The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-02-22
BUFFALO MOUNTAIN.
Fuller Particula IF the Disruption OF its
Craggy Front.

Fuller Particula IF the Disruption OF its
Craggy Front.
Nashville (Tenn.) Banner.l
A few days ago news reached Knoxville
that Buffalo Mountain. in Upper East Ten
nessee, had crumbled to the earth, and the
inhabitants of the neighborhood were
stricken with terror. A Tribune reporter
was sent TO johnson City, the nearest point
to the scene Of destruction. Upon arriving
there he learned White Rock Peak, on Buff
faIo Mountain. that had succumbed to geo.
logical agencies, was far distant over a
mountainous sFact of country
Buffalo Mountain is one of the ridges that
forms the great Iron Mountain. 1t, how.
ever, runs east and west. the western end of
which terminates near the line of Washing
ton and Carter Counties in an abrupt preci-
pice towering far in the Heavens. Tie end
was solid rock, composed of white sand
stone that glttered in the MONDAY sun, the
effulgence of whose rays could be for
miles by the traveller. From its white ar
pearance it receives the name of White
Rock; that is on record in several places in
| history. 1t was also called by some the
| Lone Sentinel. Before the huge mass OF
quartz crystal fell q prey to geological
| agencies its massive form could be seen
| from afar, looking like a silent specter,
standing guard over the towns and valleys
| beneath.
It was the highest peak on Buffalo Noun
tain, and from this point the country could
be viewed for miles around. The end
which formed the Lone Sentinel was about
| ! 800 feet above the surrounding country,
and was almost perpendicular cliff. The
entire mountain, with the exception of
the White Rock, was covered with heavy
growth of timber, prominent among which
were the ok and chestnut trees. The brow
of the mountain must have been a half
/ mile or more across. and composed fer the
most part of white sandstone. Last
| Wednesday, about 3 O'Clock in the after
noon, a tremendous crash that in its force
| resembIed the quakings of an earthquake,
| was heard by the inhabitants OF the towns
and valleys below. Those who witnessed
the scene from distance describe it one
| of horror.
Looking back in the direction of the noise
it looked as if the entire mass of the noun
tain was falling upon them. Rocks as large
as houses were being hurled into the valley
with terrible force Trees were uprooted
and cut down as if they were mere brittle
bushes. To the illiterate people who in
habit the valley. death seemed inevitable.
famllleS crOuCDeO together ana sent up
prayers for deliverance. The ungodly,
thinking the worlds destruction had begun,
fell upon their knees and feryently asked
pardon for their numerous sins. The sus-
pense must have been terrific With a
noise that made the ground shake the
avalanche came crashing down the noun
tain side, carrying everything with it that
stood in its course Finally, however, the
NOISE subsidized and the vibrations ceased,
but the frightened population could not be
urged near the scene of destruction.
The track of the rocks in their terrible
downward flight was percepuble for mile
or more A bowlder weighing several tons
which had diverged from the beaten course
was lodged here and there against tree, but
most of them had gone to I'll up the valley
below. Trees several feet in diameter were
cut completely in two, some high up as
forty feet, showing what powerful force
must have urged the rocks to lower posi-
ton.
! We conversed with several in regard tc
this great fall of rock and many are stub
born in the opinion that it was caused by &
movement in the earth's crust. Others
however, are of the belief that it was tht
! was the work of what biologists term acque
: Gus agencies. Since Christmas we have haC
q continuous wet spell, and water percolat
ing this rock froze and in expanding split /
to the depths of 100 feet or more. Probabl.
LDlS GHbCllN6 lever DdS away ~
years, splitting the strongly cohesive sub
I stance, but finally ii yielded to the pressure
and was precipitated into the valley below
The spot which was overlooked by thu
1 Lone Sentinel bears historical significanc
4 that will be added to its recent disaster, l
i is frequently spoken of in the histories o
a Tennessee as the spot where Governor Sevie
and his friends and Colonel John t. TiptoI
\ and his allies met in bloody and fatal al
!, fray just ninety-four years ago. In the lat
n ter part of the last century, while this por
! ton of the State was yet South Carolina,
seeded and set up State Government o
its own calling itself Franklin. Governo
l SEWER it will be remembered, was electe,
\ Chief Magistrate and Commander o
q the Militia. South Carolina. still
:, claiming this territory, appoint
u ed her officials. thereby causing a conflict
Colonel John B. Upton was appointed Coun
e ty Court Clerk of Washington County. HI
}. lived at the foot of White Rock and Cover
o nor Sewer, followed by $50 men, proceeds
| to the house of Upton TO divest hfTn of tn
d official papers. Colonel Upton, backed b.
!. a strong force, routed the Sewer allies. Sew
q eral men were killed and wounded durin
n the day. On account of this engagement
i White Rock has often been referred TO in tn
o histories of Tennessee. and now that it la
passed through such ordeal its name vii
d shine brighter than ever on the records c
time.
s. A practical educator, writing to the Ne