Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-01-31
MADE BY EARTHQUAKE.
QUEER HISTORY OF THE LARGEST
LAKE IN TENNESSEE.

Wide-Dates FROM 1S11-Durins Its
Formation the Mississippi Kan Up
Streau-A Great tlaco For Sportsmen.
Reelfoot Lake, which lies mostly in
Obion County, and partly in Lake, is
the largest sheet of water in the State,
it being forty miles in length and from
three to five in width. 1t is fifteen
miles from Union City, the nearest
railway point. The first view visitor
obtains of the lake is one of surpass-
ing beauty. The road circles around
high bluff; and, suddenly, several
hundred feet below, the lake, in all
its loveliness, breaks full upon the
vision, its dancing, sparkling waters
away as far as the eye can reach. Just
under the lofty, picturesque cliffs
nestles the little village of Wheeling.
The lake, which evokes rapturous
comments from even the most indifter-
ent observer, was formed in q few
minutes by an earthquake, which, nc
cording to the best authorities, oc-
Cured between 2 and 3 o'clock on
Saturday morning, November is,
1911. There were two. terrific shocks
y
lighter ones between and after. The
earth rocked violently, deafening
noise like thunder struck terror to the
ear, the atmosphere was heavily laden
with something like smoke and vivid
and almost constant flashes of lightning
illuminated the surrounding country;
and in less time than it takes to write
it thousands of acres of land had sunk
far below the level of the mighty Miss
issippi. The Fathers of Waters rushed
into the sunken country, and the sue
ton was so great that for three hours
the river ran up stream, and RATS and
boats below the lake were torn from
their moorings and went whirling into
the seething, maddening vortex. As
soon as the newly formed lake was
filled, the river went maiestically on
its usual course, leaving to Tennessee
one of the finest fishing resorts in tha
country, which is annually the Mecca
of thousands Of sportsmen.
Reelfoot Lake is not the only mem
orable freak OF the seismic monster OF
1911, for it sunk thousands of acres of
land in Arkansas and Missouri, and
formed Open Lake, in Lauderdale
County, about twelve mile from Rip
ley. This lake is ten miles long by
three or four in width, and is also
great resort for hunters and fisher
men. New Madrid Mo-, suffered
considerably by the quake, several of
its score or more of inhabitants being
killed and its cemetery caved into the
Mississippi River and the bodies were
swept away by the current.
Reelfoot Lake is known as the hunt
ers' and fishers paradise, and deserves
that appellation, which it has borne
almost since its formation, eighty-six
years ago. Around its borders can be
found bear, deer, turkeys and squir-
rels, while within its depths abound o
great variety of fish, including bass,
trout, croppies, Dream, perch, pike,
buffalo, drum and catfish Then
there is fish in the lake known as
alligator gar" which is almost as
voracious as shark. 1t grows to the
length of twelve or thirteen feet, and
has an immense head, armed with
large, formidable teeth. The loss of
several people in the lake has been at
tributed to this fish. Several years
ago young man was bathing in the
lake, when he suddenly threw up his
arms and called loudly for help, ex-
claiming that something had him.
Several of his companions, who were
in boat, rowed quickly to his assist.
ance, but before they could reach him
he was drawn beneath the surface of
the lake, and the bloody water where
he had gone down proved that he
spoke truthfully when he cried that
he was in the grasp of some dreadful
monster. His friends believed that he
was the victim of an alligator gar, as
there is 10 other fish in the lake SO
large or voracious. Nashville (Tenn.)
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