The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-27
TIC BALD MOUNTAIN TERROR.
A Renewal Of the Phenomenon with
Greater Violence
CMcial Report Of Professor Du Pre-,
Who Believes 1t Is Caused
by Earthquakes.

Tne Ashevine IN. c. Erp0stfor OF the 20
asserts that the commotion at Bald ana stone
moup tains ON the previous Friday was more
violent than in February. many oi tne news
papers, ir says have treated this disturbance as
. mvtn and humbug; but the recent tremendous
noyement OF this mountain has assumed charac-
ser too serious for rdicule. We do not pretend to
ne able TO say what may be the result OF this won.
aerfu phenomenon but the facts stated strictly
true; and the people feel impressed with the
solemn premonitons OF some terrible movement
IN This mountain"
The Erpositor has detailed accounts OF the shak-
ing verified by responsible parties, and describes
the terror SO great even twenty-lour miles from
tne mountain that many settlers are preparing 10
abandon their homes.
There seems after all TO be little doubt that the
shaking OF the mountain Is traceaDle to volcanic
influences. Professor Du Pre-, Geoogist OF Woiord
College, south Carolina in his Official report, takes
sAis view After describing his visit to the scene
Of Ine disturbance, he says
ALL THE TESTIMONY
which we collected from the people while passing
along the eastern ana western side Of this noun
tain, covering distance OF eighteen miles, con-
Cured IN the following summary That there
were certain days marked ny loud reports and
severe shakes mat iron from nity 70 -
that the noise begins with an explo-
SION Ike blast, followed by rumoling
the shocks are simultaneous, almost SO with the
reports, and seemed to follow the direction OF the
rumDllng sound, with this exception. that those
near the top OF the mountain assert they appear
10 be under and all around them; that the reports
all came from Stone and Bald Mountain ridge
those living on the east side pointing TO the west,
and those on the west pointing to the east Tor the
erection OF sounds: that these reports occur as
as in foul; inat the effects are felt Ave miles on
eacn side OF the mountain ridge, and extend from
miles. that houses
shake, trees with their dead leaves tremble
glasses and crockery rattle, shavings IN their
workshops shake ana s'quaver.' as one expressed
Ii. This testimony was collected from thirty or
forty men and women OF different degrees OF In
tellgence and their remarkable Occurrences IN the
above statement places the facts beyond the pos
siDil1ty Of doubt.
Several hypothesis have been proposed to ey-
plain these facts one Is that the blasting OF rock
about the mountains Will account Tor all OIL tnenl
There is certainly none about Stone Mountain and
MS the work upon the tunnels IN swannanoah Gap
mas ceased .or more than twelve months, there Is
no occasion for blasting anywhere else as fine
stones for building purposes, Of every form ana
size are scattered over an these mountains. An
other hypothesis that these effects may be the
result OF electricity escaping from the mountain TO
tine cloud, or descending rom the cloud 10 the
mountain. In the first place. these SOUNDS anu
SHOCKS occur as often in fair as in foul weather;
and the sounds are aitogether unerent, as we nau
an 1gPppor1uni o. nnnn the mountai
The simultaneOusness OF the shocks and explosions
proves that the sound has not lar 10 LrArel tnrCusn
the air to reach the observer; and while the pri-
mary cause OF the explosions may be deeply seated
IN the EARTH yet the immediate cause OF the sounds
NAV be at or near the surface. am inclined TO
the opinion that most Of the noises accompany ing
earthquakes are the results oil Migratory move
ments in the earth's crust, are the secondary
effects OF force acting at great depths beneath.
This opinion seems TO be sustained by tine evidence
OF the witnesses upon the summit, as well as i've
miles from the base OF Stone Mountain. all Of whom
concur as to the
sIMULrANEOUsNESs OF THE SHOCKS
and EXPLOSIONS TO this 1t may be objected that
earthquake SHOCKS often unaccompanied with
noises, that the former may precede the latter by
several minutes. In reply Will state that the crust
OF the earth is composed OF different strata some
capable OF transmitting vibrations that are audible,
and others that are not, as string may be made
Row, suppose our observer TO be standing upon 3
section Of the earth's crust which ID incapable OF
receiving or impartlng sound vibrations; ne may
feel the earthquake shocks and yet hear no noise
or II sounds should reach him alter an interval oil
tune, they may come from a distant section capa-
BILE OF producing them but which musr be trans
mttted to his ear through the intervening atmos-
phere. 1hls discussion leads me to the conclusion
that the phenomena connected with the agitation
Of Stone Mountain must be referred to that general
volcanic or earthquake force which seems as
necessary to the economy OF nature as light, heat
DR. electricity.
North Carolina paper reports that number OF
scientific gentlemen from the North, and one from
Prussia, are now exploring old Badly, and it Is
likely that long the public viii have the benefit
OF their conclusions.