Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-03-27
The North a1'aroaimu EVOlcmssOsl
Wild Terror of the People.

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Wild Terror of the People.
The North Carolina papers, brings us
the details of the volcanic demonstration
at Bald montain, and the descriptions of
the scenes of terror that took place among
the people. A letter in the Ashville Ex-
position, written from Mcdowell county, on
the 18th inst, gives the best narrative we
have seen. 1t says:
The first signs of alarm in this locality
were witnessed on the tenth of February
This consisted in what the people call a
terrible numbering, the earth seeming to
culver to frightful extent. Some parties
described it as terrible. thunder, gradually
dying away in the distance. Others de-
scribe the noise as the roaring of heavy ar
tillery in the distance. fici IL
On the 18th of February two gentlemen
were on the highest point of Bald noun
tain, known as Harris View," which is
said to be next to Mount Mitchell il,
height. On that day these gentlemen hear,.
that strange noise. One says it first IL
minded him of thefalling of heavy timbe.
and present strange combination q
sounds and impressions. Parties living o.
the mountain side, and at the foot hear
the same. All think that the noise was ii.
the direction of the mountain. One mai
says THAT when he was OH one side OF the
mountain the terrible noise was in the di-
rection of the mountain, and when ON tint.
opposite side the same indications were OBJ
served. All feel satisfied that the noise
proceeds alone from this mountain, but ol.
the I'D of February the noise had reached
such a point as to become perfectly terri
BILE.
Among the persons living ON this noun
tain are MI. Camp, Johnston Elliott, N Oal
Elbow, Widow Nanny, Geo.. Morgan, Jas.
Gilbert and others. From statement Of
all these parties, and perhaps fifty others
the mountain was actually shaking. The
moving was like the entire mountain was
giving way. The tableware and furniture
in the houses all rocked and jolted with
force. One man was riding on horseback
and his horse became fearfully frightened,
1t is said that the cattle have become
alarmed, and wandering from their usual
ranges.
Such was the alarm that about - O'Clock
at night on the I'D the people for miles
around began to assemble at the house OF
a man by tine name of Camp, and Cam
having gone to the wood pile for wood be.
came so alarmed that he fell upon hi
knees and began to pray aloud. Very 500
The terrible quaking of the mountain was
such that the great crowd now assemble.
engaged in prayer. At daybreak on Mol.
day morning George Logan, a colored Bap-
fist preacher, was sent foi in great haste
and so impatient were they OF his arrivai
that a portion of the crowd met him on the
road, beseeching him to come and pray anG;
preach.
The people thus assembled remained il,
these deVOtiOns three DAYS. when they
moved q short distance to vacant house.
the property of Harris Elliot. About t.ie
third day Billy Logan, white man and &
Baptist preacher, was sent for, who came
Immediately On the third of March. ]
/. Lumly, the Methodist minister in
5.-aryeoi Inc Broad river mission, was i'm
portuned to attend and preach VINO prompt
ly complied with the request. The scenes
are described by ali eyewitness as most
strange and extraordinary. The people
came 1ocking in crowds of fifteen and
twenty, including men, women and chill
dren, all presenting the most terrible state
OF fears, 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 on the
joist above, only portion of the upper
story having a floor, and many, not being
able to enter the house, crowded their
heads in the door and all around the house,
manlfestlng 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 duplicating in the most
heartfelt and agonizing manner ever wit.
messed on earth.
These exercises continued necessarily for
sixteen days and nights, with but little in
PERMISSION. 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 few more days to live.-
About one hundred have made profession
of religion.
The closing scenes Of this strange NEE
ing are represented as most peculiar and
wonderful. During most of this period of
sixteen days the mountain had continued
at intervals to present the same alarming
impressions, but having prayed, shouted,
sung and agoniZed for this long period,
they separated with the promise that all
would return and die if necessary. 1t is
said that the aWe-Stricken countenances and
melancholy demeanor Of this vast crowd
on the breaking up of the devotiOns are be-
yond all description.
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN QUAK1NG.
The Athens Tennessee, "Post'' of the
Goth says:
"A heavy shock of earthquake occurred
at Chattanooga between one and two
O'Clock Wednesday morning. The distur-
bance was sufficient to shake the walls of
the taller buildings and startle people from
their slumbals. The commot on along
Lookout is sad t0.have been fearful. We
shall await he next report from Bad
mountain with no little'interest.
Don't LIKE IT.--The Monroe W. Va.
"Regis err commenting on 9 statement
in this paper that West Virginia people
were Disguised, and would like to etuIn
to the old State says:
Opinions are commonly created by the
influence OF association; so with he Vin-
dicator's opinions, evidently. Its associa-
tons are with the Bourbons of this State,
who banker for a congenial shelter i'll the
old Mothers ragged petticoat, and who
have to that end, created the said causes of
disgust, during their lease Of power The
Vandic0tor may be assured that this peo-
Pile do not propose to remedy the evil Of
Bourbonism from which they suffer. by a
recourse to the fountain head Of Old Fogy-
ism. They may pluck q hair of the dog
which has bitten them, by absorbing the
Valley; but they cannot swallow the old
dog whole. Those who want to go back to
Old Virginny will be driven from power
this year, and may then go there; they will
not be missed here. But, ninety-nine hun
dreth Of our people prefer to ''go it alone. -