The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1874-03-31
The North Carolina Volcano
The Excitement at Bald Noun
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KKoxvLLE, TENN, March 2O-For
the last twenty days the greatest excite
ment has prevailed within distance Of
twenty-five miles around the vicinity of
Bad mountain This mountain i, silu.
ated between Crooked creek, in Nc
Dowell county, and Broad river, the
mountain also extending into Ruther-
ford county. That portion of the range
within Mcdowell county is generally
called Stone mountain. The fist signs
Of alarm in this locality were witnessed
on the 10Th of February. THIS consis,
ted in what the people called a terrible
numbering, the Garth seeming to culver
to frl@htful extent. Some parties de
scribed it as terrible thunder, gradually
dying away in the distance Others de-
scribed the noise as the roaring of heavy
artillery in the distance
On the l2th Of February two gentle
men were on the highest point of Baid
mountain. known as H irris' View"
wh;uh is said to be next to Mount
Mitchell in height. On that day these
gentlemen heard this strange noise
One says it first reminded him or the
falling Of heavy timber. and presented
a strange COM hination of sounds and
impressions. Parties living on the
mountain side and at the foot heard the
same. All think that ,lfe noise was in
ttlle mountain. One man says that when
he was on one side of the mountain the
terrible noise was in the direction of
the mountain, and when on the oppo
site site the same indications we're Oh
served
All feel satisfied that the noise pro-
ceeds alone from this mountain, but on
the 22d of February the noise had
reached such point as to become per,
fectly terrible.
Among the persons living ON this
mountain are MIR. Camp, johnson El-
liot, Noah Elbow, Widow Nancy, Geo.
Morgan, James Gilbert, and others
From statement of all these parties,
and perhaps fifty others, the mountain
was actually shaking. The moving was
like the entire mountain was giving
away. The table ware and furniture in
the houses all rocked and jolted with
! frightful force. One man was riding ON
horseback, and his horse became fear
fully frightened. 1t is said that the cat
tie have become alarmed, and wandered
from their usual range.
Such was the alarm that about IL
o'clock at night on the 22d the peol lie
for miles around began to assemble at
the house OF man 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 mountain was such that
the great crowd now assembled engaged
in prayer At davbresk on Monday
morning George Logan, colored Bap.
tist preacher, was sent for in great haste,
and so impatient were they of his arri.
val that portion Of the crowd met him
on the road, beseeching him to come
and pray and preach.
The people that assembled remained
in these devotions three days, wber
they moved short distance to vacant
house, the property of Harris Elliott
About the third day Billy Logan, 4
white man and Baptist preacher, wal
sent for, who came Immediately o.
the Sd of March j. NJ Lumly, th'
Methodist minister in charge of th'
Broad river mission. was importuned t
: attend and preach, who promptly com
piled with the request.
The scenes are described by an eye
witness as most strange and extraordin
sry. The people came hocking il
crowds of fifteen and twenty, includin.
: men and women and children, all pre-
, senting a most terrible state of fear
despair and penitence.
I On the day Mr. Lumly preached tn,
c house was literally packed, the preache
barely having room to stand So grea
/, was the rush to hear that many ciimbe'
j up the side of the walls and crowde,
: on the joists above, only q portion O
the upper story haviag a door. an
5 many, not being able to enter the house
e crowded their heads in the door and al
e around the house, maniiestiDg the mos
4 intense interest When the call wa
made for mourn.rs the people rushe
from all parts of the house and fror
: outside, with almost frantic yells, an
l fell upon the floor and upon each othe
t all PRAYING and suppIicating in the mos
8 heartfelt and ayonizing manner eve
: witnessed on earth.
!, These exercises continued incessan'
!, ly for sixteen days and nights, with hu
little intermission. During this tim
! the people all lived in common. N
e attention was given to labor or prop
erty. Cattle, horses, and hogs wer
D turned to the woods, and the entire pee
pie within the range Of this awful el
: citement have concluded that they hav
j but few more days to live Abou
s one hundred have made profession G
: religion.
The closing scenes of this strane
meeting are represented as most pecr
liar and wonderful During most c
this period of sixteen days the noun
, tain had continued at intervals to pre-
= sent the same alarming impressions, bu
having PRAYED. shouted, sung, and age
y , nized for this long period, they separs
ted with the promise that all would re
/ main, and die if necessary. 1t is sal
: that the awe stricken countenances an
= melancholv demeanor of this vast crow
on the breaking up of the devotions at
beyond all description.
' A letter was received in this city tc
dav bv gentleman whose mother re
a sides near Bald mountain, stating tha
!. near the summit of that peak an are
Of nearly an acre was agitated nv SUI
It terrancan upheavals and then sinking
n from which smoke and vapor issued.
# EFOn the day of Senator Summer
). funeral services at the Capital, the Ser
ate being the center of attraction, th