The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-16
EARTH's wIERDEsT SPOT.
The BlOOd-Curdling Wonderland O
Superstition Mountains.

san FRANCISCO Call.
The most uncanny spot on the face of
the earth is, very likely, within the bounda-
ries OF the Superstition mountains in Ari-
IONA. The name was given this volcanic
rock by the Indians. and never was name
more appropriate. OF course. the educated
man OF to-day knows that all of the
strange and weird phenomena 10 be seen
there are the result of natural causes and
can be easily explained, but the poor In
dian who knows not these things can
hardly be blamed for having a wholesome
fear of any part of the range.
The stories the Indians tell of the Super
stition mountains would take months to
repeat. but the idea of all of them seems
TO be TO impress the fact that the arch
fiend who presides over the domain has a
hatred of the red man, and is constantly
laying traps 10 destroy him. All who en-
ter 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
turn out from the walls of a canyon and
crush the passerby. Then there are places
where the ghosts dance; trees that reach
come near them. There are caverns filled
with witches and devils and awful birds
animals by the thousands 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.
To see the weird aspect of this uncanny
region 1t is best 10 select that time of the
i4iohNI Wtltn liz Is ull 10c most
interesting, portion is in a canyon that
opens on the north side Of the range. and
II an explorer will manage TO get about
ten miles into this during the daytime.
and after selecting a quiet spot, wait for
the moon to rise. he can have an expert
ence he will never forget. But don't go
unless your nerves are strong.
In most parts of the world silence comes
with the night. just the reverse seems
to be the case in the Superstition noun
tains. Or IS this Imagination? But sud-
denly the air Is rent with the most I'M
earthly shrieks that ever fell on mortal
ears, Again and again 1t comes. and rolls
and echoes through the canyons, getting
weirder with each reverberation. The cry
Is taken up on all sides until the noun
tains seem like pandimonium.
But nerve yourself and pass on. Keen
TO the bottom of the canyon and you will
be in no danger of a fall. Silence will come
again, and ii you keep on you will soon
see a cone-shaped mountain rising before
you. Approach closer and a castle as per-
fec, as any on the banks of the Rhine win
near enough a soft. muffied sound of foot
steps will be heard. What is that? BY
looking carefully a procession of panthers
can be seen walking around the cone
shaped mountain as If guarding the castle
on its summit.
Round and round they go. looking neither
noise is made they will not notice it. Many
Old hunters say that il is possible for a
man to walk right across the line and the
pantbers Will not attack him.
Further up the canyon are numerous
gulches. into which the moonlight falls.
one OF them has a sort of overhanging
ieuse, ana beneath IL appears a crowd of
men. Surely they are talking. For their
Sr an appear 10 move. their heads turn
clothes and others appear TO be of differ
ent colors. A peculiar sound like the muir
muir of voices fills the air
BY climbing a small canyon 10 the left
the most startling sight in the mountain
can be seen. Surely ii is not of this world.
The canyon suddenly terminates in a
atr1n .Lnt A.Aaa- T.. -
first the sight is only an abyss of inky
blackness. Listen, A peculiar rumbling
sound can be heard. and from the profound
depth a white-robed figure will appear.
Then another and another. until there is
a whole procession of ghosts passing over
the brink.
IL reckoning the observer. While this is
going on. clouds will appear TO float in
from the sides. and perhaps thunder will
be heard in the distance. But the process
sion moves on and passes up a canyon. and
finally disappears over "A cliff. Silence will
follow; and the act will 2e repeated: This
by turning back and entering a small val
ley on the other side three giants can be
seen in conference, They are sitting close
TO a tree. and their attitudes show them
TO be interested in what one of them is
saying.
Further up the CANYON there is a large
cnff. and behind IL at intervals can be seen
flashes OF light. Thunder follows and the
earth beneath your feet Will shake. Pos
sibiy one OF the flashes may throw you TO
the ground. and you can hear the kissing
OF serpents near by. II you happen to be
In the right place you can hear the grind
ing sound and a rock on top a cliff will
swing outward. Blu IL won't fall. as the
next snake will swing IL back.
Dozens OF experiences like those just re-
piorer in the Superstition mountains. so
that when daylight comes he will feel as
III he has been TO the Internal regions or
! with Alice In Wonderland.