“Communicated”

Date

5-13-1812

Newspaper

Norfolk Herald

Page and Column

Page 2, Column 1

Newspaper Location

Norfolk, Virginia

Serial Number

1011

Abstract

Report that notes the “death” of John C. Edwards and equates it to a report of a volcano at St. Bartholomew’s that is erupting molasses. Ties the two fictional accounts together

Transcript

COMMUNICATED THE EARTHQUAKE'S OVER!! DIED-Ashville, Buncombe county, North-Carolina, about three weeks ago, Mr. John Clarke Edwards, the celebrated inventor of the Buncombe and Burke county Earthquakes* "Tread lightly on his ashes, ye men of genius-for he was your brother." Sterne. Hem! Since the above was written, the spirit of Edwards has passed by a species of Metempsychosis into the bosom of a St. Bartholomews Sugar Planter-Witness the following effusion of his enterprising genius: INTELLIGENCE EXTRAORDINARY. Extract of a letter from St. Bartholomews. "A most surprising event has lately occurred on this island. I hasten to inform you thereof for the benefit of your merchants. It is this---A volcano has just broken out on the top of the peak overlooking our harbor. The crater is circular; the lava runs down the hill without intermission and appears inexhaustible. But, what will astonish you most, is, that the lava as it issues from the mouth of the crater, is actually pure molasses--As it descends, towards our narrow valley, it is chrystallized into Brown Sugar of various qualities; in some parts it assumes the appearance of Guadaloupe sugar; in others Martinique; and in other places, Barbadoes, &c. We are employed in putting it in hogsheads, tierces and barrels, and as quickly as we can accomplish this object, it is bought up for your market. The crater also discharges into the air immense quantities of what appears to us below very small pebbles; but on a close investigation turns out to be actually COFFEE, as like the growth of all the Windward island coffee as possible.-Every soul here is employed in stuffing this prodigious windfall (as previous as the manna in the wilderness,) into bags and barrels.-I have hastened to inform you of this glorious source of speculation, in order that you and all other friends may either partake of, or sympathize in our good fortune." *He was destroyed by a flood of lava as he was ascending the mountain near the mouth of the Volcano.

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