The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-12-06
Our Volcano.

We have already called attention TO
the remarkable facts connected with
the shock of earthquake in this section
of the country. Northeastern Nebras-
ka seems to have been the key to the
whole geological disturbance. From
that region new facts have begun to
arrive, strongly substantiating the
theories advanced at that time.
This subject of volcanic erupiions,
especially when accompanied with IL
Illustrations by Nature In the very heart
of North America, is II of no little in
terest and Importance to geological
science. The late earthquake is bring
ing to light the fact that in Northern
Nebraska, which was the center of its
commotion, there is actually existing a
volcanic region of almost startling
character. The Ionia volcano, which
gave presentiment Of the coming EARTH
quake by unusual activity for six
months beforehand, shows but little
change externally since the earth
quake, but that there is an important
change within is evident from the fact
that the vnpors arising from the tho
hill, as the settlers call it, have grown
strongly sulphurous in smell, and that
the ground round about has become
hot enough to char a stick If thrust
into it at places and left for 4 rev
hours. ITttitfl j
The effect of the earthquake ON the
Ionia volcano, however, was not as
remarkable rs was that upon aregion in
Nebraska lying n dozen or twenty miles
to the south and west thereof An
tract from a local paper, the Dixon
County, (Neb. Courier, gives a de-
s~cription of the action of the internal
earth-forces raging so near the surface
in the region referred to, as follows:
AT the time of the earthquake, on
the farm of J.. II. Armstrong, seven
miles southwest of Ponca, the ground
in a radius of about one-half an acre
was thrown up to the depth of several
feet, and the huge mass of earth de-
posted in the valley near by, filling it
in some places to the depth of fifteen
feet. The excavation made by this
freak of nature is in a half circle, and
this circle is filled with assures varying
in width from six inches to ten feet,
and all of an unknown and perhaps UNI
measurable depth. One thousand
pounds of dynamite would not have
'.roustedi' a greater amount of earth
or in other words so completely wrecked
so much prairie. Out of some of these
assures streams of water are still flow
ing, others are perfectly dry, from
which proceed strange noises.
Is not here a home study for the
American naturalist? Two thousand
miles fiom the seashore, in the interior
of the North American continent there
is actually n scene of volcanic commo-
tion. -
. Another local paper, in the same
vicinity, the Ponca Journal, which is
printed only about four miles from the
scene, refers to the above facts, and
adds a word about the 'sabominable
sulphurous smell."L e
A few miles further south from the
spot of.the disturbance in Dixon county
-thei Ionia volcano is also in Dixon
c-olnty-tbere is a point known as
"Daily Branch,v where, pas Il local
clergyman-Rev. Mr.J Hutchinson
informs the public, the'earthquake was
very violent. The Shock threw up
about an - of ground rear the rever-
end gentleman's residence, which settled
back in a very demoralized condition.
At that spot there are now several
geysers, or boiling springs.
Other changes quite as marked as
any yet mentioned have come over the
face Of Northern Nebraska since the
earthquake shock, all going to make up
IN interesting and new problem for the
scientists, and proving that the crust
between mankind and the fire which
Is supposed to be. consuming the yitals
80 Nr4I<r rTo.x1. O., - fuaa, nrrfrl1,