Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-04-09
The Threatened Volcano.

L reached here this morning, after rid
ing all night, from Chimney Rock. Fri
day afternoon [ found myself unable to
make the ascent of Stone Mountain, which
is now established as the seat of the most
serious disturbance. Stone Mountain is
of the same range as the Bald Mountain,
lying seven miles northeast, and the
shocks have extended between the two
With guide | crossed Stone Mountain,
and at one minute past four / experienced
quite shock, which frightened my horse
and guide so much that both seemed
about to leave me. Descending upon the
southern side, | made the circuit of the
Knots and joined a party of students, pro-
fessOrs and reporters at the Widow Mans,
on the north side of the mountain. Here
we experienced second shock, which
shook Preacher Logan off a rail fence
upon which he was sitting, and ladder,
which was resting against the side of the
house, was thrown down. Great excite
ment prevailed among the people, and
some forty-four candidates for baptism on
the following Sunday began to be doused
at once, despite the cold and rain.
Friday evening the party separated in
order to get accommodations at the differ
ent farm-houses, with the stipulation that
they should meet the following morning
at Chimney Rock to interview Prof.
Dupre, Professor of Natural Science, Wat
ford College, Spartanburg, S. G.. Satur-
day morning we met the Professor, and
after going through a portion of Bald
Mountain with him held the private in
terview at Justiss' Tavern. The people
had heard of the contemplated interview,
and gathered from far and wide about the
hntal I,,o,oooo1IIo TO lyon,> IL
of the room.
The Professor said: az have exam
ined carefully into the nature of these
made with regard to the leading facts
stated by the people, as connected
with the broad theory of volcanic move
ments. The noises that have been heard
on the mountain are common to both
earthquakes and volcanic movements.
As far as l have heard, the explosive
noises that have begun these rumblings
are characteristic of volcanic movements.
The limited area of the noise and shocks
seems also to favor volcanic movements
This does not embrace more than ten or
twelve miles. All shocks have been be-
tween two large rivers, the Broad and
Catawba, both of which head from these
mountains. If this was an earthquake
wave it would not be so limited in its
area, and as volcanic movement would
be extending at so great a distance
from the sea, the question remains to be
decided: May not this lie an earthquake
wave, limited in its area by the two large
rivers bounding it,"
Brother Logan here asked the Professor
if he thought there was any danger, to
which there was negative reply. The
preacher said that after the shock at
Widow Mans and the sudden departure
of the newspaper man and the scientists,
the people had become more demoraliZed
than ever, and that, as he had to preach
to them on the following day, he wished
to have it from their own lips that we
were not scared and that there was no
danger. We gave him ample assurance,
and left at nightfall for Bald Mountain to
observe as to the reported bright lights to
be seen thereupOn. We saw bright haze
through the mist, but, being unable to
trace it to its source, attributed it to at
mospheric influences.
During Sunday, wherever I rode, the
people flocked to the roadside, making
the most diligent inquiries and display
ing the utmost anxiety. They seemed to
be as much disturbed by our coming as
by the volcanic movements No shocks
have been heard since Friday afternoon.
-Marion, N. c., (March 23) Cor. N. Y.
Herald.