Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-02-17
Subterranean Eires--The Cause.

Inc disappearance OF q small pOnd OF
water in Missouri during the recent Earth
quake, and the issuing Of stream from a
hole at the bottom, has called forth the fol-
lowing remarks by correspondent of tho
Journal of Commerce:
During the shakes of the earthquake in
the winter of 1911 and IL, person walking
near the banks Of the Muskngum River, in
Ohio, discovered smoke issuing from an
opening in the ground he examined the
spot, put his cane down in the opening, and
it Immediately took fire. He was much
alarmed, and on his return to town related
the circumstance. The Legislature of the
State we're then in session at GAINESVILLE, and
Immediately adjourned 10 view the phenome-
ma. The report spread rapidly through the
village until it reached the ears of an old gen.
,leman, who Immediately explained the
matter. He had the year previous burnt a
kiln of lime on and against the bank, which
ignited vein Of bituminous coal that con-
tinued to burn under ground, and the vio-
lence of tine earthquake had thrown down so
much ofthe bank Of the river as to cause the
opening. An examination of the ground
proved that the old gentleman was right in
his conjectures. Subterranean fires feeding
upon biluminous coal may have produced
the phenomena spoken Of in the St. Louis
paper, and the subterranean fuel may have
been kindled by electric fluid.
Shakes are very frequent near St. Louis,
and more particularly near Shawneetown,
Illinois.-At the United States salnes in
that neighborhood shakes are felt almost
every year. During the shakes IN 1911 and
'12 at New Madrid, bi,uminous coal was
thrown up in large quantities at that place.
Liquid Petroleum, which is very combus.
tible, is found in boring for salt water through
the regions Of country west of the AlIeghana
Mountains, and in many places It comes Ia
the surface in the shape of Mineral Tar
Springs. Immense quantities of Carburet.
ted Hydrogen gas also issues from some oil
the salt wells of the West, and from numer.
Gus springs termed burning springs. The
different Virginia springs possess every de.
gree Of temperature, from that of the heat Of
boiled water down to the temperature of IF.
ty-two degrees.
The increased temperature is entirely To-
cal, as appears from all the investigation.
which have been made in the western States
The Carburelted Hydrogen Gas is set OF
fire at the Kenhawa Shines, and al the burn.
ing springs in Virginia by the inhabitants, te
afford visitors the opportunity Of witnessing
the phenomenon.
Beneath the earth's surface in many loca.
lions are vast gasometers of carburetted ny.
drogen gas, and also burning bodies which
have become ignited from chemical causes
fully nderstood.-These subterranean fire!
produce in the course of time intense heat
displacing vast bodies of solid matter, unit
perchance body Of water is thus reached
which on coming in contact with the liquit
fire becomes converted into steam. Thi
must either find vent by some terrific explo'
sion. or be condensed by force of pressure
which must shake the earth for an immense
distance around
The effects Of earthquakes are quite vari
} Gus sometimes the motion is vertical, throw
ing buildings upwards at other time the mo-
lion is horizontal.
: 1t is wonder that earthquakes are no
, more frequent, and more disastrous.