Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-04-04
BALD MOUNTAIN.
Still Another Violent COneusSiOn-
Facts, Figures and Hypothesis.


Facts, Figures and HYPOTHESIS.
From the Knoxville Press and Herald, April 2.
The latest news from Bald Mountain,
ome via Salisbury, March IS. The dis
patch saws that another concuSssiOn. a dead,
rumbling sound, accompanied by severe
trembling and quaking Of the earth, Oc-
CURED on Monday evening, March %. The
inhabitants, whose fears had somewhat
subsidized, became more excited than ever,
and the general CONSERVATION was greater
than at any previous time since the violent
rambling on the 10Th of February. a
number of scientists from several Southern
States are there, all Of whom agree that
the disturbance in Stone and Bald mOu
taiaS is volcanic in nature, but as a profess
SSonal expression of opinion TO that effect
would not agree with the accepted theory
of geology, they refuse positively to give
their views for publication and will not
submit TO an interview. \ large number
of scientific men and reporters are going
into the mountains, all Of whom hear and
see more after their arrival than they had
anticipated. The excitement in the re-
gions is unabated and more families are
moving out. There are no visible signs Of
an eruption, and scientists are Of the opinion
that il is not now imminent, though prob
able al some future time. The report that
the same disturbances occurred in the
mountains fifty years ago IS cOntrad'cted
by a gentleman eighty-seven years Of age,
who was born and reared OF Bald Noun
tain.
CONVINCING PROOF
Prof. DuPre, of Wofford u. c. College,
has taken testimony of which the following
is a synopsis:
TESTIMONY OF MR.. JOHNSON ELLIOTT.
First sound heard Tuesday, the 10th of
February. The first sound was followed
by the severest shock felt up TO the present
time, and was felt as far as White House,
on Cane Creek, eight miles east. On Sun
day morning, 18th, severe shock; another
about 10 O'Clock a. NJ; another, 2 O'Clock
at night, MONDAY morning.. The house
seemed TO be lifted from its foundation and
rocking in the air. Noise continued, some
with shocks and some without, until Thurs
day following, with intervals Of about an
hour. Several noises with shocks OF
Thursday; noise appeared TO proceed from
Round and Stone mountains. These
mountains are about half mile apart.
Houses were frequently shaken, and a lad
der leaning against the house [Of Mr.. Eli
ott) shook considerably on one OCCASION.
The families On Stone Mountain were
greatly alarmed. The noise begins like
the explosion of a blast, in the northwest,
and then goes off to southeast, with 4 num-
bling noise under ground.
TESTIMONY OF MR.. T. J. DALTON
Live one and a half miles West; heard
the reports Of noises several times in the
last four weeks; felt the ground shake and
culver six times; work at saw mill: had
-. -n.-U- - 49, -Ia.ll.n ~ 81 =.
shake several times; noise begins with a
blast and appears TO come from Stone
mountain and underground; feel the shocks
almost as | hear the sound; saw the shay
ingS on my work bench shake during one
of the shocks; no wind at the time; said he
saw the trees shake: works at Mrs. Muir
phys saw mill, on Broad river, on Eastern
side Of Hickory Nut Gap. and eight miles
from head of Broad river; heard as many
as four explosions a day and two or three
at night: nights clear and cool; the sam5
has been heard and felt at J. w. MOrgan'S
one and a half miles from here.
LOCATING THE NOISE.
TIE Orphans Friend, published at Spar
t~ansbU-g, remarks that there is one fact
worthy of notice, and that is, while the
noise IS heard for MANY miles from the
base Of the mountain the shock is ONLY felt
on the mountain and q short distance from
the base. This feature locates the cause
of the explosion and the shaking beneath
the mountain, and affords some ground fol-
believing that it is caused by volcanic &C
tiOn. The shaking is only felt between
Broad and Catawba rivers, along the noun.
tain rang, a distance of about twenty-five
miles.
WHAT OCCASIONS THE EXPLOSIONS.
Tn editor of the Orphans Friend has
been d the mountain and asks. is il posi-
BILE In { the crust of the earth has become
so thin that a stream of water has found
is wa to the burning Mass. and the Is.
cape Of the steam generated into the cav.
erns Oftha earth produces the noise heard
upon the surface? o. IS It the result o
accumulated gases, acting in the same man
ner? Some observations were taken Will
the compass as follows:
From ElliOtt's Round Mountain is nOrtI
81 degrees west; Stone Mountain is Souil
73 degrees west.
From Stone Mountain. highest peak
Table Rock is north 355 degrees east; Blacl
Mountain. north GO degrees west: Grand
father, north 2T5 degrees east; Hickory-nu
Gap, al Sherrells, south ~ degrees west
Sugar Loaf. south Is degrees west.