New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-26
TIE MOODCS NOISES.

A CURIOUS PHENOMENON IN A CONNECTICUT
HILL.
Norwich, July 25.-The "Moodus noises" have been
heard again for the first time in about dozen years.
They the most extraordinary phenOmeOn In the
history Of Connecticut Moodus is quaint old village
in the old witch-tOwn OF East Haddam, that nestles
among tail hills Little Salmon River two or three
miles from the Connecticut River. In the heart Of the
lOftiest hill, Mount Tom whose grassy slope begins
almost In the village street. and which towers above
MOOdus. the mysterious noises originate and for hun
dreds Of years both the Indians and whites have
believed That the mountain was haunted. The Indians
fanced that an evil spirit dwelt the peak Of the
hill whence he rolled stones the world, and they
called the place Machi-MOOdus- meaning "place OF
noises" The red men avoided Mount Tom. and not
Of them dared TO scale il. The noises have
been famous in all parts of Connecticut for two cen
turtles and half They are heard ntcrmttently.
Sometimes the mountain is sgent for twenty-five or
THIRTY years, then suddenly the sranges sounds break
forth, deep sepuchral, vOluminous sound, IKE the
moaning OF imprisoned monster, that seems TO boom
in subtcrranean cavens OF the earth, and is heard dis
tnctly ten twelve miles away. The noises begin
with seemingly faraway low rumblinS note, that
speedily swcls in volume and intensity. and eliminates
in vast yOlling sound, like the mutterng OF distant
thunder and the ground trembles with the throe
Of an earthquake. For the last ten years the noun
tain has been quiet and the country people along the
Connecticut Valley had about begun u believe that
the MoOdus noises had ceased forever But early last
sunday morning the village folk and farmers in neigh
boring towns awakened by the familiar subter-
rauean rumbling. They sprang from their beds, ran
to their bedroom windows, thinking that thunder
shower must be overhead but the morning was serene
and fair. As they stood at the windows there were
several distinct shocks, and they said TO each other in
tones Of ave. " 1t is the MOOdus noises again. The
rumbling was not heavy last sunday, and continued
for only few minutes, then died away ending with
rdod Iilra o.rOe Of
der far beneath the earth's surface, and made the
village windows tremble little.
The cause OF the MOOdus noises has never been
satisfactorily explained. The first historical mention
Of them made by clergyman Of Moodu' early in
the last century, who eloqucntly described them,
writing that he had often listened 10 the strange
booming" in the bowels of Mount Tom, and expressing
the pious conviction that the hand of God was TO be
recognized In them. showing that " God Almighty IS
10 be feared and trembed at" 1t in tue latter
part Of the last century that tho strange rumbllngs
were most powerful and impressive, and were contn-
uous for years. They heard distinctly by the
farmers Of the old Own Of SALEM ten miles west OF
this city and six miles east OF Moodus, who often
paused in their work in the hayfeds and hearkened
to the mystic sounds that seemed 10 roll beneath the
WESTERN hills, causing the ground 10 tremble momen-
tar{ly For two centuries salem was stepped in
wtchcaft spe.sttons, and the people OF that gloomy
sparsely settled town, sitting around their wide0pen
nrcpaceS In winter Hunuleu years aeO, shuuucIoN
while they listened to the weird rumbling. and wills
pered to each other hat the evil must be playing
his FRANKS again in the heart IF MoOdus Mountain
In connection with the Moodus noises several
beautiful and curious traditions. in the heart CT great
Mount Tom, according to one legend, there is vast
cavern the domcd roof and sides Of which studded
With unumerabe priceless gems. while In the centre
of the rucky dome Is fixed great carbuncle, whose
RAYS wildly illuminate the with a pale. clear,
Iftht Tp MI
reached by secret passage unknown TO mortas, the
good white) and bad bIack witches Of Macl- Moocus
have been wont to meet in secret conclaye. and de-
tormue the destiny of human beings In debate and by
supernatural agency.
1t IS still the belief Of superstous people In the
southern Connecticut Valley that the Moodus noises
are caused by A monstrous carbunclc buried in the
heart Of Mount T0m since is well known to students
Of Tie black art that carbuncle if it Is underground,
must grOan and travail until wizard comes
who is powerful enough to release it, 1t is
matter Of local history In MOodus that While
the great carbunclc Groanng in the big hill In the
latter part Of the eighteenth century, mighty English
magician, Dr. steele. heard the story OF the prodigy
from the lip, of Connecticut sailors VINO had touched at
an English port. Dr.. steele listened to the tale with
mysterious smile aud said 10 the superstitIOus sea
men: 1t is a great carbuncle that Is growing IN the
hills, and will continue u sroan until 1t Is released
4 few months later the wizard appeared in MoOdus,
am after lie had been there "a rev days the people
noted with awe that lie carried stgau ge looking tools
I'm a black bag among which steel wand, and
that he spent most Of the time az night pry!ng
into the businesses OF the great nil. stu the
rumblings went on In Mount Tom, and now and
then the ground shvered with sudden tremor
had appeared in the village the people were
surprised u note that the eroan1g- had ceased and
later in The day that the wizard had disappeared sub
,equeAy they learned that the doctor had been seen
in New York where he displayed a gem of wOndrOus
size dazzling ln'tre and that he had sailed on
large ship for his home IL wa six months later that
the MOOdus people apprised by stranger that
the great carbuncle, which Dr. steele had stolen nom
te dome Of the cavern in Mount Tom, had exploded AZ
sea SCATTERING the ship, which went to the bottom OF
except one sailor at about that time lin the latter
part of the century, the story Of the MoOdus NolseS
wa, published bv village writer, ana III II was IN
half century after the steele episode Mount Tom was
silent. But the superstiOus villagers now say
another carbuncc is growing in Mount Tom. ana tle
Moodus noises will keep booming at intervals until
some one releases it,