Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-03-26
THE Nsa.H CAROLINA VOLCANO.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn, March 20-For.
the last twenty days the greatest ex
element has prevailed within a dis.
lance of twenty five miles around the
vicinity OF Bald mountain. This
mountain is situated between Crooked
creek, in Mcdowell county, and Broad
river, the mountain ALSO extends into
Rutherford county. That portion of
the range within. Mcdowell county is
GENERALLY called Stone mountain. The
first signs Of alarm in this locality
were witnessed on the tenth of Fehrn
airy. This consisted in what the PEG
pie call q terrible numbering, the earth
seeming to CULVER to frighttrl extent.
Some parties described it as terrible
thunder, gradually dying away in the
distance Others describe the noise as
the roaring Of heavy artillery in the dis
tanoe.
Or the 18th Of February two gen
tlemen We're on the highest point of
Bald mountain, known as "Harris'
View" which is said to be next to
Mount Mitchell in height On that
day these gentleman heard this strange
noise. One says it first reminded him
of the falling of heavy timber, and pre-
sented strange combination of sounds
and impressions. Parties living on
the mountain side aud at the foot heard
the same. All think that the noise
was in the mountain. One man says
that when he was on one side of the
mountain the terrible nose was in the
direction of the mountain, aid whei. on
the opposite side the same indications
were observed.
All feel satisfied that the noise pro
ceeds alone from, this mountain, but on
the 22d of February the noise had reach
ed such a point as to become perfect
ly terrible.
Among the persons living OF. this
mountain are MIR. Camp, Johnston
Elliott, Moan Elbow, Widow Nanny,
George Margan, James Gilbert. and
others. From statement of all these
parties, and perhaps fifty others, the
mountain was actually shaking. The
muving was like the entire mountain
was giving away. The tableware and
furniture in the houses all rocked and
jolted with trightful force One man
was riding on horseback, and his horse
became feartulls frightened 1t is said
that the cattle have become alarmed,
and wandered from their usual range
Such was the alarm that about twelve
o'clock at night on the 22d the people
for miles around began to assemble at
the house of a man by the name OF
Camp, and Camp having gone to the
wood pile for wood became 80 alarmed
that he fell upon his knees and began
to pray aloud. Very soon the terrible
qraking Of the mountain was such that
the great crowd now assembled engaa
ged in prayer. At daybreak OH Mon
day morning George Logan, cnlore,'
Baptist preacher, was sent for in great
haste, and So impatient were they OF
his arrival that a potion Of the crowd
met him on the road, beseerhing him
to come and pray and Preach.
The people thus assembled remained
in these dcvolions three days, when
they moved short distance to va
cant house, the property Of Harris
Elliott. About the third day Billy
Logan, white man and a Baptist
preacher, was sent for, who came i'm
mediattly On the Sd of March J. Nj.
l.unly, the Methodist minister in
charge OF the Broad river mission, was
importuned to attend and preach, who
promptly complied with the request.
The scenes are described by an eye
witness as most strange and extraordin-
ary The people came fiocking in
crowds of fifteen and twenty, including
men, women aud children, all presenting
the most terrible state of fear, despair,
and penitence.
On the day Mr.. Lumley preached the
house was literally packed, the preacher
barely having room to stand. So
great was the rush to hear that many
climbed up the side of the walls and
crowded Oh the .joists above, only a
portion OF the upper story having a
floor, and many, not being able to Ell
ter the house, crowded their heads in
the door and all around the house,
manitesting the most intense interest,
When the call was made for mourners
the people rushed from all parts of the
house and from outside, with almost
frantic yells, and fell upon the floor
and upon each other, all praying and
supplicating in the most heartfelt and
agonizing manner ever witnessed on
earth. ,'s -ss
These exercises continued incessant
ly for sixteen days and nights, with
but little intcrmission. During this
time the people all lived in common.
No attention was given to labor or
property. Cattle, horses, and hogs
were turned to the woods, and the EN-
tire people within the range of this aw-
full excitement have concluded that they
have but few more DAYS to live,
About one hundred have made profess
ion Of religion.
The closing scenes of this strange
meeting are represented AS most pccu-
liar and wonderful. During most of
this period OF sixteen days the noun
tain had continued at intervals to pres
ent the same alarming impressions, but
having prayed, shouted, sung and agon
lied FIR this long period, they separat
ed with the promise that all would
remin and die if necessary. 1t is said
that the awe stricken countenance and
melancholy dtmeanor ofthis vast crowd
OH the breaking up Of the devotions
are beyond all description.
A letter was received in this cit,
to- day by gentleman whose mother
resides Ear Bald mountain, stating
IL L II,