The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1883-11-20
Written for the FLoRIDiAN.
Is There u Volcano 8" Florida

In a recent article in the FLORIDIAN ! al
tempted to show from the testimony OF persons
who have been through the region where the
volcano is supposed to exist, that the myS,eri
Gus smoke" so frequently seen was only vapor
arising from ponds and marshes. The article
has been replied to in a very ingenious manner
by four very intelligent gentleman trying to re-
flute the theory advanced, and claiming the eN-
stencc of the volcano. II was fable OF the
Greek Mythology that the giant Typhos was
confined beneath Sicily, his outstrctched limbs
extending under the Italian peninsula and the ter
rible natural phenomena OF the region were as
signed to the struggles OF the imprisoned mon
ster Pindar, in his first ode. says " The sea
girt heights above Cuma, and Sicily. TOO, press
upon his shaggy bl east and the pillar OF heaven,
snowy Etna, the perennial nurse Of sharp pinch
ing snow, holds him fast From the rccesses Of
Etna are vomited forth the purcSt streams Of fire
unreasonable in extent. BY day the fiery cur
rent pours forth burning torrent OF smoke, but
by night the red flame rolling along masses Of
rock, plunges them with loud crash into the
surface of the sea. That monster sends up such
horried streams Of lIephTstus tNulcan)--a sight
1900
from those who have seen it.
Perhaps some little fire god has got tired OF
the tyranny of Vulcan Or Typhos, and has struck
out to form an Independent domain OF his own.
In wandering along the Gulf coast, east OF the
81. Marks river, he got swampcd in the "mpene-
trablc marshes and lagoons, and in his Stru1r-
giles to cNtricatc himself he lrehly vomS forth
smoke by day and fire bN night, hence Inc origin
Of the Florida volcano.
The definition of the word volcano, and the
theory advanced by all scientific men, plainly
show that n volcano cannot exist III ! Hat,
marshy country such AS there is between the
St Marks and The Aucilla rivers y volcano
is mountain, whence issue fire, smoke, ashes,
lava and steam. - Montcths Comprehensive
Geographic "Nolcano," lst In geology, an
opening in the surface of the earth, or i'll Il noun
tain, from which smoke, flames, stones, lava, or
other substances are elected. 2d. The
mountain that elects fire, smoke, &c. 4 W CD
sters Dictionary "NolcanOes are c0nical noun
tains which vomit flame and smoke, and occa-
siOnallv throw out showers ol ashes and stone,
or eject melted rock on the surface OF the earth
-(Chambcrs Encyclopaedia But of all the
phenomena eNuiUltcU DN lnc nlSnllnuS Oh tHc
globe those of the active volcanoes are the most
peculiar and sublime The term is derived from
Volcanus, the imaginary god OF fire among the
Romans, and is applied to those mountains
which are the vents OF igncous action, elcctlng
from their sides or SUBMITS of flame, smoke,
ashes and lava streams. They are in general
elevations OF n cOncal form, terminating at the
summit with hollow. called crater or cup, from
its shape smoke is constantly issuing from the
tops OF some of these mountains, bnt the violent
paroXysms during which stones are discharged,
and torrents of red hot lava, occur only at dis
tlnt and irregular intervals - (Sear's Wonders
Of the World, page 3O1)
The country where the Florida volcano is said
to exist is low and marshy, and is covered with
brush and timber so thick that it is impossible
for man to penetrate A volcano does not
hide itself in ponds morasses lagoons and cy-
press swamps Its home is on the mountain or
the highland where it can show itself by vomit-
ing forth fire and smoke, and throwing out lava
stone, &c, on the earth. 1t does not exist in
"mysteri0us smoke"
"Volcanoes may have their origin on flat
plains on the surface of the earth, even at the