Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-04-03
sxafG Mountain,

he knows about volcanoes in genera
and Bald Mountain in particular.
His first letter was published IL tn
N'esCs of yesterday and will be follow
ed by others. from which we propos
to make as full extracts for the iufor
nation of the readers of the Journal
as our space will permit.
Captain WooGson's experience, ac
cording to his own account. is yer,
much like that OF other gentlemen il
other countries who have soucht inter
views with volcanoes-as soon as they
felt the movement OF the earth and
heard the noise OF the explosions they
| wished they were over the hills and
far away, and that right speedily.
But to the story Captain Woodson
| tells
| Having detailed some few OF the
unimportant incidents of our trip, we
will now proceed TO tell what We know
of North Carolina earthquakes, and
the volcanic or vulcanic disturbances
in Stone Mountain.
That these reported disturbances
| exist in Stone Mountain. there's not
the least shadow Of a doubt III other
words it is an undsniable fact. We
have seen, heard and felt them. We,
therefore, as above stated, propose to
testify to what We have seen, in as
plain, unmistakable language iss we
can possibly use, without even the
slightest touch OF varnish.
First, we will locate the scat Of the
the nature of the same, &c. :
Stone Mountain, (as we viii here
after show the mann seat OF the dis
turbance, is in the southwestern corner
of Mcdowell county, and forms part
of the Sugar Loaf rage of the noun
tains, "a spur OF the Blue Ridge,)
which extends from the Broad to the
Catawba rivers, and running from \.
L. to S. w. The three principal knobs
of the Sugar Loaf range are Round,
Stone and Bald Mountains. Bald
Mountain is the first, commencing
from the southwest, and is So called on
account of its naked, bald appearance,
.s seen from distance, though on its
southwestern slope it is heavily tim
bered, and its soil is as fine and as pro-
ductlve as the most fertile valleys.
There are thirty-two farms on this
mountain, the most beautiful OF which
is on the very pinnacle.
Stone Mountain is second in the
range, and of course connected with the
mountain chain. From the pinnacle OF
Bald Mountain tothe pinnacle Of Stone,
the distance is about two miles. Stone
Mountain is uninhabitable except on
its eastern slope. 1t is cone or conf
cal i'll shape, steep and perpendicular
on its western side and can only be as
cended on its eastern side or from
Bald or Round mountain. It's forIna-
ton is stratitied rock aud covered with
n slim growth Of small trees. R"uud |
Mountain, next to Stone, though no
more prominent than the rest of the
knobs of the range, seems to have
been digniliad with :. tide Oh account |
of symmetrical appearance. The range
is % miles III length, extending from
Broad river, in Rutherford county,
n corner OF Henderson county, |
to the Ca!awDa river III McDoHcli |
county.
So much for the location; now for |
its volcanic propcnSities. We do not |
pretend to say Cr give it rs our Opin- |
ion that these constant disturbances in |
Stone Mountain are Indicative OF vol |
cauic or vllcanic actions. Ne do rot !
know, and cant say what il is, but we |
have the proud consolation OF know |
ing that learned scientists and gGOio- |
gists, who were with rs Oh the noun |
tain, experienced the shocks, and heard |
the reports and reverbtrati0Es, know |
as Ii tie about it as we do, or are afraid |
to express their opinion.
The first report that was heard was
on the night OF February 10th, when
the dwellings, uu Bald Mounlain and |
at the bast. of Stone Mountain were |
rocked from foundation to turret
On the lith, 18th, 18th and 18th re-
ports and trembIinGs continued. There |
was never seen any ysmoke issuing from |
the crevices of either Stone or Bald |
Mountains, and the fact that snow did |
not lay on Bald Muuntsin was because |
none fell at all. The residents Of |
Bald Mountain first became alarmed, |
as they believed that the rumbling |
noise which caused such shock to |
their houses, proceeded from their |
Mountain, but when It was ascertained |
that the shocks were more severe be- |
yond Stone Mountain, they became |
satisfied that they were not III immi- |
nent danger, bus f,,i' from being pleas |
ell or contented with the situation.
On Bald Mountain We interviewed |
Rev. Myers Hudgins. WHO lived on
the pinnacle. lie had lived on the
Mountain for twenty-seV"n years had
never heard noises Or experienced
shocks before the present cruptions.
The residents on the Mountain were
greatly alarmed. and some had left
while others were preparing to leave.