whose ac-
count is as follows: ;;
More and more wonderful Mr.. Alex. K.
Foster has Just come in with more mavellous
and startling reports. He says that on his
way from Orlando to Millonville, after cross
ing Fort Metlin branch, he left the road to
avoid the constant begging to which he
was subjected. The safest place he thought
would be on the crown Of 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 twas questionable whether
he could get through he, however, reached
more solid footing; again he commenced
begging at this time he noticed remarkable
and ,portentous sounds gin 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 ID his rear increased
more and more, and became more and more
alarming and the route infront more boggy
he dared mot stop, tas this. would Aaye !rep-
dered it impossible to have :eStriSated hin;'
self1hc '1iitht n1ieithter: dared nor could look be.
hind him, his whole tf6Hght and ain was to
reach terra ,f,Dta:t AT last after the most
sunerIumaii; exertions, both he.ahd hs horse
exhausted ! to the most. extreme degree, ahlee heet
reached thets5ld ground. Turning to; exz
anime t into the CAUSE IF those fearful s6duds
in his rear, he saw the most terrific and ap-
pallins sights itshasaevert !beenihy fate :io
listen TO. I The first thing that attracted. hg'
attention, was, that the trees we're n,oyitplggr
first a gilatory motion Of the top, then some
sinking gradually out Of sight, the tops re-
vdlvviing g i6org and more rapidly as they sunk
and disappeared, others following, and as
they fell, revolving and describing arcs of a
circle against the sky, Then the whole.
earth, as far as the eyes could reach, sinking
and its place supplied by a sea Of waters,
mighty catafacts, and ever and dhon east1hg
to the surface the roots, tops or bodies! Of.
mighty pines and and oaks. III could only
tell it to you in the language of the awe; ;ES
stricken witness; it must have been beyond
com mparison. 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 es-
capped. % .tc,,
People arc rushing from:the scene of dis
aster. Our camp is crowded with the ter
ror-stricken inhabitants, from, the country
in our rear, Everybody is waiting " With y
forcbodings of horrible expectations, 4, >,
They believe the day of Judgment has
come. This extraordinary phenomena, ap-
pears more and more extraordinary, Inc
country from two or three miles from here
to Lake Matlin is entirely submerged, and is
now one vast lake: Nothing authoritative
from beyond, though rumors are rife that
Orlando is swallowed up and;rthe whole
chain of lakes to Lake Conway arc now Ga5Ii 14ti
ted and form an immense inland sea. we
leave Immediately and in terror for our own
fate. . .a.' - o. an. :'''