Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-11-17
FORMATION OF
REELFOOT LAKE.
Interesting and Startling Events of Long Ago
Scene of Crime.

and startling interest. This story is
graphically told in a letter that was
written in 1926 to Rev. Lorenzo Dow
describing the horrible earthquake OF
1911 and the consequent sinking OF
Reelfoot Lake. now the center of in
terest because of recent disturbances
in the territory adjacent to this famous
fishing and hunting resort. This letter
was found some months ago among
some old papers, and reads as follows:
Dear Brother: l have just received
your kind letter. written some three or
four weeks ago, requesting me to give
YOU a description of the late horrible
visitation of Providence, and the sink
ing of Reelfoot Lake in this section.
THE morning of December 18th,
1911, was cloudy and dense fog pre-
vailed, and towards nightfall the heav-
ems showed signs of distress. On the
following morning, the 18th, about 0
o'clock a. m., we felt the shock of an
earthquake, accompanied by a rumb-
ling noise resembling the distant firing
of a cannon, which was followed in a
few minutes by the complete saturation
of the atmosphere with sulphurous
vapor. The moon was shining bril-
liantly but the sulphurous vapor caus-
ed the earth to be wrapped in absolute
darkness. The wailing inhabitants,
the stampede of the fowls and beasts,
the noise of falling timber, the roaring
of the Mississippi, the current of which
was retrograded for few minutes
formed a scene too appalling to con-
ceive Of. Then until daylight num-
Der of lighter shocks occurred, one that
was more violent and severe than the
first one and the terror which prevail
ed after the first shock was now even
worse than before. The people fled
hither and yon, supposing that there
was less danger at a distance from the
river, which was boiling, foaming and
roaring terrifcally. Men, women and
children gave up in despair, some
praying and others fainting, so great
was their fear.
L 1uSIG "SlS llSHl olIOShS NSeN4A NNNs
until January 2, 1912, when one as hard
as the first occurred followed by the
same phenomena. From this time un-
til February 4. the earth was in con-
tinual agitation, visibly waving as a
gentle sea- That day a shock almost
as severe as the others occurred, and
on the Sth, about sunrise, a conclusion
took place which was so much more
violent than the others that it was
called the hard shock The earth was
transformed into total darkness and
the chickens went back to roost, the
COWS mooed, and the frightened horses
pitifully neighed. At first the Missis-
sippi river seemed to recede from It's
banks, and its waters, gathering up
like a mountain. leaving for short
period of time many boats which were
passing down the river. during which
time the crews escaped to land in safe
ty. The river rose ten to fifteen feet
perpendicularly, expanding as 1t We're;
at the same time the banks were over
flowed with retrograde current. The
river, falling Immediately, receded
within its banks again with such vio-
lence that it took with it whole groves
Of young cottonwood trees and much
cattle and stock.
"A great many fish were left on the
banks, being unable to keep up with the
water, and an old canoe, antique in con-
struction, was washed ashore. The
river was a mass Of floating wrecks of
boats, and it is said that one was
wreck in which there was a lady and
six children, all Of whom were lost.
In the hard shocks described the
earth was horribly lacerated-the sur
face was from time to time covered
over with uneven depths by the sand,
which issued from assures, which were
made in great numbers all over this
country, some Of which closed up I'M
mediately after they had vomited forth
their sand and water. In many places
however, there was a substance re-
sembling coal thrown up with the sand,
1t is impossible TO say what the depths
Of the assures or irregular breaks
were. The site of New Madrid, Mo-,
was settled down at least fifteen feet,
and not more than half mile below
that town there does not appear to be
any alienation Of the river, but back
from the river a short distance the
numerous large ponds or lakes. which
covered a great part Of that country
were totally dried up. The beds OF
some Of them bulge above their former
banks several feet.
THE most remarkable feature OF all
the entire disturbances which was not
generally known for some months af-
terwards was the discovery Of a huge
lake on the Tennessee side Of the Mis-
sissippi, upward Of twenty-five miles
long and from one-half to eight miles
in width. This lake was later called
Reelfoot Lake. There are places In II
the bottom Of which has never been
found, though many efforts have been
made.
THE lake has communication with
the Mississippi river at Doth ehdS' anu
it is conjectured that it will not be
many years before the principal part
If not the whole. Of the Mississippi Will
pass that way. In the last year or sc
an herb, resembling moss. has liter
ally covered the surface of the lake
and during the winter months wiio
fowls, such as ducks, geese, cranes
etc, winter on the lake and eat this
moss as food Deer and other animals
seem TO enjoy ii.
1T is said that where the lake was
formed was a vast area Of fine timber
ed lands. and in places only the tops
Of the trees can be seen. The lake runs
north and south. and each end has a
neck shape. widening out about the
center. or nearer the northern terminus
than the center. The water in it does
not seem to rise or lower to any mark
ed degree, and the lake is destined "a
become the great hunting and fishing
resort Of the west.
1T is said that where this lake was
formed was formerly the Indians hunt
inn o,roupdc apd also where theV held