The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1874-04-02


the AhaGitantS-Sirteen days Devo
ton.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn, March 2O.-Fol
the last 20 days the greatest excitement
has prevailed for distance of 25 miles
around and in the vicinity of Bald Noun
tain. This mountain is situated between
Crooked Creek in Mcdowell County, and
Broad River, the mountain also extend
ing into Rutherford County. That por-
tion OF the range within Mcdowell Coun.
ty is generally called Stone Mountain
The first occasions of alarm in this region
were witnessed on the 10th of February.
These consisted 10 what the people call
''a terrible lum bering," the earth seeming
to quiver to-a frightful extent Some
describe it as like thunder, gradually dy-
ing away, others as the roaring of heavy
artillery in the distance. On the 18th of
February two gentlemen on the highest
point of Bald Mountain, known as Har
ris's View, which is said to be next TO
Mount Mitchell in hight, heard
this strange noise. One Of them says it
at first reminded him OF the falling Of
heavy timber, and presented strange
combination of sounds and Impressions
Men living on the mountain sides and at
the base heard the same noises All think
that the noise was in the mountain.
But on the 22d of February the noise
had reached such point as to be positi
vely terrible. Among the persons living
on this mountain are Mr. Camp, Johnston
Elliott, Noah Elliott, widow Nanny.
Grange Morgan, James Gilbert and others
According to the statements of all these
and of perhaps fifty others, the mountain
was actually shaking. The moving was
if the entire mountain was giving away
The table ware and the furniture in the
houses all rocked and jolted with fright
full force 1t is said that the cattle have
become alarmed, and have wandered from
their usual range. Such was the fear
that; at about II O'Clock on the night of
Feb. %, the people, for miles around, be
gan to assemble at the house of Mr..
Camp, who, having gone to the wood pile
for wood, became so alarmed that he fell
upon his knees and began tie pray aloud
Very soon the terrible quaking of the
mountain was such that the great crowd
now assembled engaged in prayer
At daybrcak, on Monday morning,
George Logan, colored Baptist preach
er, was sent for in great haste, and so i'm
patent were they Of his arrival that por
tion of the crowd met him on the road
beseeching him to come and pray and
preach. The people thus assembled re.
mained in these devotious three days,
when they moved a short distance to a
vacant house, the property of Harris Ell
lott. On the third day Billy" Logan,
white Baptist preacher, was sent for
and came Immediately. On March 3, j.
NJ Lumly. a Methodist minister in charge
of Broad River Mission, was importuned
to attend and preach, and promptly com
piled with the request By an eye wit
ness the scenes are described as cxtraordi
nary. The people came focking ip
crowds of 10 and 20. including men, wo,
men, and children, all in the most terri
BILE state of fear, despair, and peniteuce.
On the day Mr.. LumIy preached the
house was literally packed. the preacher
barely having room to stand. So grea;
was the anxiety to hear that many climb
ed up the side of the walls and crowded
ON the josts above, only portion of the
upper story having floor. When the
call was made for "mourners" the people
rushed from all parts of the house and
from the outside, with almost frantic
yells, and fell upon the floor and upon
each other, all praying and supplicating
in the most heartfelt and agoniziug manner.
These exercises continued incessantiy
for l6 days aud nights, with but little in
Permission. During this time the people
all lived in common. No attention was
given to labor or property. Cattle, horses
and hogs were turned into the woods, and
all the people within the range of this
excitement have concluded that they have
but few more days to live. About 100
have made profession of religion. The
closing scenes of this strange meeting are
represented as most peculiar and wonder
full. During most OF this period of l6
days the mountain had continued at in
tervals to present the same alarming
phenomena. But having prayed, shouted,
sung and agoDized for this long period,
they separated with the promise that all
would remain and die together if neces
sary. 1t is said that the awe stricken
and melancholy dcmeanor of this vast
crowd On the breaking up of the devotions
bcggars all description. r
A letter was received in this city to. day
by gentleman whose mother resides near
Bald Mountain, stating tina: near the sum
nit of that peak an area of nearly au acre
was agitated by subtsrranean upheavals,
and then sank, smoke and vapor issuing
from the spot
MARION, N. c., March 20-The Bald
Mountain, in the south western part of
Mcdowell County, was shaken few days
since by volcanic throes, and some of the
Inhabitants in the neig borhood became
much excited and alarmed. However,
one Of the oldest citizens says that the
shock was not severer than it was in 1872
NJ fnrmatian b.s haan ro