The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-01-08
A MOUNTAIN MYSTERY.
Is the American Volcano Found in North
Carolina?

IL MUUNIAlN M1S1GN4s
Is the American Volcano Found in Nortf
Carolina?
Charleston Neu,s and Courier.
The singular phenomenon which re-
Gently startled the people living neal
Elk mountain, in North Carolina, brie
account of which was published in the
Neus and Courier q few days ago, deserves
more attention than is likely to be be-
slowed upon it. 1t is indeed but one
link in chain of such occurrences, and
the series undoubtedly presents some
features of sufficient Importance to re-
quire careful investigation at the hands
of scientists, geologists and others quail
fed to conduct such investigation in the
most thorough manner, and thereby tc
trace the connection between the differ
ent phenomena, and, if possible; to dis.
cover the cause of them all. A review
of some of these occurrences will interest
every person who lives between the. Blue
Ridge and the Atlantic ocean, at least
as this numerous class may be fairly sup.
posed to feel special interest in the
stability of the plateau upon which they
live and upon which they expect their
children to live after them.
Concerning the mostrecent disturbance
in the mountains, DR.. ]. S. 7. Baird, who
is evidently an intelligent and careful
observer, and who wsss himself an audi
tor of what occurred, says:
"Standing on an elevated point on my
farm, with full and unobstructed view
of the entire Elk mountain range, and
happening at the very moment to have
nv eyes turned in the direction Of the
point in question, it afforded me an ex-
celeDt opportunity to observe the whole
phenomenon. The morning was exceed
ingly bright, almost ominously calm. At
a point almost due North of my home,
and seemingly just over the crest of the
mountain, and at the hour above stated,
there was what seemed to be most
terrific subterranean explosion, followed
by very perceptible jarring and trem.
bling of the earth for miles around, and
heavy rumbling sound as of the deep
intonations of distant thunder, which
came on with increasing volume for sew
eral seconds. The SQUAD proceeded with
rapid unduations in an eastwardly direc'
ton, following the course of the noun
taius, and seeming to traverse the deep
bowels of the earth, until it reached a
point on the horizon of our valley about
45 degrees East from where it started,
when il suddenly leaned forth from the
bosom of the mountains, and, lifting
itself above the horizon, pealed out upon
the air like a. mighty thunderbolt, and
thus it ended as suddenly as it began.
MIR. A. E. Hemphill, who was on the top
of the mountain; in the immediate Vi
cinity of where the first shock occurred,
saws that it seemed to be directly beneath
him and the sensation was as though the
whole mountain was tumbling from its
foundation, with fearful shaking and
trembling of the earth. Mr.. Steve
Monday and Mr.. James Edwards, who
we're on the mountain some two miles
further East, describe the sound and the
shaking and trembling of the mountain
as most appalling and terrifying, even
putting the leaves on the trees in rapid
and lively motion. Other persons felt
and heard the shock many miles away.
The shock was repeated, with the same
characteristics about sunset on the even
lug of the same day."
These are no ordinary disturbances.
common to mountain ranges; but rather,
so far as is known, have been confined on
this and previous occasions to that por.
tion of the Blue Ridge which lies in the
Southwestern part of North Carolina,
and perhaps in the extreme Northeastern
corner of Georgia. Very little has been
made public in regard to the disturbances
in Georgia, but there is not far from Tai
lulah falls, in this State, a peak of the
Blue Ridge known as Sinking Noun
tain," which name has probably been
bestowed upon it by reason of phenomena
occurring at that point similar to those
so frequently observed few miles to the
Northeast in the same range.
The disturbances at Bald mountain
commenced ten or twelve years ago, and
excited at the time considerable interest
all over the country, as we'll ms feelings
of profound apprehension in those who
dwelt within the circle of their mysteri'
Gus and threatening manifestations.
1t will be remembered that the mani
festations were of 80 frequent occurrence
and of so violent character as to compel
the attention of persons living at dis
tance of forty or fifty miles from the
mountain itself, while those who lived
on or near it were so seriously alarmed
that hundreds of families abandoned
their homes and fed to other and distant
localities to escape the danger which
threatened them constantly by day and
night. The panic was so general that, at
one time, all the roads leading out OF the
disturbed section were filled with fugi'
tiyes, and they who, for any reason, were
compelled to remain behind, were reduc.
ed to state of such confusion and ter.
ror that they gave over all other pursuits
and devoted themselves to religious exer.
cises, firmly believing that the end of all
things was at hand. 1t is easy to smile
at their fears from q far and safe distance
but it is not to be doubted that similar
shocks repeatedly felt in other portion;
of the country would lead to similar
results among the more ignorant classes
of the population at least. At the time
of the shocks at Bald mountain it wa;
stated that the beasts in the fields showed
their alarm not less than did their mas
ters, and that horses halted, covered ane
shivered in theis tracks while being driv
en- along the public roads, many miles
distant from the mountain, when they
felt the mysterious tremor passing through
the ground beneath their feet.
Notwithstanding the large mass o
testimony that was published from tim
to time in regard to the fact and natur
of the shocks in the Bald mountain
region, there were many persons VIII
denied that any such disturbances hal