Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-03-24

From the Asheville IN. c. Expositor.
NEAR THE VOLCANIC REGIONS,
MCDOWELL COUNTY, N. c., March II,
lS74.-For the last twenty days the
greatest excitement has prevailed, to a
distance of ten miles around the vicin-
ity of Bald Mountain.
As your readers have been informed,
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 Nc
Dowel is more generally called Stone
Mountain. The first signs of alarm IN
this locality were witnessed on the 10th
day of February, about ] O'Clock in the
evening. This consisted In what the
people call "terrible numbering" the
earth seeming to "quiyer" to fright
full extent. Some parties describe it as
terrible thunder, gradually dying away
In the distance; others describe the
noise as the roaring of heavy artillery
in the distance.
And on the 10Th of February two
gentlemen were on the highest point
of Bald Mountain, at what Is known as
Harris View-which is said TO be next
to Mt. Mitchell in height. On that
day these gentlemen heard this strange
noise. One of the gentlemen says it
first reminded him of the falling
of heavy timber, and presented a
strange combination of sounds
and impressions. Parties living on the
mountain sides, and at the foot, heard
the same-all think the noise was In
the mountain. One man says when he
was on one side of the mountain the
terrible noise was In the direction of
the mountain-and when on the oppo-
site side, the same indications were OBJ
served. All feel satisfied that the noise
proceeds alone from this mountain.
But on the 22d Of February the noise
had reached such a point as to become
perfectly terrible. Among the persons
living on this mountain are Mr.. Camp,
Johnston Elliott, Noah Elliott, Widow
Nanny, George Morgan, James Gilbert
and others. From a statement of all
these parties, and perhaps fifty others,
the mountain was actually shaking"
The moving was ike the entire noun
tain was giving away, the tableware
In the houses, the furniture all rocked
and iolted with frightful force. One
man riding on horseback, his horse be-
came feafully frightened. 1t is said
that the cattle have become alarmed
and wandered from their usual range.
Such was the alarm, that about u
O'Clock at night on the Odd, the people
for miles around began to assemble at
a mans house by the name of Camp.
And Camp, 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" of the mountain was such
that the great crowd now assembled en-
gagged in prayer. AT daybreak on
Monday morning of the 18th ult., Geo.
Logan, a colored Baptist preacher, was
sent for In great has te. And so impa-
tent were they of his arrival, that
portion of the crowd met him on the
road, beseeching him to come and pray
and preach. The people thus assem-
bled remained IN these devotions for
three days, when they moved a short
distance to a vacant house, the proper
ty of Harris Elliott. About the third
day Billy Logan, a white man, and
Baptist preacher, was sent for, who
came Immediately. On the third day
of March, Rev. j. II. Lumly, the Meth
odist minister in charge of the Broad
River Mission, was importuned. to at
tend and preach, who promptly COM
pIed with the request.
From an eye witness, the scenes are
described as most strange and extra
ordinary. The people came focking in
crowds of fifteen and twenty, includ-
ing men, women and children, all pre-
senting 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 rushed up the side of the walls
and crowded on the joists above-only
a portion of the upper story having
floor.
The portion having the floor was
filed, thus forming a sort of gallery.
And many not being able to enter the
house, crowded their heads in the
door and all around the house, mani
Testing the most intense interest.
When the call was made for mourners,
the people rushed from all parts of the
house, and from outside of the house
with almost frantic yells, and fell upon
the floor and upon each other, all pray
ing and duplicating in the most
heartfelt and agonlzing manner ever
witnessed on earth.
These exercises continued incessant-
ly for sixteen days and nights with but
little intermission.
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
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 profes-
sion of religion. The closing scenes of
this strange meeting are represented as
most peculiar and wonderful.
During most of this period of SIX
teen days the mountain had continued
at intervals to present the same alarm
ing impressions. But having prayed,
shouted, sung and agonized for this
long period, they separated with the
promise that all would remain and die
If necessary. 1t is said that the awe
stricken countenances, the melancholy
demeanor of this vast crowd on the
breaking up of the devotions are be-
yOnd all description.
In these excited devotions it seems
that all became perfectly resigned to
what seemed an inevitable fate. AL
past differences were forgotten, and
mutual amnesty seemed to be the uni
versal feeling. Oneold woman, astrong
Baptist in her religious opinions, cried
out to Brother Lumley, the Methodist
minister. Now is the time to unite
as we are all soon to go to the Judg.
ment''
1t will be proper to remark that many
of these people were not heretofore IL
the habit of attending church-they
lived in the utmost disregard of the
Sabbath, and have given but little at
tention to education.
Whatever may be the nature OF thus
terrible "quaking mountain" it is GER
tain that the effect upon the people has