University of South Carolina Libraries
KEOWEE COURIER ( ESTAI?! * IHM IO O 1849.) Published Every Wednesday Morning. Hubscriptlon, gi.00 Per Annum. Advel tislng Rates Reasonable. -By STECK. SHELOK & SCHRODER. Communications or a personal character charged for as advertise ments. Obituary notices and tributes of respect, of not over one hundred words, will be printed free of charge. All over that number must be paid for at the rate of one cent r word. Cash to accompany manuscript. WA LU ALLA ( S. C.: WEDNESDAY, NOV. ll, 11)OH. FORMATION OF REELFOOT LAKE Interesting and Startling Event* of liong Ago Scene of Crime. (Nashville lianner.) The story of the formation of Reol foot Lake contains much that is of deep and startling interest. This story ls graphically told in a letter thal waa written lu 1826 to Rev. Lo renzo Dow describing tho horrible earthquake of 1811 and the conse quent sinking of Reel foot Lake, now the center of Interest because of re cent disturbances lu tho territory ad jacent to this famous fishing and hunting resort. This letter was found some months ago among some old papers, and reads as follows: "Dear Brother: i have just receiv ed your kind letter, written some three or foin weeks ago, requesting me to give you a description of the late horrible visitation of Providence, and the sinking of Reel foot Dake in this section. "The morning ol' December lfith, loll, was cloudy and a dense fog prevailed, and towards nightfall the heavens showed signs of distress. On tho following morning, the 10th, about. f> o'clock a. m., we felt the shock of an earthquake, accompanied hy a rumbling noise resembling the distant firing of a cannon, which was followed In a few minutes hy the complete saturation of the atmos phere with sulphurlous vapor. The moon was shining brilliantly, but the sulphurlous vapor caused th,? earth to be wrapped in absolute darkness. The walling Inhabitants, the stampede of the fowls and beasts, the noise of falling limber, the roaring of the Mississippi, Ibo current of which was retrograded for a few minutes -form ed a scene too appalling t?) conceive of. Then until daylight a number <>f lighter shocks occurred, one that was more violent and severo than the first ono, and tho 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 territllcally. Men, women and children gave up in despair; some praying and othes faint lng, so meat was their fear. "There wen? Unlit shocks each day Until January 2, 1812, when one as hard as the first occurred, followed hy the same phenomena. From this time until February 1 the earth was In continual agitation, visibly waving ns a gentle sen. That day a shock al most as severe as the others occurred, and on the 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 recede from Its banks, and Its waters, gathering up like a moun tain, leaving for a short period of time many boats which were passing down the river, during which time the crews escaped to land in safety. The river rose ton to fifteen feet perpendicularly, expanding as it were; at the mme time the banks were overdo wed with a retrograde current. The river, falling immedi ately, receded within its banks anain With such violence that lt took with it whole groves of young cottonwood trees and much cattle and stock. "A great many tish were left on the hanks, being unable to keep up With the water, and an old canoe, antique In construction, was washed ashore. The river was a mass of floating wrecks of boats, and lt is said that one was wrecked In which lhere was a lady and six children, all ?f whom were lost. "In tho hard shocks described the earth was horribly lacerated the surface was from time to time cov ered over of uneven depths by the sand, which Issued from tissures, which were made in great numbera all oser this count ry,, some of which closed up Immediately after they had vomited forth their sand and waler. In many places, however, there was ;i substance resembling coal thrown up with tho sand, lt ls Impossible to say what the depths of the fissures or irregular breaks were. The sile of New Madrid, Mo., was settled down at leal I I fi feet, ami not more iliin half a mile below that town there does not appear lo be any al leialloii of the river, but hack from the river a short distance the numer ous large ponds or lakes, which cov ered n great part of thal country, Were totally dried Up, The beds of some of them bulge above theil' for mer banks several feet, "The mont, remarkable feature of all Ibo entire disturbances which was not generally known for some months afterwards was tho discovery of a huge lake on the Tennessee side of tho Mississippi, up waru of -.*> miles Jong and from one half to olghl miles in width. This lake was later called Reelfool Dake There aro placos In it the bottom of which has never hoi II lound, though many efforts have boen made. " The lake has communication with tho Mississippi river al both ends, . nul it is conjectured that it will not be many years before the principal part, If not the whole, of the Missis sippi will pass that way. In the last year or so an herb, resembling moss, luis literally covered the surface of CORT RI I rx ?it They'll taut Ml lon ir at th? balt?1 good raochumo can lay them, (or a hr Drop In an SENECA I*A.Xfcr>V the lake and during tho winter montha wild fowls', such ns duck?, geese, crane?, otc , winter on the lake and oat Mils moss aa food. Deer and other animals seem tn enjoy it. "it ls aaid 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 a neck shape, widening out about tho center, or nearer tho north ern terminus than the center. The water In it doeu not seem to riso or lower to any marked degree, and tho lake ls destined to become tho groat hunting and fishing resort of the West. "It ls said that whore this lako was formed was formorly tho In dians' hunting grounds, and also whore thev held their annual war dances, but since tho terrible visita tion of the earthquake lt I? a rare thing that ono 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 lied from the vicinity during the hard shocks have returned, but always become greatly alarmed nt the slightest trembling of the earth. We have, slnco their commencement in 1811, occasionally felt light shooks. Hardly a week passes but we feel one. There wore two the past winter, much more se vere than we have felt thom for sev eral years before. Slnco then, how ever, they are lighter than ever, and as tho months and years pass the In habitants aro becoming more and more reconciled to the surroundings. "One cir? urns tance worthy of men tion is: This section was once sub ject to severe thunder, but for a long time previous to the first shock thero was no thunder at all and but very Utile since. "I have now complied with your request for a description of the earth quake Imperfect, lt ls true, but just as lt occurred to the best of my mem ory, if you will come out hore, you and myself will take a two or three days' tour of Inspection of the coun try most affected by the earthquakes, aud especially of the lake I have de scribed in the foregoing history, which In my mind I? the wonder of the age. Respectfully yours, io. Bryan. "New Madrid, Mo." In the case of Webster vs. Harris, growing out of the Reelfoot Lake controversy. Judge McAllister of the Supremo Court, delivering the opin ion of the court, quoted from an opinion of Judge W. H. Swlggart, giving the Origin, history and de scription of Reelfoot Lake, the opin ion show? that the Inke ls lu Ohlon and Lake counties, with 1,000 acres, or more, In Kentucky. It covens 25, 000 or 30,000 acres of submerged land, not Including the arius or pock ets, which cover several hundred more. It. ls 15 to 20 miles long and from two to seven miles wide. Sev eral Islands cover about 1,500 acres. The outlets of the lake are at Ita Sont lern and, consisting of sloughs and bayous. These carry Its waters south Into and through other smaller basins or lakes and through other Bloughs or bayous Into Ohlon river, about fifteen miles from the main body of tho lake, and thence to the Mississippi river. The small streams called "Reelfoot River" and "Bayou I)?? Cheln" passed through the terri tory now composing the basin of the lake, lt was on the hanks of Bayou De ('bein that Capt. Rankin was re cently killed by night riders. These streams come together at a point now In tho lake towards Us eastern and southern shore, three quarters of a mlle from Its eastern banks, at the village of Samberg, where the State troops are now in camp, and which ls said to bo the center of the dis turbed district. Bayou Do Chola, where the tragedy was enacted, en ters the lake near Its extreme north eastern corner, and bears to the southwest and then back across the lake towards Its eastern side, where it empties into Reelfoot River, which enters the lake on Its eastern shore. The channels of these st reams aro still traceable through the waters of the lake. Bayou De Cheln ls thought lo be 12 or 15 miles in the lake. There are many lo^s, 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 Uno of Lake county, the eastern banks, according to tin- government maps, forming the Lake and Ohlon county lines, though 01 bei" maps place tho grenl body of water partly in both counties, lt ex tends north and south from the Dyer county line up anti into the Kentucky Uno. While it seems indisputable thal the lake was formed by tho earth quake of ISM, the authorities vary In some minor details as to the phe nomena. Dr. J. M. Salford, In his "Geology of Tonneasee," says: "This lal' ? had no existence previous to thc 'shaki of 1811-12. its origin ap pears to have been due to the filling up of thc old channel of Reelfoot Creek during the convulsions of thai period. "This dammed up the water that before ran without obstruction Into the Mississippi, until lt. overflowed a large aron, and formed the lake as WO now find lt. The waste water of the lake now escapes southward Into Oblon river, with a fall of at least 4 0 feet, lu Its course lt passes through several smaller lakes. The northern Cortright Metal Shingles t**-~tyy> Ar? especially *P*T-.~<& adapt?dfor ?fl country build ings, because ttlfV ni" i'm proof as well as thoroughly stormproof. Th -v k??p tit? building dry and warm. Wh-:n applied to th? Kirn, not the sichtest draught or, moisture can r?ach the In terior. Stock tbrivea where auch conditions linii Itself and never need repairs. Any immer and nails is all that is necessary d Se? 1 hem. ^ARE COMPANY end of the lake projects a short dist ance into Kentucky. Its leugth ls about 18 miles. Its width varies 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 folt at the sanve time in the vnlloy 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 ilils interesting volume he Hays: "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 is ic, and ns lato a? July, 1822. For two or three months the shocks were fre quent, almost every day. Then they gradually docreased In frequency and tock plaoe ut longer intervals, which continued to lengthen until they finally ceased. "Tho waler In the Mississippi near New Madrid rose In a few minutos 12 or 14 feet, and then fell like a tide. Some lakes were elevated, as the bottom raised above the common BU rf ace of the earth in the neigh borhood, and still remain so. Thc country near New Madrid was every where broken up In furrows six or eight foot wide and as many deep." An histoi lan gives what purports to be tho 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 tho purpose of hunting on what was then called Reelfoot Creek, in December, 18 11. stated that while there hunting the earth began to s li ak e. "Becoming much alarmed he and the Indian stalled to return, and upon reaching the place on Reelfoot Greek where they bad 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 2f> or 30 miles In length, and from one to ten miles In width." CASTOR IA For Infants and Children. The Kind You Have Always Bought Bears the Signature of We ure Dead, Says ('balbi. Chicago, Nov. 4.-Eugene W. Cha , fin. Presidential candidate of tho Pro hibition party, after scanning the election returns, made a statement, . concluding as follows: "The Democratic Bryan party ls : dead. The light from now on will be between the Prohibition party and i thc whiskey (Republican) party and ' wo will elect a Prohibition President in I'll 2." FOUR GIRLS Restored to Health by Lydia E, Pin kinna's VogetubleCompouiAil. R?ad What THmy Say. M is? Lillian ROM, 830 East 84th Htreot, New York, writes: "Lydia E. I'lnkham's Vegeta ble Compound ovor oame irregularities, pe riodic suffering, and nervous hoadaches, after everything else had failed to help nie, and I feel lt a duty to let others know of it." KatliarineCralg,'23M Lnfayotto Ht., Denver, Col., writes: "Thanks tc Lydia Iv Piiikham's V ogetablo Compound I am well, aftersufforlng for months from ner vous prostration." Miss Marie Htolti man, of Lan roi, Ia., writes : " I was ina run down conti i lion nml suf fered from suppression, Indigestion, and poor circulation. Lydia K. Pinkham's Vegotablo Compound ma<lo me well alni strong." Miss Ellen M.Olson, Of 417 N. Bast St., KA wiinoo, III.,says: " Ly dlaK. I'lnkhaiii'sVego talilo ( 'oin pim ixl (Mired me of backache, side arlie, anti established my periods, aftnr tho best lix-al doi-tois had failed to help mo." FACTS FOR SICK WOMEN. For thirty years Lydia K. Pink? ham's Vegetable Compound, made from roots ?ind herbs, nas been the standard remedy for female ills. and II?US jxisit ively cured thousundsoi women who have been troubled with displacements, inllainniation,ulcera tion, fibroid tumors, irregularities, periodic pains, backache, that liear [ng-down feeling,. tr-ulenoy,indiges) tion^dizzinesflfOrnervou^ prostration. Why don't you t ry it y Mrs. Pliikliam Invites all Nick wunen to writ? lior for advice. Hbo ha? guided thousands to health. Address, Lynn, Muss. Hit Y AN CONGRATULATES TAFT. Tlic Defeated Candidato Benda Tele gram to Successful One. Lincoln, Neb., Nov. 5.-Mr. Bryan .ula morning sent the following mes sage: . "Hon. Wm. H. Taft, Cincinnati, O.: PleaBO accept my congratulations and best wishes for the success of your administration. W. J. Bryan." Mr. Taft In Reply. Cincinnati, Ohio, Nov. 5.-Mr. Taft sent the following reply to Mr. 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 reaults. The genuine ls In tho yellow package. J. W. Bell, Walhalla; Stonecypher Pharmacy, Westminster. Help for Aged Ministers. We are requested by Mis3 Shelor, State Leader of the International Sunshine Socioty, to announce that ono of her sunshiners, Mrs. E. D. Wells, Leed's, S. C., wife of Rev. E. D.W?lls, of the Baptist church, paints lovely post cards and sells them to help the aged ministers' fund of her church, Yon send $1 to Mrs. Wells, sell the cards sho sends, roturn her lift y cents and givo the rest to aged ministers' fund. Mrs. Wells helps "shut-ins" in the same way. . Charles Joseph Magness, a musi cian ol' the navy, aged 20 years, who recently married Miss Ada Connan, aged 4 0 years, daughter of the late Senator Gorman, of Maryalnd, Is un der arrost at tho Philadelphia Navy Yard on a charge of desertion. Mag ness will probably be sentenced to three years in the naval prison at Charlestown. Mass. SOME BARG Dress Goods, Big lot of mill ends in Dn in solids and plaids. Sorgos, Henriettas and B and $1.50 per yard, to close Ono lot of All-Wool, 54 im to closo at 50c. ; also big vn Calicos-blue, red a:^d bl Outings, 5c. up. Clothing, Our Clothing Stock is brr and styles. Do not fail to you beforo you get your Fal Big Stock of Mon's and coats and Ladies' and Child lowest prico. Shoes, Mon's Fino Shoes in P Metals and Calfs, heavy wo Ladies' Fine Shoos in F nowost lasts and toes. Children's Shoes in lino for winter. Underwear, Big stock of undorv.oar everybody in quality and pi Trunks, Valices, Su and Ribbons at lowest A full and complete ste Limo, Cement, Stoves, Har Wo aro also agonts for the Oliver Chilled Plows, Cohn Do not fail to como and ? wo have to offer you. We pay the highest mark ton Seed. Yours foi W. P. N SENEC P. S. : NOTICE.-With Goods, Clothing and Shoes soil you a 25-pound sack of lated Sugar for $ 1.25. Tragedy in Georgia, Danlelsvlllc, (?a.. Nov. ."..- Charles Griffith,a well known Madison county citizen. Iles cold In death, and his brother-in-law, Clifford Graham, lan guishes behind the bars of the county prison as a result of a bitter quarrel over a business affair. In anger, lt IH said, tiri iii i h advanced upon Orn ham with a drawn weapon, when the latter fired one idiot. In self-defense. Griffith dropped dead and Graham surrendered to the sheriff. . --- Winter blasts, causing pneumonia, pleurisy and consumption will soon be here, (hire your cough now, and strengthen your bili?s with Foley's Honey and Tar. Do not risk stnrtlng tlie winter with weak lungs, when Fo ley's Honey and Tar will cure tho most obstinate COU ghi and colds, and prevent serious results. The Kind Toa Have Always Bought? and which has been In one for over SO years, has horne the signature ?ff and lias been made nuder his por sonal supervision since its infancy* Allow no one to deceive you in this. All Counterfeits, Imitations and "Just-as-good" are bu* Experiments that trifle with and endanger the health of Bnfknts and Children-Experience against Experiment, What is CASTORIA Castoria is a harmless Substitute for Castor Oil, Pave Serie, Drops and Soothing Syrups. It is Pleasant. It contains neither Opium, Morphine nor other Narcoti? substance. Its age is its guarantee. It destroys Worms and allays Feverishness. It cures 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? Tho Children's Panacea-The Mother's Friend* GENUINE CASTORIA ALWAYS Bears the Signature of Tile Kind You Haye Always Bought In Use For Over SO Years. Tnt oL-MTAun COMPANY. TT MUHMV STUCKT. NIW von? onV. RARE A I N S! Dress Goods. jss Suitings and Broadcloths rilliantines, worth $1, $1.26 out at 75c. at 85c. eli wide, worth 65o. and75c, Jue in 15c. and 20c. goods, ack-at 5c. ; host grade Gc. Clothing. md now and the best values ' seo what wo havo to offor 1 and Winter Suit. Boys' Overcoats and Rain iron's Cloa.cs and Jackots at Shoes. atont Leathers, Tans, Gun ights for winter. atonts and Tans on all the quality and heavy weights Underwear. in wool or cotton. Can fit .ico. it Cases, Embroideries price. >ck of Doors, Sash, Blinds, dwaro, Bagging and Tics, celebrated Mitchell Wagons, nbia Buggies and Carriagos. got our prices and seo what ot prico for Cotton and Cot . business, IMMONS, A, S. C. each and every bill of Dry , amounting to $10, we will New York Standard Granu mi n W. J. CARTER, M. D., Dentist. Office two doors above the Bank, la Carter's Pharmacy, WESTMINSTER, S. C. DR. W. P. AUSTIN* Dentist, Seneca, South Carolina. Office over J. W. Byrd & Co. DR. I) . P . THOMSON, Dentist, Walhalla, South Carolina. Office over CW. Pitchford Co's Store Phono No. 80. DR. J. H. BURGESS, Dentist, Seneca, South Carolina. Office over WItsell Bro.'s Store, Clljikscales-Harper Building. Office Hours:-9 A. M. to 1 P. M. 2 P. M. to 6 P. M. DR. H. C. SMATHERS, DENTIST, (Located over Westminster Bank Building.) Office Hours: 9 a. m. to 12 m.; 1 p. m. to G p. m. 11-4-8.3m E. L. II ERN DON, A ttoracy-at-Iia\v, W i-I Im I In, South Carolina. PHONE No. 01. J. P. Carey, J. w. Shelor, Pickens, S. C. Walhalla, S. C. W. C. Hughs, Walhalla. CAREY, NI I El,OR & LLUGlxS, Attorney* and CounscUors, Walhalla, S. O. Practice In State and Federal Courts. R. T. JA YNES, A ttorncy-at-Law, Walhalla, Sonth Carolina. Practice In State and Federal Courts. Bell Phone No. v.o. Kl LL TH. COUGH AND CURE THE LUNG8 WITH Dr. King's New Discovery PBIOK Trial 3oiUe Free AND ALL THROAT AMD LUNG TROUBLES. GUARANTEED SATISFACTORY OR MONEY REFUNDED. C. R. IIouchliiB. Louis A. King. WE ARE DETERMINED TO DO THE LIVERY BUSINESS FOR THIS COMMUNITY. COME ON AND OET YOUR TEAMS. HAULING TEAMS, SINGLE AND DOUBLE BUGGY TEAMS AND SADDLE HORSES, ALWAYS ON HAND. Prompt and pollto Borvlce at rea oonable pilcos. Teams sent eut at any hour, day or night. 'Phono 10 or ll for quick teams. HOUCHINS A KINO, Walhalla, 8. 0.