1868--Cousin Andrew Bell writes Cousin James Bell about a shaking of the earth in the mountains

CURIOUS PHENOMENON. -- We take the following from the S.F. Times. It is curious: "Mr. A.N. Bell, of Independence; Inyo county, writing under date of September 21st, to his brother, Mr. James Bell, of Sonora, gives the following account of a remarkable phenomenon. He says: "There is quite a phenomenon down on the Sierra Nevadas at the head of Kern river. The earth has been shaking for more than two weeks -- almost a constant shake. It shakes the rocks down the mountain and makes the earth wave like the sea. It has not been felt here. I suppose it is a volcano getting ready to burst out. The mountain opens like a hinge, hence it is not felt at a great distance off. The atmosphere has been very thick here for a week, and reminds me of the description given by Bulwer of the scene of darkness that covered Pompeii before its destruction. Such a thing might occur here." from 4 November 1868 DESERET NEWS  MISSISSIPPI COUSINS--NOTICE THAT NOT ONLY WAS ANDREW LITERATE, HE HAD SOME KNOWLEDGE OF LITERARY WORKS SUCH AS "THE LAST DAYS"!