The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-10
A CANADIAN PHENOMENON.
A Level Country Becomes Mountainous,
With Remarkable Features.
ch To the Globe Democrat.

special Dispatch To the Globe. Democrat
BERTuEIR, Que. Jan. "A most re-
marksble phenomenon occurred in the
Parish Of Berheir, about three miles from
the upper town, Today, and the inhabitants
hereabouts, liltecn-sixtecnths Of whom
arc French Canadians, Of the deepest
ignorance and superstition, are in
deplorable state OF fear and
panic over what they imagine is
visitation from God. Farmer savignac,
just after daylight, heard a low, hollow,
rumbling noise, aud felt swaying Of his
house. lie rushed into the open, where
sight met his gaze which all but par.
alyzcd him. A barn about fifty yards from
his house was standing up on one corner,
the roof sliding of and slowly crumbling
10 pieces before his eyes. Another barn,
which had stood 100 yards from the first,
was lying fattencd out on the ground, the
hay aud straw tumhled all about aud the cat.
tie and horscs standing still, shricking with
terror. The trees along the banks OF n
small river that ran by the Sayignnc farm
seemed 10 he drunk. for they swayed about
and assumed attitudes which under GER
tain circumstances would make q man be.
lioyc he had bad attack OF the Jams
The Ice which had covered the river
the night before was gone, and the bed Of
the river dry. The fences on his farm
were, some Of them, entirely gone, the rest
/ scattered about like shayings. Sayignar
| called his two sons and wife, and was
| pointing To the recent movements II his
| larger barn, when the earth gave another
I 40
| like the waves Of sea, and then slowly,
surely and. TO the onlookers. appallingly,
began To sink. The large barn Topped over
on It's side. and then, spreading out, dis.
appeared into the earth.
| The barley field, formerly M flat and
level ~ a billiard table, got It's back up In
n hundred shapes, in some places sinking
10 a depth OF iiiiy feet, In others rising
up In series OF small hills. The banks Of
the river, curlcd back upon themselves aud
the ground between them arose TO a ridge,
the crust Of which was formed by the river
bel. the bottoms Of the sides being formed
Of what formerly weru the banks
TO the north oi Sayignac's barns, and on
the farm oi Pierre Lalondc. the laitcr's
brick lined well rose straight up in the
air where Il looks like the chimney
of subieuancan house Ialonde's farnl
sank fifty feet NJ least, and the river
which passes within 200 yards OF III,
house, ran into n depression Of the earth,
forty acres In extent, wheru II formed q
lake, the southern outlet Of which Is d
crack In the ground leading TO where nc
one knows
A small grade on Savignac's farm has
entirely disappeared. the earth opening
and then closing over the trees In rcgulaI
pantomimo fashion. Twelve OF Sayignac'
cattle and three Of his horses were swal
lowed up In his smallest barn aud oil his
agricultural Implements were lost In hii
largo barn.
The rolling Of the earth twisted hi
dwelling house out Of shape, caused chin
ncys 10 fall, aud rendered the building un
inhabiRblc.
The ilnt news Of the phenomenon
which reached here was by a score OF ai
irightcd inhabitants who came into Der
their with tho news that the devil wal
seen 10 issue from the earth breathing
blue Ere and cnvclopcd In flames. Thei
swore they heard him below, and saw th'
ground move In great pillows wherever b,
walked. They could not be Induced 10
return, but rushed 10 the nearest church
where they said mass for over an hour.
George Valiquct headed a party Of non
supcrslitious pcoplc, who started 10 driv,
to Savignac's place. Half mile this SIDE
OF Sayignac's he was suddenly stopped by
crack In the ground n foot wide ox
tended across the road and about three
quarters Of milo long Stones thrown into
Il sent back no sound, bu, the car placed
10 tho crack heard y noise rs Of running
water. Fifty yards the other side tho
crack the ground appeared as ! Il had
been upiurncd by some gigantic pillow. u
was formerly very level part Of the coun'
try. lint now was nothing but succession
of ridges and gullics, hills and cavities
In die aides OF which woro holes and