Many, many generations ago, long before the white man was seen in the land, a large happy tribe of Cherokee lived around the base of the mountain in North Carolina now known as Bald Mountain. It was then covered from base to summit with gigantic trees, beneath which flourished a dense undergrowth of vines, bushes and shrubbery. One day, to the terror of the tribe, and immense bird soared above them, overshadowing them with his outstretched wings. Finally with terrific cries, he settled upon the very top of the top of the mountain, shaking the surrounding country as he alighted. That a bird so vast should make his eyry so near them was dreadful enough, even to the warriors of the tribe, who plainly foresaw how ineffectual their weapons must prove against a flying foe of such huge dimensions. But the bird kept quiet, to the great relief of all; and, as day followed day, without his reappearance, his residence over them gradually lost its terrors, except that the boldest hunter among them dared not pursue his game when it fled toward the summit of the mountain.
One night the tribe were wrapped in sleep, when they were suddenly awakened by the shrieking of the bird and the quaking of the earth at his movements. With one fell swoop, he rush down upon the valley like a storm, crying and roaring with ferocity, and causing the trees and rocks to shake at his coming. Men, women and children fled in tumult, dispersing in all directions, like leaves before a tornado. At length the monster withdrew to his eyry, and the slowly regathered tribe discovered that he had borne off in his cruel talons the beloved child of one of the chiefs. Every year thereafter the feathered horror repeated his descent bearing off a young child as his prey. The afflicted Cherokee knew not what to do. They shrank in dread from the unequal combat with a bird whose size, strength and ferocity were so prodigious. They invoked the Great Spirit for relief, but He seemed deaf to their invocations. They felt that some great, unexpiated sins this distressing annual sacrifice was exacted of them and they submitted as to the inevitable.
At length a chief arose who could not and would not endure the tyranny and rapacity of the bird of the mountain. Just before the period at which the horrid annual visitation was expected, when the fathers and mothers looked upon their little ones with the fearful certainty that one would be torn from them to be tortured, killed and devoured, this chief called the tribe together and eloquently exhorted them to make an effort to destroy the bird, even though they should themselves perish in the attempt. Aroused by his example and his appeal, and driven, indeed, to desperation by the repeated sacrifices they had undergone, the warriors unanimously agreed to follow the chief in his perilous, if not forlorn, enterprise against the mountain horror. The women and children were placed at a distance in secure retreats and the warriors, armed with all their offensive and defensive weapons, encircled the base of the mountain and resolutely began the ascent. Their progress was slow and difficult up the steep acclivity, their way impeded at every step by the rank growth that clothed the mountain from foot to top. Yet they pressed forward and upward, resolved to do or die, until, at length, they were suddenly and simultaneously arrested all around the mountain by an unexpected spectacle that froze the very blood in their veins with fear. They beheld before them, not merely one monstrous bird, but an innumerable congregation of the same mammoth and savage species, clustering close in rank on rank to the very summit of the mountain, glaring with fierce eyes, and with beaks and wings extended, ready to rush down upon and exterminate the invaders of their heights. Yielding all hope before this appalling apparition, the warriors cast away their weapons and fell upon their faces,, to await the destruction so surely impending over them.
At this supreme moment the heart of the chief did not fail him. He saw as clearly as his followers did how unavailing would be their strength and weapons against this multitudinous brood of monsters: but he was at the same time inspired with a faith that the Great Spirit would not permit the whole tribe to perish before these evil birds, if He were now called on devoutly for succor. Elevating his tall form, therefore, erect above his prostrate people, and raising high his hands and eyes to heaven, he, with a loud voice, earnestly besought the Great Spirit to interpose now in behalf of his helpless and afflicted tribe. The Great Spirit heard.
Before the infuriated birds could rush upon their victims, there flashed forth from every quarter of the cloudless sky vivid and noiseless lightning concentrating upon the mountain, slaying every bird of the foul brood, riving the trees and wrapping all the heights in a devouring conflagration. The amazed and awe stricken Cherokee arose and gazed in solemn silence as the flames swept furiously up the mountain, destroying everything in their course; but as the last tongue of fire leaped up from the highest peak and expired (its mission of salvation completed), the tribe raised loud and long their song of thanksgiving for their miraculous deliverance.
From that day to this, it is said, no vegetation has grown upon the mountain within the area blasted by the avenging fires of heaven. The anniversary of their great deliverance was duly celebrated by the tribe from year to year, and thus the tradition was handed down from generation to generation, till it was narrated by a lingering member of the tribe to the new arrivals. Of late, Bald Mountain has given forth mysterious rumblings, shocking the adjacent country, and scientists now see in this wondrous legend a veiled account of a pre-historic volcanic eruption, of which Bald Mountain was the center.