The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1880-11-25
What We Call "Terra Firma."

What We Call "Terra Firma."
The rivers of the sea, apart from the
astonishment and wonder which their
stupendous proportions must arouse in
the mind of the student of nature, pre-
sent themselves to us as O subject of
paramount interest, when we consider
the part which they have played and are
still playing in the building UP of the
topmost layer of the solid earth crust, in
the perpetual changes of climatic condi-
tlons, in the distribution of vegetable
and animal life over the surface of the
planet, and last, not least, in the recent
advance OF ocean navigation, by which
the inhabitants of the most distant lands
have been brought into close intercourse
with each other The erosive action of
currents constantly tends to alter, the
contguration of the coast lines, by TAX
ing away land in one place and deposit
ing it elsewhere. Again, immense guam
Titles OF sediments carried by all the riv-
ers of the world into the sea are taken
up by the currents and spread over the
bed of the ocean. Biologists tell us
that nearly all, if not all, the dry land
at present existing has at ole time been
ut the bottom of the sea, an assertion
confirmed by the fact that the strata
which compose some of the loftiest
mountain ranges have evidently been
deposited in ages long past upon the
floor of the ocean, and still retain the
remains of the animals which disported
themselves in the seas of former days.
What we are still in the habit of calling
terra firma" is proved by modern OBJ
servations to be in constant motion, ris-
ing and falling like the heaving breast
OF some mighty monster, whose arms
stretch far beneath the waves. BY the
action of the subterranean forces, as yet
unexplained, vast areas of the earth
crust are depressed below or lifted up
above the level of the sea, and we are be-
ginning at last to understand the truth
/ of the maxim, that there is nothing sta
BILE in the universe of created things ex-
cept the unstable.-Science for AU.
One Hundred Lashes on the Bare Back.
M. 5. Root, of this city, gentleman
whose veracity will not be questioned in
tn1s community, gives us the following
statement OF scene which he witnessed
short time since in the eastern portion
OF this county "I was at Campo. An
Indian had been found guilty of break
ing into the house of Mr.. Herrick and
stealing some blankets. He was tried
before Justice of the Peace Gaskin and
turned over to the old Indian Alcalde and
SIX ch1efsforpunishment They sentenced
HIM to receive 100 lashes.' They were
Just getting ready to tie him up rs L
started for dinner, after putting out my
team. The prisoner was large young
man, Six feet high and well proportioned.
lie was tied up by the wrists with long
rope, and the rope was passed through
the springs of high seat on one side of
wagon and over the other side, the
victim being drawn up so that his feet
would just touch the ground. His feet
was spread and each tied to the wagon
spokes, and his body was tied at the
hips. His shirt was removed, and then
stalwart Indian administered the pun-
lshment with leather lariat. bv wbirl-%
ing 1T round his head and bringing it
down with his utmost force upon the
naked body of the prisoner. The blood
poured from the writhing mans back.
Alter strong man had administered
nifty strokes he was so exhausted by the
task that he gave way for another fiend,
younger and more muscular Indian,
who continued the Infamous torture.
Fifty lashes had already been laid on,
and the young devil continued to cut
into the flesh fifty times more. spare
q recital OF the awful shrieks and cries
OF the poor tortured creature. When
the 100 Iashes had thus been admins
tered, the Indian Alcalde told the almost
dying man to leave the country, or he
would be hung il he ever came back.
Mr.. Gaskill says After one of these
Indians has been whipped once he will
never steal again it makes "good In
dian " of him This prisoner when let
down fell to the ground, and could not
move without support from his sister,"
San Diego Union.