Keowee courier. (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, November 11, 1908, Image 6
(ESTABLISHED 1849.)
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WALHALLA, S. C.:
WEDNESDAY, NOV. ll, 11M)8.
FORMATION OF REELFOOT LAKE
Interesting and Startling Event? of
Ix>ng Ago-Scene of Crime.
(Nashville Banner.)
The story of the formation of Reol
foot Lake contains much tl at is of
deep and startling Interest. This
story ls graphical': told In a letter
that was written 1?' 1826 to Rev. Lo
renzo Dow describing tho horrible
earthquake of 1811 and the conse
quent Hi liking of Reelfoot Lake, now
tho center of Interest because of re
cent disturbances In tho territory ad
jacent to this famous fishing and
hunt lng resort. This letter was
found nome months ugo among some
tdd papers, and reads as follows:
"Dear Brother: 1 have just receiv
ed your kind letter, written some
three or four weeks ago, requesting
me to give you a desert pt ion of the
late horrible visitation o!" Providence,
and the sinking of Reelfoot Lake in
thin section.
"Tho morning of December 15th,
1811, was cloudy and a dense fog
prevailed, and towards nightfall the
heavens showed signs of distress. On
tho following morning, the 16th,
about 6 o'clock a. m., we felt the
shock of an earthquake, accompanied
by n rumbling noise resembling the
dlBtanl firing of a cannon, which was
followed In a few minutes by the
complete saturation of the atmos
phere With sulphurious vapor. The
moon was shining brilliantly, but the
sulphurious vapor caused the earth to
be wrapped 111 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 fora few minutes-form
ed a scone too appalling to conceive
of. Then until daylight a number
of lighter shocks occurred, one that
was moro violent and severe than the
first one, and the terror which pre
vailed 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 bolling,
foaming and roaring terriflleally.
Men, women and children gave up In
despair, some praying and others
fainting, so great was their fear.
' There were light shocks each day
until January 2, 18 12, when one as
hard as the first occurred, followed
by 'he sanio phenomena. From this
time until February 1 tho earth wai
in continual agitation, visibly waving
ns a gentle sea. That day a shock al
most UH severe as the others occurred,
and on tho 8th, about sunrise, a con
cussion took place which was so
much more violent than the others
that lt 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 Mississippi river seemed
to recodo from its hanks, and Its
waters, gathering up like a moun
tain, leaving for a short period of
time many boats which were passing
down tho river, during which time
the crews escaped to land in safety.
Thc river roso ten to fifteen feet
perpend icu lari y, expanding as it
were; nt the same time the banks
were overflowed with a retrograde
current. The river, falling immedi
ately, receded within its banks again
with such violence that it took with
it whole groves of young cottonwood
trees and much cattle and stock.
"A great many fish were left on
the hanks, being unable to keep up
with thc water, and an old canoe,
antique In construction, was washed
ashore. The rive.' 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 wns horribly lacerated-the
surface was from time to time cov
ered over of uneven depths by the
sand, which issued from fissures,
which were made in great numbers
all over this count ry,? some of which
-closed up Immediately after they had
vonlted forth their sand and water.
In many places, however, there was
U substance resembling coal thrown
up with the saud. Il is impossible
to say what the depths of the fissures
or irregular breaks were. The site
of New Madrid. Mo.. was settled
down ni lea; I 1 '< feet, and not more
i han half a mile below that town
there does not appear to be any al
teration of thi> river, but back from
the river a short distance the numer
ous large ponds or lakes, which cov
ered fl g leal part of that country,
were totally dried np. The beds of
some of them bulgo above their for
mier banks several feet.
"Tho most remarkable feature of
sill the ont in? disturbances which was
liol generally known for some months
afterwards was the discovery of a
huge lake on the Tennessee side of
the Mississippi, upward of 2f> miles
long and from one-halt to eight miles
In width. This lake wa.' later called
Reelfool Lake. There ar? ;.laces in
it tho hot tom of which has never
boen fount], though many efforts have
been made.
"The lake lias communication with
tho Mississippi river at both ends,
and it is conjectured that it will not
be many years before the principal
part, if not Hie whole, of the Missis
sippi will pass that way. In the la. I
year or so an herb, resembling moss,
has literally covered the surface of
In Ht. They'll taut as Ion?; at the build
good mecban;o caa lay them, (or a ha
Drop In mu
SJSIVECJ.A. HAJIDM
the lake and during tho winter
months wild fowls, such as ducks,
geese, cranes, etc., winter on the lake
and eat this moss as food. Deer and
other animals scorn to enjoy it.
"It is said that where the lake was
formed was a vast area of floe 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 a neck shape, widening out
about tho center, or nearer the north
ern terminus than the center. The
water In lt does not seem to rise or
lower to any marked degree, and the
lake is destined to become tho great
hunting and fishing resort of the
West.
"It ls said that where this lake
was formed was formerly the In
dians' hunting grounds, and also
where they held their annual war
dances, but sinco tho terrible visita
tion of the earthquake lt is a rare
thing that one ventures in that vi
cinity. Hy some method, known only
to themselves, they marked a warn
ing on the trees for other Indians to
keep away.
"Most of those who fled from the
vicinity during the hard shocks have
returned, hut always become greatly
alarmed at the slightest trembling of
the earth. We have, since their
commencement in 1811, occasionally
felt light shocks. Hardly a week
passes but we feel one. There were
two the past winter, much more se
vere than wo have felt them for sev
eral years before. Since then, how
ever, they nre lighter than ever, and
as the months and years pass the in
habitants are becoming more and
more reconciled to the surroundings.
"One circumstance worthy of men
tion ls: This section was once sub
ject to severe thunder, but for a long
time previous to tho first shock there
was no thunder at all and but very
little since.
"I have now complied with youri
request for a description of thc earth
quake-imperfect, lt ls true, but just
as lt occurred to the best of my mem
ory. If you will como out hero, you
and myself will take a two or three
days' tour of inspection of the coun
try most affected by tho earthquakes,
and especially of tho lake 1 have de
scribed in tho foregoing hlstr *y,
which In my mind is the wonder of
the age. Respectfully yours,
E. ?ryan.
"New Madrid. Mo."
in the case of Webster vs. Harris,
growing out of the Reelfoot Lake
controversy, Judge McAllister of the
Supreme Court, delivering the opin
ion of the court, quoted from an
opinion of Judge W. H. Swlggart,
giving the (trigln, history and de
scription of Reelfoot Lake, the opin
ion shows that the lake Is in Oblon
and Lal e counties, with 1,000 acres,
or moro, In Kentucky. It covers 25,
000 or 30,000 acres of submerged
land, not including the arms or pock
ets, which cove. several hundred
more. It ls la to 20 milos long and
from two to seven miles wide. Sev
eral islands cover about 1,500 acres.
The outlets of the lake are at Its
Southern end, consisting of sloughs
and bayous. These carry Its waters
south into and through other smaller
basins or lakes and through other
sloughs or bayous into Oblon river,
about fifteen miles from tho main
body of the lake, and thence to the
Misslssip river. Tho small streams
called "Re. lfoot River" and "Bayou
Do Chein" passed through the terri
tory now composing tho basin of the
lake. It was on the banks of Bayou
De Chein that Capt. Rankin was re
cently killed by night riders. These
streams come together at a point now
in the lake towards Its eastern and
southern shore, three quarters of a
mlle from Its eastern banks, at tho
village of Samberg, where the State
troops aro now In camp, and which
ls said to bo the center of the dis
turbed district. Bayou De Chein,
where tho tragedy was enacted, en
ters the lake near Its extreme north
eastern corner, and bears to the
southwest and then back across tho
lake towards its eastern side, where
it empties into Reelfoot River, which
(Miters the lake on Its eastern shoro.
The channels of those streams aro
still traceable through tho waters of
the lake. Bayou Do Chein ls thought
to be 12 or l5 miles in the luKe.
There are many logs, trees and
stumps in the lake, dead cypress
mainly. The lake ls subject to Mis
sissippi river overflows.
The lake extends along the entire
eastern boundary line of Lake
county, the eastern banks, according
to the government maps, forming the
Lake and Oblon county lines, though
other maps place tho great body of
water partly in both counties, lt ex
tends north and south from the
Dyer county line up and Into the
Kentucky lino.
While lt seems Indisputable that
the lake was formed by the earth
quake of 1811, the authorities vary
In some minor details as to the phe
nomena. Dr. J. M. Salford, in his
"Geology of Tennessee," says: "This
lake had no exlstenco previous lo tho
'shakes' of 1811-12. Ils origin ap
pears to have hoon duo to the filling
up of tho old channel of Reelfoot
Creek during the convulsions of that
period.
"This dammed up the water that
before ran without obstruction into
the Mississippi, until it overflowed a
l,*iige area, and formed tho lake as
we now And lt. Tho waste water of
tho lake now escapes southward Into
Oblon river, with a fall of at least 4 0
feet. In Its course lt passes through
sovv ral smaller lakes. The northern
Cortright
Metal Shingles
^>-> Ar? especially
Adapted (or all
country build
iH X s, because
U>?y ara - iii o
probf as wall
aa thoroughly
stormproof?
They keap th?
bu tiding dry
and warm.
Whin applied
to tha ?urn, not
the slightest
draught or,
moisture can
reach the i il
tur lor Stock
thrives where
such conditions
lng itself and never need repairs. Any
miner and nails ls all that I* necessary
1 See Them.
r-ARE COMPANY
CHX]
end of the lake projects a short dist
ance into Kentucky. Us length ls
about 18 miles. Its width Taries
from three-fourths of a mlle to three
miles.
"The violent earthquake that de
stroyed in March, 1812, the city of
Caraceas, in South America, appears
to have had somo connection with the
shocks felt at the samje time in the
valley of the Mississippi."
Judge Joseph Guild gives a char
acteristic account of the earthquakes
of 1811-12 In his "Old Times in Ten
nessee," now out of print. In this
interesting volume he says:
"The earthquakes of 1811 com
menced on the 16th of December, at
half-past two o'clock In the morning,
and were folt at intervals up to 1819,
and as lato as July, 1822. For two
or three months the shocks were fre
quent, almost every day. Thor they
gradually decreased In frequency
and took place at longer Intervals,
which continued to lengthen until
they finally ceased.
"The water In the Mississippi nea?*
New Madrid rose In a few minutes
12 or 14 feet, and then fell like a
tide. Some lakes were elevated, as
the bottom raised above the common
surface of the earth in the neigh
borhood, and still remain so. The
country near New Madrid was every
where broken up in furrows six or
eight feet wide and as many deep."
An historian gives what purports
to be the evidence of an eye-witness
to the formation of the lake as fol
lows:
"Col. Walker, of Missouri, who, In
company with an Indian, came over
the Mississippi river Into Tennessee
for the purpose of hunting on what
was then called Reelfoot Creek, In
December, 1811, stated that while
there hunting the earth began to
shake.
"Becoming much alarmed he and
the Indian started to return, and
upon reaching the place on Reelfoot
Creek where they had left their ca
noe, they found that the earth had
sunk, and that the waters from the
Mississippi had rushed In and form
ed a great lake, which they after
ward found to be 2.r? or 30 miles In
length, and from one to ten miles In
width."
CASTOR IA
For Infant0 and Children.
The Kind You Have Always Bought
Bears the
Signature of
We are Dead, Says Chafln.
Chicago, Nov. 4.-Eugene W. Cha
fln, Presidential candidate of the Pro
hibition party, after scanning the
election returns, made a statement,
concluding as follows:
"The Democratic Bryan party is
dead. The fight from now on will be
between the Prohibition party and
the whiskey (Republican) party and
we will elect a Prohibition President
in 1912."
FOUR GIRLS
Restored to Ilenlth by Lydia JO.
Pinkham's Vegetable Compound.
HmaU What Thvy Jay.
MiBsLlllianRosa,530 I
East 84th Street, Now
York, writes: "Lydia
E. Pinkham's Vegeta
ble Compound over
came irregularities, pe
riodic suffering, and
nervous headaches,
after everything else
had failed to help me,
and T feel it a duty to
let others know of it."
KathnrineCrnlg,2355
Lafayotte St., Denver,
Col., writes: "Thanks
to Lydia E. Pinkham's
Voget.ibloCompound I
am well, aftersuffering
for months from ner
vous prostration."
Miss Marie Stoltz
man, of Laurel, Ia.
writes: " I was ina run
downconditionnndsuf
fcroil from suppression
indigestion, and poor
circulation. Lydia E.
I'iiikham's Vegetable
Compound made me
well und r.trong."
Miss Kilon M. Olson,
of 117 N. East St., Ko
wanee, 111.,says: Ly
dtaE. I'iiikham'fiVogo
tablo Compound cured
nm of backache, side
ache, and established
my periods, after tho
best local doctors had
failed to help ino."
FACTS FOR SICK WOMEN.
For thirty years Lydia E. Pink
ham's Vegetable Compound, made
from roots and herbs, has been tho
standard remedy for female ills,
and has positively cured thousands of
women who have been t roubled with
displacements, Inflammation, ulcera
tion, fibroid tumors, irregularities,
periodic; pains, backache, that bear
ing-down feeling, flatulency, iudiges
tion,di/.;.incss,or nervous prostration.
Why don't you try it?
Mrs. Pinkham Invites all sick
women to write her for advice.
8he has guided thousands to
health. Address, Lynn, Mass.
HUYAN CONGRATULATES TAFT.
Tile Itofeatcd Candidate Sends Tele
grain to Successful One.
Lincoln, Neb., Nov. 5.-Mr. Bryan
this morning sent tho following mes
sage: .
"Hon. Wm. H. Taft, Cincinnati, O.:
Please accept my congratulations and
best wishes for the success of your
administration. W. J. Bryan."
Mr. Tuft In Reply.
Cincinnati, Ohio, Nov. 5.-Mr. Taft
sent the following reply to MT. Bry
an's message:
"I thank you sincerely for your
cordial and courteous telegram of
congratulation. Wm. H. Taft."
Raw Lungs.
When the lungs are sore and in
flamed, the germs of pneumonia and
consumption And lodgement and mul
tiply. Foley's Honey and Tar kills
the cough germs, cures the most ob
stinate racking cough, heals the
lungs and prevents serious results.
The genuine is in tho yellow package.
J. W. Bell. Walhalla; Stonecypher
Pharmacy, Westminster.
Help for Aged Ministers.
We are requested by Miss Shelor,
State Leader of tho International
Sunshine Society, to announce that
one of ber sunshiners, Mrs. E. D.
Wells, Leed's, S. C., wife of Rev. E.
D.Weils, of the Baptist church, paints
lovely post cards and sells them to
help thc aged ministers' fund of her
church. You send $1 to Mrs. Wells,
sell the cards she sends, return her
fifty cents and give the rent to aged
ministers' fund. Mrs. Wells helps
"shut-ins" In the same way.
Charles Joseph Magncss, a musi
cian of the navy, aged 20 years, who
recently married Miss Ada Gorman,
aged 40 years, daughter of the late
Senator Gorman, of Maryalnd, ls un
der arrest at tho Philadelphia Navy
Yard on a charge of desertion. M ag
ness will probnbly be sentenced to
three years lu the naval prison at
Charlestown, Mass.
lfm**** ?mg0m*0*0m*4
SOME
BARG
Dress Goods,
Big lot of mill ends in Dr<
in solids and plaids.
Serges, Henriettas and B
and $1.50 per yard, to close
One lot of All-Wool, 54 im
to close at 50c. ; also big va
Calicos-blue, red and bb
Outings, 5c. up.
Clothing,
Our Clothing Stock is bra
and styles. Do not fail to
you beforo you get your Fal
Big Stock of Men's and
coats and Ladies' and Child
lowest price.
Shoes,
Men's Fine Shoes in P?
Metals and Calfs, heavy we
Ladies' Fine Shoos in P
newest lasts and toes.
Children's Sb ces in fine
for winter.
Underwear,
Big stock of underwear
everybody in quality and pr
Trunks, Valices, Su
and Ribbons at lowest j
A full and complete sto
Limo, Cement, Stoves, Har
Wo are also agents for tho
Oliver Chilled Plows, Collin
Do not fail to come and ?
wo have to offer you.
We pay the highest mark
ton Seed.
Yours for
W. P. N
_SENEC.
P. S. : NOTICE.-With
Goods, Clothing and Shoes,
soil you a 25-pound sack of
lated Sugar for $1.25.
IKI?W^HII*?WIMJ nm*mt*i
Tragedy in Georgia.
Danlelsville, (ia., Nov. 6.-Charles
Griffith,a well known Madison county
citizen, Hes cold in death, and his
brother-in-law, Clifford Graham, lan
guishes behind tho bars of the county
prison as a result of a bitter quarrel
over a business affair. In anger, lt
ls sal'', Griffith advanced upon Grn
hnm with a drawn weapon, when the
latter Hred one shot In self-defense.
Griffith dropped dead and Graham
surrendered to the sheriff.
Winter blasts, causing pneumonln,
pleurisy and consumption will soon
be here. Cure your cough now, and
strengthen you: lungs with Foley's
Honey and Tar. Do not risk starting
the winter with weak lungs, when Fo
ley's Honey and Tar will cure tho
most obstinate coughs and colds, and
prevent serious results.
The Kind You Have Always Bought? and which has been
in nae for over 30 years, has horne the signature of
and has been made under his per
sonal supervision since its infancy?
Allow no one to deceive you in this*
AU Counterfeits, Imitations and ? Just-as-good" are bu*
Experiments that trifle with and endanger the health of
infants and Children-Experience against I&perimenfc
What is CASTOR!*
Castoria is a harmless substitute for Castor Oil, Pare
Serle, Drops and Soothing Syrups. It is Pleasant. It
contains neither Opium, Morphine nor other Narcotic
substance. Its age is its guarantee. It destroys Worms
and allays Feverishness. It eures Diarrhoea and Wind
Colic. It relieves Teething Troubles, cures Constipation
and Flatulency. It assimilates the Food, regulates the
Stomach and Bowels, giving healthy and natural sleep?.
The Children's Panacea-The Mother's Friend*
GENUINE CASTORIA ALWAV8
jj Bears the Signature of
The KM You Haye Always Bought
In Use For Over 30 Years.
THC CFNTAUri COMPANY, TT M u n n AV STRICT, NCW TOMI O ITT.
RARE
A I N S!
Dress Goods.
3ss Suitings and Broadcloths
rilliantines, worth $1, $1.25
out at 75c. at 85c.
z\\ wido, worth G5c. and 75c,
lue in 15c. and 20c. goods,
iick-at 5c. ; best grade Gc.
Clothing.
.nd now and the best values
seo what wo havo to o flor
1 and Winter Suit.
Boys' Overcoats and Rain
ren's Cloaks and Jackets at
Shoes.
atont Leathers, Tans, Gun
ights for winter,
atonts and Tans on all the
quality anti heavy weights
Underwear.
in wool or cotton. Can fit
ico.
it Cases, Embroideries
price.
ck of Doors, Sash, Blinds,
cl ware, Bagging and Ties,
celebrated Mitchell Wagons,
tibia Buggies and Carriages.
?ot our prices and seo what
et price for Cotton and Cot
business, %
IMMONS,
A, S. C.
each and every bill of Dry
amounting to $10, wo will
New York Standard Granu
XV. J. CARTER, M. D.,
Dentist.
Office two doors above the Bank, ls
Carter's Pharmacy,
WESTMINSTER, S. C.
DR. W. P. AUSTIN,
Dentist,
Seneca, South Carolina.
Office over J. W. Byrd & Co.
DR. D. P. THOMSON,
Dentist,
Walhalla, South Carolina.
Office over CW. Pitchford Co's Store
Phone No. 80.
DR. J. H. BURGESS,
Dentist,
Seneca, South Carolina.
Office over Wltsell Bro.'s Store,
Clihkscales-Harper Building.
Office Hours:-9 A. M. to 1 P. M.
2 P. M. to 6 P. M.
DR. ll. C. SM A Tl I Kits,
DENTIST,
(Located over Westminster Bank
Building.)
Office Hours: 9 a. m. to 12 m.; 1
p. m. to 6 p. m. ll-4-8-3m
E. L. H ERNDON,
A t torn cy-at-I i aw,
Walhalla, South Carolina.
PHONE No. 61.
J. P. Carey, J. W. Shelor,
Pickens, S. C. Walhalla, S. C.
W. C. Hughs, Walhalla.
CAREY, SHE1XHI & UUGliS,
Attorneys and CounscUors,
Walhalla, S. C.
Practice in State and Federal Courts.
R. T. JA YNES,
A ttorney-at-Law,
Walhalla, South Carolina.
Practice In State and Federal Courts.
Reil Phone No. 20.
KS LL THE COUGH
AND CURE THE LUNC8
WITH
Dr. King's
Nsw Discovery
I'lUCK
FORCo!!^8 "
AND ALL THROAT AND LUNG TR0UBLE8.
rl??B
GUARANTEED SATISFACTORY
OR MONEY REFUNDED.
C. R. Houchins. Louis A. King.
WE ARE DETERMINED TO DO THE
LIVERY BUSINESS
FOR THIS COMMUNITY. COME
ON AND GET YOUR TEAMS.
HAULING TEAMS,
SINGLE AND DOUBLE BUGGY
TEAMS AND SADDLE HORSES.
ALWAYS ON HAND.
Prompt and polite service at rea
sonable prices. Teams sent ?ut at
any hour, day or night. 'Phone 10
or ll for quick teams.
HOUCHINS ? KING,
Walhalla, S. 0.