The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-02-11
From the Lantern.
John Cleves Symmes.
by C. C. MILLER

by C. G. MILLER,
Teachers and pupils are often called
upon to state what is meant by "Sym-
mes Theory" Lovers of the curious, as
well as the philosopher, are interested in
this theory, as it has become a part of the
great bulk of geographical knowledge,
and had, at one time, quite a number of
intelligent advocates. 1t is the Theory
of C~oncentric Spheres and Polar Voids,"
originated and earnestly argued by Capt.
John Cleves Symmes. Mr.. Symmes
was born in New Jersey in 1870, but
came West at an early age, passing most
of his time in the Ohio and Miami yaI-
legs. He died at Hamilton, Butler u
ty Ohio in 1929, at which place his re-
mains are buried in the City Park, and
to his memory was erected a monument
bearing on its summit a stone sphere
representing the earth. This sphere was
constructed in keeping with his theory.
which was, THAT the earth was hollow.
habitable Within and widely open about
the poles"
He was a nephew of John Cleves Sym
mes, who vas a member of the CONT
mental Congress, a Judge in the Moth
west Territory, and founder of the first
settlement in the Miami Valley. His
early training was obtained in the com
mon schools, where he was well founded
in the elements of an English education.
In the year 1902 he was commissioned an
ensign in the army; promoted to a cap
guished valor in that capacity until the
close of the War of 1872. Captain SYM
mes was in the thickest of the fight at
Bridgewater, and gave valuable aid in
the sortie at Fort Erie during that war.
After the war he was engaged about
three years in furnishing supplies to the
troops stationed on the upper Mississippi.
He then removed to Newport, Kentucky,
where he devoted himself entirely to
philosophical researches relative to his
~favorite theory.
In 1918, Captain Symmes sent out
from St. Louis a carefully prepared cir
cular promulgating his f~avorite belief in
regard to the structure of the earth. This
circular attracted much attention at the
time, and was the cause OF considerable
comment, mostly of a derogatory charac-
ter, in the public prints of the day. Be-
ing a pleasant speaker he soon learned
that the people could be nor strongly
impressed with the ideas he wished to
convey by personal contact, so in 1920 he
entered the lecture field, and attracted
many hearers at Cincinnati, and various
other places in Ohio and Kentucky.
Kn owing full well the need of govern
ment aid, Symmes, in 1922, petitioned
the Congress OF the United States for as
fsistance in Putting his theory to the test.
He set forth to them his beliefin "a hab-
table and accessible concave to this
globe his desire to embark on a voyage
of discovery to one or the other of the
polar regions his belief in the great
profit and honor his country would de-
rive from such a discovery and prayed
Congress to equip and fit out for the TX
petition, two vessels of two hundred and
fifty or three hundred tons burthen and
to grant such other aid as the govern
lnent might deem necessary to promote
tile object"
On the seventh Of March, 1922, Col.
Richard NJ. johnson, a member from
Kentucky, presented the petition, but
after some discussion it was laid on the
table.
In 1923 he forwarded a similar petit
tic to both Houses of. Congress, and
then awaited, like Morse, the return of
thu ir decision. This petition was also
laid on the table. Not yet discouraged,
h., in the following year, petitioned the
General Assembly of Ohio, praying that
body to pass a resolution favoring his re-
quests, and recommending Congress for
a suitable outfit. After considerable dis
cussion, the further consideration of the
proposition was indefinitely postponed.
Thus he was refused assistance from his
own State as well as from the National
Government, yet he remained a firm be-
lever inthe truth of his theory, and ad-
vocatedzit as zealously as did Columbus
his belief before the crowned heads of
CASTLE and Portugal, or Morse before the
Representatives of the people. Though
his theory was treated with levity and
ridicule, both in America and Europe, he
advanced many ingenious and seeming
ly plausible arguments in its supports,
and thus won quite a number of converts,
one OF whom wrote a book on the sub
-iect, which was published in Cincinnati
in 1925.
He was Of medium statute and simple
in manners, affable and courteous to all.
He had the appearance of a n honest and
Jealous worker in a cause that was ever
dear to him.. Like Columbus and other
projectors, he lived and died in great
pecuniary embarrassment. He has left
numerous friends and relatives who
speak of him with much respect, and
the citizens of Hamilton point with some
degree Of pride to his name and monu-
ment.
.