Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-03-27
From the A>heville Expositor.
GREAT EXCITEMENT
BALD MOUNTAIN.
The Scenes Connected with the
Recent Volcanic Indications.
The People Sing, Pray
and Preach

| uu0 SSSHOS SouuSSI0o WIFI IIte
Recent Volcanic Indications.
The People Sing, Pray
and Preach.
BUSINESS ABANDONED
The People Use Everything in Com.
mon and Await the Result
NEAR THE VOLCANIC REGIONS,
Mcdowell Co., March II, 1874
EDITOR ExPOsIToR For the last
twenty days the greatest excitement
has prevailed, to distance of ten miles
around the vicinity of Bald Mountain.
This mountain is situated between
Crooked Greek, in Mcdowell county,
and Broad River-the mountain also
extending in Rutherford county-that
portion of the range within Mcdowell
is more generally called Stone Noun
tain. The first signs of alarm in this
locality were Witnessed on the 10th day
of February, about l o'clock in the
evening. This consisted in what the
people call ''terrible lumbering," the
earth seeming to ''quiver" to a fright
full extent. Some parties describe it
as terrible thunder, gradually dying
away in the distance others describe
the noise as the roaring of heavy artil-
lery i'll the distance.
And on the 18th of February, two
gentlemen were on the highest point
of Bald Mountain, at what is known as
Harris View-which is said to be next
to Mt Mitchell in height. On that
day these gentlemen heard this strange
noise. One of the gentlemen says, it
first reminded him of the falling of
heavy timber, aid presented strange
combination of sounds and impress
ions. Parties living on the mountain
sides, and at the foot, heard the same
| all think that the noise was within
the mountain. One man says when he
was on one side of the mountain, the
terrible noiso was in the direction of
the mountain-and when on the oppo-
site side, the same indications were
observed. All feel satisfied that the
noise proceeds alone from this noun
tain.
But on the 22d of February, the
noise had reached such a point as to
become perfectly terrible. Among the
persons living on this mountain are
Mr.. Camp, Johnston Elliott, Noah Ell
lott, Widow Nanny, George Morgan,
statement of all these parties, and per-
! tually shaking" the moving was like
the entire mountain was giving away,
the tableware in the houses, the fur
niture all rocked and jolted with fright
full force. One man riding on horse
! back, his horse became fearfully fright
ened. 1t is said that the cattle have
become alarmed and wandered from
their usual range.
Such was the alarm, that about II
! o'clock at night, on the ODD, the peo-
pie for miles around began to assem-
bic at mans house by the name of
Camp. And Camp having gone to
the wood pile for wood, became SO
alarmed that he fell upon his knees
and began to pray aloud. Very soon
the terrible "quaking" of the noun
tain was such that the great crowd
now assembled engaged IN prayer. At
day break on Monday morning of the
25th nit, George Logan, a colored
Baptist preacher, was sent for in great
haste. And SO impatient We're they of
his arrival. that portion Of the crowd
met him on the road. beseeching him
to come and pray and preach. The
people thus assembled remained in
these devotions for three days, when
they moved a short distanoc to a va
cant house, the property of Harris Ell
lott About the third day Billy Lo-
gan, white man and Baptist preacher,
was sent for, who came Immediately.
On the Sd day of March, Rev. J. NJ.
Lumly, the Methodist Minister in
charge of the Broad River Mission,
was importuned TO attend and preach,
who promptly complied with the re-
quest.
From an eye witness, the Scenes are
described as most strange and extra
ordinary. The people came focking
| in crowds of from fifteen to twenty,
including men, women and children,
all presenting the most terrible state
of fear, despair and penitence.
On the day Mr.. Lumly preached,
the house was literally packed, the
preacher barely having room to stand;
50 great was the rush to hear, that
many rushed up the side of the walls
and crowded on the joists above-only
portion of the upper story having
a floor.
The portion having the floor was
filed, t:us forming sort OF gallery.
And many not being able to enter the
house, crowded their heads in the
| door and all around the house, mani
Testing the most intense interest.
When the call was made for mourners,
the people rushed from all parts of tue
house, and from outside of the house
with almost frantic yelis, and fell
npon the floor, and upon each other,
all praying and supplicating in the
most heartfelt and agonizire manner
| ever witnes sed Oh earth.
These exercises continued inces-
sanity for 16 days aud nights with but
little intefmissis.n.
| During most OF this period of IL
days the mountain had continued at
intervals to present the same alarming
impressions. But having prayed,
shouted, sung and agonized for this
long period, they separated with the
promise that all would remain and
die if necessary.
As write, the exc.temeu5 is not so
! great, bat all ar2 fearfully apprehen
| sive of some terrible calamity.
! SEpoRTER.
! ---<-<.e----
search the scriptures.
The Rev. Henry w. Foote, pastor of
the Kings Chapel, who conducted the
funeral services for MIR. Sumner at
Boston yesterday, read, i'll addition to
the usual service of the chaps !, some
remarkably opposite selections from
the Scriptures. among WHICH were the
following: (Geuerai Butler was an
auditor. and we trust that le was
edited
Il have not sat with vain persons,
neither will ! ge IL With diasamhlers.
1 have hated the congregation of evil
doors, and will not sit W tn the wicked
I will wash mine hands in Innocence
Gather not my soul wit, sinners, nor
my life with bloody men in whose
hands is mischief, and their right hand
is full of bribas.
"Apd now be bold. an, gray
haired, and 1 have walked before you
from. my childhood until this day
Behold, here am, witness against ne,
before the Lord, aud before his
Anointed. What OK have I taken ?
or who's. ass have taken? or whom
have I defrauded? or whom have I
oppressed? or of whose hand have |
received any bribe 20 blind mine eyes
| herewith 9'