Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-03-21
Holding Pro,racted PRAYER Meetings.


Knoxville, 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
creek, in Mcdowell county, and Broad river,
the mountain also extending into Rutherford
county. That portion of the range within
Mcdowell county is generally called Stone
mo untain.
The first signs OF disturbance in this To-
calty were witnessed on the 10Th of Febru-
ruary. This consisted in what people call a
terrible numbering. The earth seemed to
culver to frighttul 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 February 18th, two gentlemen on the
highest point of Bald mountain, known as
Harris view, which is said to be next to
Mount Mitchell in height, heard this strange
reminded him of the falling Of heavy timber,
and presented strange combination of sound
and impression. Parties living on the noun
tain side and at the base heard the same
noise. All think that the noise was in the
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 other siee the same indica-
tons were observed. All feel satisfied the
noise proceeded alone from this mountain.
On the 22d of February the noise had become
perfectly terrible. Among the persons liv-
ing on this mountain are Mr.. Camp, Johnston
Elliott, Noah Elliott, Widow Manly, George
Morgan, James Gilbert and others. From
the statements of all these parties and per-
haps fifty others, the mountain was actually
VI 90 no
mountain was giving away. The table ware
and furniture in the houses jotiled with
frighful force. 1t is said that the cattle have
become alarmed and have wandered from
their usual range. Such was the alarm that
Oh the night of the 22d ult, at about ~ o'clock
the people for miles around began to ASSEM-
bic at the house Of Mr., Camp. Camp, hav-
ing gone to the woodpile 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 a
great crowd now assembled and engaged in
prayer. At day break on Monday morning
George Logan, a colored preacher, was sent
for in great haste, and SO impatient were they
for his arrival that a portion of the crowd
met him on the road, beseeching him to come
and pray and preach.
The scenes are described as most extfaor-
binary. The people come foching crowds OF
IL and 20 including men and women all pre-
sentinS the most terrible state Of fear, despair
and peniteRce On the day Mr.. Lam5y
preached the House was literally filled, the
preacher barely having room 70 stand SO
great was the rush to hear that many rushed
up the eide of the walls and crowded on III t
jOlsts above. only portion Of the upper
story having Il floor, and many not being able
to enter the house crowded around the OUT
side manifesting the most intense Interest,"
When the call WAS made for mourncrs t
people focked from all parts of the house
and outside with the most frantic yels and
fell upon tie iloor and upon each other, all
praying and supplicatns il the most heart
felt manner.
These eoc!ciseS continued for sixteen days
and lights. During this time the people all
lived common. No attention WAS paid 10 la
Dor or properly. Cattle, horses and hogs
were turned into the woods. The entire peo-
pie within the range OF this excitement have
-.Acluded that they have but a few DAYS to
I.
About hundred have made profession of
religion.
The closing scenes of this meeting are rep.
resented as most wonderful.
ued at intervals to present the same alarming
Impressions.
A letter was received by man in this city,
from his mother, stating that near the sum
NIT of Bald mountain an area of an acre
was agitated by subterranean upheavals from
which smoke nd vapor arise