The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1908-06-26

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the water, and an old canoe; antique
in construction, was washed ashore.
The river was a mass Of floating
wrecks Of boats, and it is said that
one was wrecked in which there WAS
a lady and six children, all of whom
were lost.
"In the, hard shocks described the
earth was horribly lascerated - the
surface was from time to time COW
cred over Of uneven depths by the
sand which issued from the fissures
which were made in great numbers
all over this country, some of which
closed UP Immediately after they bad
vCmited forth their sand and water.
In many places, however, there was a
substance resembling coal thrown up
with tile sand 1t is impossible to
say what the depth of the assures or
irregular breaks were. The site of
New Madrid, Missouri, was settled
down at least 10 feet, and not more
than half a mile below that town
there does not appear to be any alter
alton of the river, but back from the
river a short distance the numerous
large ponds or lakes, which covered a
great part of the country, were totally
dried up. The beds of some. of them
bulge above their former banks sew
eral 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 25 miles long and
from one-half to eight miles in width.
This lake was later called Reelfoot
Lake. There are places in it the bot
tom Of which has never been found,
though many efforts have been made
to ascertain the depth Of these places,
"The lake has communication with
the Mississippi river at both ends,
and it is conjectured that it win not
be many years before the principal
part, if not the whole, of the Misss-
sippi will pass that way. In the last
year or so an herb, resembling moss,
has literally covered the surface of
the lake, and during the winter
months wild fowls, such as duck,
geese, cranes, ETC., winter on the lake
and eat this moss as food. Deer and
other animals seem to enjoy it.
"It is said that where the lake was
formed was a vast area of fine tim
bered lands, and in places only the
tops of the trees can be seen. The
lake runs north and south, and each
end has neck shape, widening out
about the center, or, nearer the north
ern terminus than the center The
water in it does not seem to rise or
lower to any marked degree, and the
lake is destined to become the great
hunting and fishing resort Of the
West.
1T is said that where this lake was |
formed was formerly the Indians
grounds and also where they
held their annual war dances; but t
since the terrible visitation of the
it is rare thing that one
ventures in that vicinity. BY some
known only to themselves,
Jhey marked warning on the trees
'or other Indians 20 keep away.
"Most of those who fled from the
during the hard shocks have
'eturned, but always become greatly
alarmed at the slightest trembling of
,he earth. We have, since their COM
in 1911, and occasionally,
eel light shocks. Hardly a week passes
jut we feel one. There were two the
)ast winter, much more severe than
We have felt them for several years
before. Since then, however, they are
lighter than ever, and as the months