Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-04-04
VOLCANO IN NORTH cARoGIsA.
Great Agitation Of Bald Mountain
TerrOw and Alarm.

a
Great Agitation Of Bald Mountain
J Terrow and Alarm.
From the New York Times.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn, March 20.
For the last twenty days the greatest
excitement has prevailed for a distance
of twenty-five miles around and in
the vicinity of Bald Mountain. This
mountain is situated between Crooked
Greek, in Mcdowell county. aud Bread
River, the mountain also extending
! into Rutherford county That portion
I of the range within Mcdowell county
is generally called Stone Mountain.--
The first signs Of alarm in this locality
were witnessed on the 10th Of Febru-
airy. This consisted in what the neo-
pie call terrible numbering. the earth
seeming to duiver to frightful extent.
Some parties described it as terrible
thunder, gradually dying away in the
distance, others as the roaring of heavy
artillery in the distance.
On the 18th of February, two gen.
tlemen, Oh the highest point of Bald
Mountain, known as Harris View,
which is said to be next to Mount
Mitchell in height; heard this strange
noise. One of them said that at first
it reminded him of the falling of heavy
timber, and presented strange com
biratiOn of sounds and impressions.
Parties living on the mountain sides
and at the base heard the same noise.
All think that the noise was in the
mountain. One man says 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 side the same indications were OBJ
served. All feel satisfied that the
noise proceeded alone from this noun
tain. On the 22d of February the
noise had reached such point as to
be absolutely terrible.
Among the persons living on this
mountain are Mr.. Camp, Johnston FL
liot. Noah Elliot. widow Nanny, Geo.
Morgan, Jas. Gilbert, and others
From the statements of all these par
ties and of perhaps Fifty Others, the
mountain was actually shaking. The
moving was as if the entire mountain
was giving away. The tableware and
the furniture in the house all rocked
and jolted with frightful force. 1t is
said that the cattle became alarmed,
and have wandered from their usual
range. Such was the alarm that, at
about u o'clock on the night of the
I'D ult, the people for miles around
began 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
to pray aloud.
Very soon the terrible quaking Of
the mountain was such that the great
crowd now assembled engaged in
PRAYER. At day-break on Monday
morning George Logan, a cOlored Bap-
tist preacher, was sent for in great
haste, and so impatient were they of
his arrival that portion of the crowd
met him on the road, beseeching him
to come and pray aud preach The
people thus assembled remained in
these devotions three days, when they
moved a short distance to a vacant
house, the property of Harris Elliot.
On the third day Billy Logan, white
Baptist preacher, was sent for and
came Immediately On March 3, j. VI.
Lumley. Methodist minister in charge
of Broad River Mission, was impor-
tuned 10 attend and preach, aud he
promptly complied with the request.
From an eyewitness the scenes are
described as most strange ard extra
ordinary. The people came fOcking
in crowds of fifteen and twenty, in
cluding men, women and children, all
presenting the most terrible state of
fear, despair and penitenee. On the
day Mr.. Lumley preached, the house
was literally packed, the preacher
barely having room to stand. 80 great
was the rush to hear, that many climb
ed up the side of the walls and
crowded on the jOists above, Onlya
portion of the upper story having
floor. and many not being able 70 en-
ter the house, crowded their heads in
at the doors and manifested the most
intense excitement. When the call
was made for mOurners the people
rushed from all parts of the house and
from the outside, with almost frantic
wells. and fell upon the floor and upon
each other, all praying and supplica-
ting in the most heartfelt and ag0n-
iZing manner.
These exercises continued incessant-
" for sixteen days and nights, with
little intermission. During this time
the people all lived in common. No
attention was given to labor or prop
erty. Cattle, horses and hogs, were
turned to the woods, and the entire
people within the range of this awful
excitement have concluded that they
have but few more days to live
About one hundred have made pro-
fessions of religion. The closing scenes
of this strange meeting are represent
ed as most peculiar and wonderful =
During the most of this period of six
teen DAYS the mountain had continued
at intervals to present the same alarm
ing 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. 1t is said that the awe
stricken countenanees, the melancholy
demeanor of this vast crowd, on the
breaking up of the devotiOns, are be-
yOnd all description.
A letter was received in this city to-
day by gentleman, whose mother re-
sides near Bald Mountain, stating that
near the summit of the peak, an acre
was agitated By subterranean upheay-
ais, and from which smoke and va
por issued.