Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-03-25
Earthquake in North Carolina.

%bCS DHyo.
KNOXVILLE, TENN, MARCH 90
For the last twenty days the greatest
excitement has prevailed fer distance
of twenty five miles around the vicin-
ity of Bald Mountain. This mountain
is situated between Crook creek, in
Mcdowell county, and Broad river,
the mountain also extending into Ruth
erfore county, that portion of the range
within Mcdowell being generally call
Stone Mountain.
The first signs of alarm in this To-
cality were witnessed the 10Th of Feb
ruary. This consisted IL what the peo-
pie call a terrible numbering" the
Garth seemed to quIyer to a frightful
extent. Some parties described it a.
terrible thunder, gradually dying away
in the distance. Others described the
noise as the roaring of heavy artillery
in the distance, On thel2th of Febru-
ruary two gentlemen were on the high-
est point of Bald Mountain, known as
Harris View, which is said to be next
20 Mount Mitchell in height. Ga that
day these gentlemen heard this strange
noise. One says it first reminded him
of the falling of heavy timber, and pre-
presented strange combination of
sounds and impressions.
Parties living on the mountain sides
and foot heard the same Ali think
the noise was Ia the mountain. One
man says when be was on one side of
the mountain this terrible noise was in
the direction Of the mountain, and when
on the opposite side the same indica-
tions were observed. All feel satisf-
ed that the noise proceeds alone from
this mountain, bgt on the 22d of Feb
ruary the noise had reached such a
point as TO become perfectly terrible.
The statement of sixty persons living
on the mountain is that the mountain
was actually shaking. The movement
was ike the entire mountain giving
way. The table ware and household
furniture all rocked and jostled with
frigh;ful force. One man was riding
on horseback, aud his horse became
fearfully frightened. 1t is said that
the cattle have become alarmed and
wander from their usual range.
Such was the alarm, that about II
O'Clock At nigh on tie 22d the people
for miles around began to assemble at
the house of man by the name of
Camp, and he 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 was such that the great crowd
. now assembled, engaged in prayer.
At day brake on Monday morning
George Logan colored Babtist preach
er, was sent for in great haste, and so
impatient were they Of his arrival that
a portion Of the crowd met HIM on the
roa |, 5eseeehing him to come and pray
and preach. The people thus assem-
bled remained in these deyotions three
days, when they moved a short distance
to a vacant house, the property of Har-
ris Elliott About the third day
white Babtist preacher was sent for,
who came Immediately.
The 81 OF March, J. NJ. Lumly,
Methodist minister, in charge of Broad
River Mission, was inportuned 20 at
tend and preach, who promptly com
piled with the request. From an eye
witness the scenes are described as
most strange and extraordinary. The
people came focking in crowds Of ff-
teen and twenty. including men, women
and children, all presenting the most
terrible state of fear, despair and pen
itance. On the day Mr.. Lunly preach
ed 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 on the joists above, only
portion of the upper story having
floor, aud many not being able 10 enter
the house, in the door and all around
the house manifested the most intense
interest; When the call was made for
mo1rners the people rushed from all
parts of the house with almost frantic
yells, AID fell upon the floor and upon
each other, all praying and supp!icating
in The most heartfelt and agoniziug
manner ever witnessed on earth.
These exercises continued necessarily
for sixteen days and nights with but little
intermi.sion. During all this time the
people all lived IN common. No at
tention was given to labor or property.
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 a few
more days to live. About one hundred
have made profession of religion. The
closing scenes of this strange meeting
reported as most peculiar and wonder
full. During most of this period of ,ix-
teen days the mountain had continued
at intervals 10 present the same alarm
ing impressions, but having PRAYED.