Year: 1874




Bald Mountain--An Indian Legend.
A CORRESPONDENT of the New York
York Eoentng Post:


AS the telegraph is circulating some
wonderful earthquake stories about Bald
Mountain, of North Carolina, I am
took there in 1848


FROM the summit of the pass, as you de-
scend Nan-ti-ha.lah Mountain to the east
ward, number Of very imposing scenes
present themselves, but chief among all
the hills rises the rugged peak of Bald
Mountain. It is said to have been for
merly covered with forests, and its pres
ent badness is accounted for by the
Cherokees after the following manner:
There once existed among these noun
tains very large bird, which resembled
the green-winged hornet, and this creature
was in the habit of carrying off the young
children who happened to wander into
the woods. Very many children had dis
appeared in this manner, and the entire
people declared a warfare against the
monster. A variety of means were EN-.
ployed for his destruction, but without
success. In process of time it was deter
mined that the wise men of the nation
should try their skill in the business
They met in council, and agreed
that each should station himself on the
summit Of mountain, and that when the
creature was seen the man who made the
discovery should utter q loud halloo,
which should be taken up by the neigh
Dor on the next mountain. and so contin-
ued to the end of the line, that all the
men might have shot at the bird. The
experiment was tried, and resulted in
finding the hiding place of the monster,
which was deep cavern on the eastern
side of the Blue Ridge, and at the foun.
tain-head of the river Too On ar
irving at this place they found the en-
trance to the cave entirely inaccessible to
mortals, and they therefore prayed to the
Great Spirit that he would bring out the
bird from his den and place him within
reach of their arms: The petition was
granted, for a terrible thunderstorm i'm
mediately arose, and a stroke Of light
ming tore away one-half of large noun
tain, and the Indians were successful in
Staying their enemy. The Great Spirit
was pleased with the courage manifested
by the CherOkces during their dangerous
fight, and, with view of rewarding it, he
willed that all the highest mountains in
their land should thereafter be destitute
of trees, so that they might always have
an opportunity Of watching the move
ments of their enemies.


Such are some of the earthquake ideas
which formerly prevailed among the
scientists" of the wilderness, a4kw4,
must wait patiently for what is4lke3 1s
promulgated before long by tne Wise n1eh7
of our scientific institutiqns: In the
meantime give you few:facts, which l
obtained among the mountains of Caro-
lima, bearing somewhat on the great CON-
motion now going on.


l was once piloted by mountaineer to
a spot in Haywood County, on the side of
a mountain where, it was stated, water
spout had occurred many years ago, the
bursting of which caused a very great
noise and the shaking of the earth. What
seemed the pathway of an avalanche was
said to be the effect Of the water deluge.
Within the recollection of persons now
living, this mountain, which is brother
of Bald Mountain, has been violently agi-
tated and broken to pieces. The first
shock occurred in 1911 or 1912 and the
last in 1885; and it is asserted that an
other mountain, about forty miles distant,
was also convulsed in like manner in
1881. Solid granite rocks were rent
asunder, and the assures generally took
northerly direction; and as seen with the
eve of the geologist the entire region here
alluded to seems to constitute hypogene
formation