The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1874-05-06
ABOUT TIE VOLCANO.

>"'' w wi may uoh lc-
turn home and once more sleep with
out dreaming Of volcanoes bclchinp
out rca-hot lava upon them. They
need not now fear the sudden coming
of the day Of Judgment. The thing is
all explained. There is no volcano or
coming of the day of Judgment in the
matter at all; nor is it the action of
electricity, as some philosophers would
have us believe. Not by any means.
Sawboncs. (who seems to be doctor
Judging from his name, possibly law
yer: } has found out ali about it. lie lives
in the vicinity and has got to the bot.
tom of the whole thing. With some
reluctance we give the readers of the
HERALD his conclusion. Here it is
IN his own language. Never mind the
first words, his subject demands strong
expressions.
NEAR THE VOLCANIC REG1oNs,-
March 19,-'lI-ll anoat in the muun
tains !'-"Old Badly preparing to
Erupt Volcano .-Smoke .-Fro !!
The earth quaking Things trotting!'
i heard all this, and | could not
stand it, had never seen volcano, 50
[ mounted my horse and put out for
"Old Bald" The news got worse the
farther went. AS 7 approached the
mountain | met the natives II gcttin'---
men, women, children and dogs. They
begged me to turn back, and sung,
"Iurn, sinner, turn" and l think some
of them prayed for me. 1t beat old
Mrs. Wards saloon at Grccnvillc. To
get out Of tho fuss pushed con. |
struck leading spur of old Bald, and
rode up, up as far as could ride
Then lismounted, hitchcd my horse
and walked on. Where the spur john
cd the main mountain, MY way was
obstructcd by perpendicular rocks. |
could see smoke from the top, bnt /
could not hear the rumbling. I climb
ed up and around the mountain to
avoid the rocks. After proceeding
for some time, / began to hear the
ru'abhng. 1t appeared to be below
ne and farther around the mountain.
! got on high point, from which
there was commanding vicw below.
The rumbling from this point was ter
rlble and unaccountablo. Just here I
saw Il sight that astonished me more
than if the earth had yawncd at my
feet saw wagon with four mules,
driven furiousl y around the side Of
the mountain. 1t had on il an old
fashioned wagon-bcd, and from the
noise, there was q few loose rocks in
it. How the thing held together
bouncing about over the rocks is
unaccountable. 1t went few hun.
dred yards, and turned round. 1t
stopped about ten minutes as if to rest
tho mules thea here it came again.
The road (if it could be called road)
was about 400 yards long. 1t would
turn and rest tho mules at each end. !
saw it make several trips. !Thcn |
took drink from my flask, and scram-
blcd down to this Devils turnpike.
placed myself by the side Of the road
to wait for the wagon. Tn few
minutes here it came. The driver
did not see Inc, until he was within
fifty steps Of me. lie appeared as
tonishcd, stood up in his stirrups Che
was riding one Of tho mulcs) aud tried
to bluff me by yelling out
Get out Of the way, you id fool I"
AS soon as he spoke | knew him.
1t was George Skies. lie used to live
over in Buncombc when Madison was
part of Buncombc. [ picked up
couple Of rocks and placed myself in
the middle of the road. Then he
stopped and + went for him. Said /,
"Gcorgc, if you don't want to be lift.
cd from that mule with one Of the
dornicks, talk fast"
"Talk what z" said he.
"Volcano ~ said !.
"Now look here, Sawboncs," Che al
ways called me Sawboncs,) y "you know
that | am poor man. am paid by
INC cdltorS 10 10 THIS.
"But how about the smoke and
fire :"
lie said one Of his boys was on top
and with sticks and wet leaves he
kept up smoke. At night they
built fire.
GLOW about the blow out?"
Here George laughed outright.
lie said the natives were very
skittish when they heard the rum
bling, but when "the blow out" came,
they incontincntly toddled! lie had
buried II keg Of powder about eight
feet deep, inserted a tin tube in the
kcg, tramped ip the dirt, lit a slow
match and then she blew out.
"Thcy say they hear this rumbling
to Old Fort?"'
go, yes They hear it therc They
will hear, it in New York soon, the
news is spreading mighty fast! Saw
bones, for Gods sake give me all the
tobacco you have about you-~go home
to your family and keep your mouth
shut" ...'.
I did come home to my family.
The old quilt saw ME coming and ran
to meet me. Tho first word was "vol.
cano r. | told her the volcano was
all right, but that the cussedness of
human nature was breaking my heart,
and that ttifshe didn't get ia the house
and make mo 70. strong cup Of coffee,