ON A SERIES OF EARTHQUAKES IN NORTH CAROLINA, COM- 

 MENCING ON THE lOTH OF FEBRUARY, 1874. 



By Professor Warren du Pafe, 

 Of Wofford College, Spartanburgh, S. C. 



The followiug is an extract from a letter of the 24th April, 1874, from 

 Professor Du Pr6 to General Benjamin Alvord, U. S. Army : 



"My visit to tiie mountains of North Carolina was undertaken to 

 satisfy myself with respect to the numerous rumors which had reached 

 us of the volcanic disturbances in that section of the country, I could 

 spend but two days (19th and 20th March) in the investigation, but 

 was quite diligent in collecting facts and in extending my explorations 

 on horse and on foot so as to cover a distance of eighteen or twenty 

 miles. I was soon convinced that the physical disturbances were real, 

 but many of the rumors were false, and that the truth had been much 

 exaggerated by the fears of the people. The explosive noises accom- 

 panying the shocks and the limited area of the disturbances are peculi- 

 arities worthy the attention of scientists, and demand a more thorough 

 explora:;ion. The inclosed is a hasty report of my trip, which I drew 

 up to allay, if possible, the fears of the inhabitants of the district. 



Stone Mountain, the site of the disturbances, like all the neighboring 

 peaks, is composed chiefly of gneiss and granitic slates, and covered 

 with a dense forest growth. In a direct line, it is about fourteen miles 

 from Black Mountain, or '' Mount Mitchell," the highest j^oint in tbe 

 United States east of the Rocky Mountains. Tt lies between Broad 

 and Catawba Elvers, both of which point to Black Mountain, while 

 on the northwest side of the Blue Eidge, the Swannanoah and Green 

 Elvers, tributaries of the French Broad, have their sources near the 

 Black Mountain. So many large rivers, on both sides of tbe Blue Eidge, 

 heading up in this section, would indicate Black Mountain as the cen- 

 ter of the volcanic force which litted up these mountain-ridges. I ex- 

 pect to visit these mountains again in July, when I shall have more 

 time to investigate this matter.*" 



Extracts from report above referred to, dated Spartanburgh, S. C, March 28, 



1874. 



On Wednesday, the 18th of March, in company with Eev. E. C. 

 Oliver, editor of The Orphans' Friend, Mr. McKenn Johnstone, civil 



* Professor Du Pr6 has been requested to communicate a report of this projected trip. 

 Further data remain to be gleaned, as the phenomena appear to have continued, at least, 

 up to April. 



