Year: 1871

Tne last Palatka Herald has letter
from Orange county, Florida, containing
thrilling narrative of the sinking of a
good portion of Orange county, and the
formation of lake where it once stood.
After relating the experience of one man,
he goes to another, whose account is as
follows:


More and more wonderful. Mr.. AL
exander X. Foster has come in with more
marvellous and startling reports. He says
that on bis way from Orlando to Million
Vile, after crossing Fort Metlin branch he
left the road to avoid the constant bog
ging to which he was subjected. The SAT-
est place he thought would be on the
crown of high blank jack ridge, running
parallel with the road, which he accord
ingly took. After riding perhaps mile
his horse commenced begging. and for
some distance it was questionable whether
he could get through, he however reached
more solid footing, again he commenced
begging, and at this time he noticed re-
markable and portentious sounds in his
rear. The begging grew worse as he pro-
gressed, until he had to dismount; there
seemed no escape for him, both he and his
horse were still begging. The sounds In
his rear increased more and more alarm
ing. and the route in frynt more boggy-
he dare not stop. as this would have rem
dered it impossible to have extricated
himself-he neither dare nor could look
behind him, his whole thought and aim
was to reach terra frma. At last, after
the most superhuman exertions, both he
and his horse exhausted to the most ex-
treme degree, he reached solid ground
Turning to examine into the cause Of
those fearful sounds in his rear, he saw
the most terrific and apalling sights it has
ever been his fate to listen to. The first
thing that attracted attention, was that
the trees were moving, first gyrating mo-
tion of the top, then some sinking gradu-
ally out of sight, the tops revolving more
and more rapidly as it sunk and disap-
peared, others following, and as they fell
revolving and describing acres of circle
against the sky, Then the whole earth
as far as the eye could reach, sinking and
its place supplied by sea of waters, rush
ing. seething, boiling with the noise of
mighty cataracts, and ever ald anon, cast
ing to the surface the roots, tops or bodies
of mighty pines and oaks.


If could only tell it to you in the
language of the awe stricken witness. 1t
must have been beyond comparison, the
most fearfully. appalling and awe-inspir-
ing sight ever witnessed. The horse and
man lie now painting at the memory OF
the horrors they have SO miraculously es-
capped. taf fF@e


AN HOUR AID HALF LATER.


People are rushing from the scene of
disaster. Our camp is crowded with the
terror-stricken inhabitants from the coun-
try in our rear. Everybody is waiting
with forebodings and horrible expecta-
tions.


They believe the day of judgment has
come. The extraordinary phenomena
appears more and more extraordinary.-
The country from two to three miles from
here to Lake Metlin is entirely submerg-
ed and is now one vast Lake. Nothing
authoritative from beyond, though rumors
are rife, that Orlando is swallowed up,
and the whole chain of Lakes to Lake
Conway are now united, and from an i'm
mense inland sea. We leave immediate
ly and in terror for our own fate. L