Arizona republican., 1896-08-02
A GHOSYLY INSPIRATION An Uncanny Spot in
 Arizona.
Weird Tale of the Superstition
 Mountains.
Cavern of the Ghosts Guarded by Phantom Panthers-Proces-
 sion of the Spirits. st

The most uncanny spot on the face of the earth is, very likely, within the boundaries of the Superstition noun tains, in Arizona, says the San Fran cisco Call. The name was given this range of volcanic rock by the Indians, and never was name more appropri- ate. Of course, the educated man of today knows that all of the strange and weird phenomena to be seen there are the result of natural causes and can be easily explained, but the poor Indian who knows not these things can hardly be blamed for having a wholesome fear of any part of the range.
 This range of mountains is located almost in the geographical center Of Arizona. It is between the Salt and Gila rivers, and one of the spurs is within thirty miles of the city of Florence. The mountains are really a part of the Pima and Maricopa h. dian reservations, but even at this late day it is impossible to get one of either tribe to remain in the vicinity over night, and only offers of big money can induce them to go within the "cursed'' precincts during the day time.
 And even after they have agreed to go they cannot be depended upon to stay, because they are likely to take to their heels at the sight of something they don't understand or when some mysterious sound breaks the mountain silence.
 Not only are the Pimas and Mari copas afraid of these mountains, but even the fierce Apache shuns them. The legends of the many tribes all re- fer to dire disaster that has come upon men who have dared enter the "abode of the devil'' It is true that even within the last few years many In dians have gone into the Superstition mountains and nevds returned, ana old men say that no Indian ever re- turned who stayed in the mountains over night. All of which is easily pos sible, because the poor superstitious wretches could have been frightened to death, or perhaps in their wild efforts to escape some mysterious danger, plunged down a precipice to destruc- 1 tion.
 1t is useless to attempt to explain to 1 the Indians that all the strange things are harmless. They have been told | otherwise. Even the fact that white men go into the depths of the range and return safely after many days and nights makes no sh difference. They don't believe the men have been there
 How can white man go where an Indian cannot? And have they not been told by their wise men of lake | of fire that boils and bubbles and gives forth the sound of sweet music?
 All who hear it are charmed and rush gladly into the flames to be consumed. | The stories the Indians tell of the Superstition mountains would take
 months to repeat, but the idea of all of them seems to be to impress the
 fact that the arch fend who presides over the domain has a hatred of the redman, and is constantly laying traps to destroy him. All who enter the realms of horror do so at the risk of
 never coming back and all who do
 come back have some new tale to add to the already long list. The most
 terrible things told are the swinging
 stones that turn out from the walls
 of a canyon and crush the passerby. | ghosts dance; trees that reach out
 their branches and entangle all who
 come near them. There are caverns filled with witches and devils and
 awful birds that make the strangest
 sounds. Wild animals by the thou
 sands come right out of the solid
 rocks. Fishes with legs come from
 the lakes and drown all within their reach. Fire and smoke and horrible
 groans and howls fill the air on all sides.
 | While many of the stories are purely
 the work of the frightened story
 teller, others have considerable foun-
 dation. Any white man who will visit the mountains in the daytime will see !, many strange rock formations, unex-
 plainable springs that throw off hot water, gas and oil. There are fertile ] valleys surrounded by walls of noun tains through which streams of cold water fow Flowers and grass grow here in profusion, and rabbits and
 other small game exist by the thou
 sands.
 In the glare of the bright sunlight all of these interesting things can bt : viewed 'unconcernedly, but under tht pale, cold rays of the moon it is an other matter. At such a time persoI can call up all his strength of nerve ) and only by the greatest effort is i . possible to make ones self believe tEa
 the many things seen are only sense
 less stone and harmless vapor. Il
 fact there is less real danger in thu g Superstition mountains than in an, l other range in, Arizona. To be sure :. one runs risk in going into them, bu