The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1876-08-25
axHIIss' EOLE.
THE REVIVAL OF AN OLD AND
STARTLING THEORY.

Americus Symmes, Esq, of Louis
vile, says the '' Cft.1cis,nasi CoHenerci-
al, lectured at Riverside, O., recently,
explaining a theory which his father,
Capt. john Symmes, promulgated fifty
years ago. The term "Symmes' Hole''
was for many years in the mouths Of the
people, but Is at present seldom heard,
and scarcely ever understood.
The lecturer said that his father,
Capt. Cleve Symmes, retired from the
army after the peace of 1915, and III
1918 became CONVINCED III his own
mind that the earth was hollow and
habitable on its interior surface. Capt.
Symmes devoted the remainder of his
lite TO the study of scientific matters,
with especial reference to their bear
ing upon his theory. He petitioned
Congress to grant him means to make
an expedition to the north, expecting
to penetrate the glrdle of everlasting
ice which surrounds the poe. to sail
into Tie interior OF the earth, and TO
take possession of the glorious country
to be found there, III the name of tile
United States. He was full of patriotic
desire that lis own beloved country
shonld have the glory and profit OF the
grand discoveries, which he never
doubted would some day be made. He
was SO enthused with this love ofconn-
try that when Russia rendered him the
command of an exped tion he declined,
because he felt that it would be success
ful, and the glory thereof rebound TO
that country and be denied to the
United States. Thus be even sacrificed
the fondest hope of his life upon the
shrine of his patriotism, and died in
1929 broken hearted He died as he
had lived, certain that this theory was
correct and would ultimately be demon
strated.
Capt. Symmes held that the depres-
sion III the outward surface OF the
earth beganat some point between the
6oth and S0;h degrees of latitude, and
tiat the transition space, or verge, as he
termed it, occupied about 1,S00 miles,
after which the convexity would cease,
and the surface would become coneave,
opening towards the interior. He main
tanned that the crust of the earth was
about 900 miles thick, leaving an in
eSiAoA HE'oNC Vi doOut y .UOU miles. ne
distance from ole rim of the depression
of the outward surface to, the other he
claimed to be about 1000 miles. and
the depression in the shape of funnel
until the narrowesG point should be
reached, whence the surface widened
out into the concavity Light and heat
being essential to this new world. Capt.
Symmes relied upon the rays of the sun
being cast directly into the opening. a
certain distance, and then being refract.
ed and reflected until they should
yield light and heat, the lecturer seemed
to think that there might be a sufficient
quantity OF inherent heat to exc out the
requirements of nature
Mr.. Symmes cited several facts from
the experience of Artic explorers. all
going, as he thought, to prove the cor.
rectness of his fathers theory. DR..
Hayes, Capt. Hall and others lad zone
far enough north to see nirnbns clouds
hanging over open water in the distance.
indicating warmth. Wood drifting
from the North bad been picked up with
cuts in it made with an ak, showing that
this interior region was iahabited by a
race who understood the use of iron.