Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1874-04-07
BALD MOUNTAIN.
Latest from the North Carolina
Volcano.


Colonel Woodsnn. city editor of the
Raleigh NeWS, who has been spending
some days in the trembling volcanic re-
gions of Bald and Stone Mountains,
sums up his conclusion and those Of a
distinguished geologist in letter to
his paper as follows:
VOLCANIC DISTURBANCES
ARE A FIXED FACT.
At Marion, Old Fort and Sugar Hill,
all near the Catawba river, they were
distinctly heard and felt; at Chimney
Rock, the foot Of the range at Broad
river, the rumbling and trembling was
experienced day after day by every eiti-
zen of the village, and even as far as
RutherfOrdtOn, still sixteen miles dis
tant, the shaking of the earth was felt
by number of persons. We saw,
heard and felt it, as did every man in
our party. Therefore, we deem it un-
necessary to give the detailed inter
views of other parties to prove that
these disturbances actually exist in
Stone and Bald Mountains.
We will now proceed to detail an
INTERVIEW WITH PROF. DUpRE,
which may give some light as to the
probable cause and effect of the distur-
bances. Pgofes' 0r Dupre is native
born aud educated Virginian, though
for several years has filled with dis
tinguished ability the chair of natural
science of WOtfOrd college, Spartans-
burg, S. G.. He is regarded as one of
the most accomplished geologists ih
the South, and as a scientist; has a
reputation Second to no man in this
country At the first report of the
Bald mountain disturbance he set OHt
with the senior class of WOff0rd col
lege to explore and analyze the new
wonder. We first met his party on
Stone mountain, where we asked for
All interview the next day at Chimney
Rock, which was kindly granted.
Professor Dupre said, when weasked
professionally his opinion in regard to
the nature of the disturbances, that
from his limited observations, and the
short space of time he had been on the
mountains, he was unprepared to ex-
press his WE'VE fully, especially as the
disturbances were strictly volcanic in
their actions, and yet to be so, would
overthrow the foundation and princi-
plies of geology. In the first place, said
he, "VOlcanOes, heretofore, have al
ways bOrdeTed the sea, and have only
occurred near deep waters. None has
ever occurred farther than fifty miles |
from deep waters on the sea coast, and |
there is no theory that would indicate |
volcanic action III the Appalachian |
chain, the nearest point of which to |
the sea Is two hundred and fifty miles, |
and at that point the water is shallow. |
Moreover there has never been even |
any reported eruption, east Of the |
Rocky mountains and none on the |
Atlantic coast. These facts have es
tabliShe1 the main foundation of geo.
logical theory and il these disturban- !
ces are volcanic (which I firmly be- |
lieve) it creates new epOcI in geo. |
logical science that will doubtless at |
tract the attention of scientists of the |
civilized world. have taken Observa-
ti0ns and thoughly explored both |
Stone and Bald mountains; have felt
and experienced the shocks and heard |
the rumbling noises OH both. l have |
cOnverSed with reliable and intelligent |
citizens living on, near and adjacent |
to both, and though / am satisfied in
my mind thai the trembling of the |
earth. extending a distance of twenty |
six miles from the Broad to the |
C3itaHa rivers. and the noise is heard !
al still greater distance, that it is |
alone to rOicTnjc action, |
though prefer posting myself further !
before expressing professional 5pin-
ion.
In reply TO our question as to wheth- |
er Of hot these rumhling noises or |
- l.,
quakes, he said, 'rumbling noises are |
common as premonitory Symptoms of
both earthquakes and volcanoes, but |
the explosive sounds that / nave !
heard to-day and yesterday are COM
mon only to and characteristic of vol
canoes
Prof: Duprc alSo said that "the noise
made in the mountain is of the exact |
description of the sounds that pro-
ceeded from Mt. dItna previous to an |
eruption. He adopts Prof Agassiz's |
theory, that the tentre of the earth is |
q motion mass, that tidal waves of fire !
constantly roll through it like waves |
of the ocean; that the crust of the earth |
at its thinnest point is only twelve |
miles thick; that these waves Of fire |
and heat melt off portions of this crust |
at IlS JHiHIeSI DOiub uIltll Hhaliy the
crust ig broken through and the lire
from below pours out"
we will state that the shocks and
tremblings are becoming less frequent
and severe, though the inhabitants
when we left to-day friday were still |
uneasy and undecided what to do,
whether to remain or stay in the vi
6inity. Tuesday evening of this week
was the last shock reported up to Fri
day night. This shock was hardly !
felt on Bald but quite severe on Stone
Mountain.