Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 April 1874 — The Quaking of a North Carolina Mountain—Terror of the Inhabitants. [ARTICLE]

The Quaking of a North Carolina Mountain—Terror of the Inhabitants.

A correspondent of the New York Herald writes as follows from Knoxville, Tenn., under date of March 20: For the last twenty days the greatest excitement has prevailed a distance of twenty-five miles around the vicinity of Bald Mountain. This mountain is situated between Crooked Creek, in McDowell County, and Broad River, the mountain also extending into Rutherford County, that portion of the range within Me Dowell being generally called Stone Mountain. Ike first signs of alarm in this locality were witnessed the 10th of February. This consisted in what the people call a terrible “lumbering,” the earth seeming to quiver to a frightful extent. Some parties described it as terrible thunder, gradually dying away in the dis tance. Others describe the noise as the roaring of heavy artillery at a distance. On the 12th of February two gentlemen were on the highest point of Bald Mountain, known as Harris’ View, which is said to be next to Mount Mitchell in height. 'On that day these gentlemen heard this strange noise. One says it first reminded him of the falling of heavy timber, and presented a strange combination of sounds and impressions. Parties living on the mountain sides and foot heard the same. All think that the noise was in the mountain. One man says when he was on one side of the mountain this terrible noise was in the direction of the mountain, and when on the opposite side the same indications were observed. All feel satisfied that the noise proceeds alone from this mountain, but on the 22d of February the noise had reached such a point as to become perfectly terrible. Among the persons living on this mountain are Mr. Camp, Johnston Elliott, Widow Nanny, George Morgan, James Gilbert and others. From a statement of all these parlies and perhaps fifty others the mountain was actually shaking. The moving was like the entire mountain giving way. The table ware and housefurniture all rocked and jostled with frightful force. One man was riding on horseback, and his horse became fearfully frightened. It is said that the cattle have become alarmed and wandered &om their usual range. Such was the alarm that about twelve o’clock at night on the 22d the people for miles around began to assemble at a man’s house by the name of Camp, and Camp, having gone to the wood-pile for wood, became so alarmed that he fell upon his knees and began to pray alond. Very soon the terrible quaking of the mountain was such that the great, crowd now assembled engaged m prayer. At daybreak Monday morning George Logan, a colored Baptist preacher, was sent for in great haste, and so impatient were they of his arrival that a portion of the crowd met him on the road beseeching him to come and pray and preach. The people thus assembled remained in these devotions three days, when they moved a short distance to a vacant house, the property of Harris Elliott. About the third day a white man, a Baptist preacher, was sent for, who came immediately. The 3d of March J. M. Lumly, Methodist minister, in charge of Broad River Mission, was importuned to attend and preach, who promptly complied with the request. From an eye-witness the scenes are described as most strange and extraordinarv. The people came- flocking in crowds of fifteen and twenty, including men, women and children, all presenting the most terrible state of fear, despair ana penitence. On the day Mr. Lumly preached the house was literally packed, the preacher barely having room to stand. So great was the rush to hear that many climbed np the side of the walls ana crowded on the joists above,only a portion of the upper story having a floor, and many not being able to enter the house crowded their heads in the door and ail round the house, manifesting the most intense interest. When the call was made for mourners the people rushed from all parts of tbe house with almost frantic yells and fell upon the floor and npon each other, all praying and supplicating in the most heartfelt and agonizing manner ever witnessed on earth. These exercises continued incessantly for sixteen days and nights with but little intermission. During all this time tbe people all lived In common, no attention was given to labor or property, cattle, horses, and hogs returned to the woods, and the entire people within the range of this awful excitement have concluded that they have but a few more days to live. About one hundred have made profession of religion. The closing scenes of this strange meeting are represented as most peculiar and wonderful. During most of this period of sixteen days the mountain had continued at intervals to present the same alarming impressions, but having prayed, shouted, sung, and agonized for this long period they separated, with the promise that all would remain and die if necessary. It is said that the awe-stricken countenances and the melancholy demeanor of this vast crowd on the break-ing-up of devotions were beyond all description. A letter was received In this city to-day by a gentleman whose mother resides near Bala Mountain, stating that near the snmmit of that peak an area of nearly an acre was agitated by subterranean upheavals, then sinking, from which smoke and vapor issued.