The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-04-15

NEAR THE VOLCANIC REGIONS, !
Mcdowell Co., March u, 1874.
Editor Erpositor-For the last TWEEN
ty days the greatest excitement has
prevailed, to q distance of ten miles
around the vicinity of Bald Mountains.
The first s'gns of alarm in this locality
we're witnessed on the 10th day Of
February, about o'clock in the even
ing. This consisted in what the peo
|ple called a "terrible numbering" the
earth seeming to "quiver' to a 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 artil-
lery in the distance.
And on the 18th 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 Mount 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 impress
sions. Parties living on the noun
tain sides. and at the foot, heard the
same-all think that 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 mouptain-andw when on the oppo-
site side, the same indications were
observed. All feel satisfied that the
noise proceeds alone FROM this noun
tain.
But OH the 22d Of February the noise
had reached such point as to become
perfectly terrible. Among the persons
living on this mountain are Mr.. Camp,
Johnston Elliott, Widow Nanny, G. l.
Morgan, James Gilbert and others
From statement of all these parties,
and perhaps fifty others, the mountain
was actually "sllaking," the moving
was like the entire mountain was Civ
ing away, the table ware in the houses
the furniture, all rocked and jolted
with irightful force. One man riding
on horseback, his horse, became fear.
fully frightened. It is said that the
cattle have become alarmed and wan
dered from their usual grange.
Such was the alarm, that about l:
o'clock at night, on the 22d, the peo'
pie for miles around began to assemble
at man's house by the name of Camp
and Camp having gone to the Woo
pile for wood, became so alarmed tina
lie fell upon his knees and began t.
pray aloud. Very soon the terrible
quaking of the mountain was such tina
the great crowd now assembled en-
gagged in prayer. At daybreak OF
Monday morning, the 25th ult., Georg
Logan, a colored Baptist preacher wa
sent for in great haste; and so impa
, tieut were they of his arrival, that
: portion of the crowd met him on til
, road, beseeching him to come and pra.
= and preach. The people thus assem-
bled remained in these devotions fo
three days, when they moved shor
distance to a vacant house, the prop
), erty of Harris Elliott. About the thir
day Billy Logan, white man an
Baptist preacher, was sent for, VIII
came immediately. On the Sd day {
March, Rev. j. NJ. Lnmly, the Metht
!, dist minister in charge Of the Broa
, River Mission, was importnned to al
E tend and preach, who promptly con
. piled with the request.
f From an eye witness, the scenes al
D described MS most strange aud extrao
h binary. The people came tlocking
|. crowds of from fifteen to twenty. incl