Geology and Natural History. 57 
thrown up and had only partially settled back, owing to the clos- 
ing of the opening under it, so that the former earth marks were 
seen several feet above the ground on its sides. 
In the year 1867 I saw the locality again. A number of shocks 
had in the meantime occurred, and the appearances were very 
different from what they had been. From the top of the ridge to 
the base it seemed a mass of rocks, most of the earth having been 
carried away. The depression at the top was greater, while the 
successive jars had, under the action of the force of gravity, moved 
the mass downward, and had forced the stream still further away 
year 1829, or thereabouts, the Valley River Mountain was cle 
Open for a considerable istance, during a violent shaking of the 
earth in that vicinity. The chasm, though partially filled up, is 
represented as still visible. 
XN r. Silas McDowell, of Macon County, a highly respectable 
and intelligent gentleman, accustomed to observe and write on 
those of the Sugar Fork River. He states that the opening is still 
changed the outlines of the ground and surface rocks. This spot 
18 about fifteen miles east of the Haywood Mountain, and about 
4s far from the Warm Spring to the northwest of it. 
