The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1904-02-16
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LIS MouNTAIN Is on FIRE.
A Strange Phenomenon in the Indian
Territory.
Special to Daily Leader.

| Special to Daily Leader.
Dougherty, {. T, Feb. 16.-The phe-
nomenon of subterranean fire that
burns constantly in a preclpice three
and a half miles southeast OF this
place, together with smoke that rises
from the earth, is attracting a great
deal of attention in this portion of the
Chickasaw nation. The precipice or
bluff. is about one hundred and fifty
feet high, ana faces on a small stream,
known as the Sallie James branch
ion the farm of William Oats The fire
is burning at a place about fifty feet
above the stream and extends nori-
zontally along the face Of the bluff
about sixty feet, and has burned a to-
tai distance of about three hundred
feet. 1t is n0; believed that the fire
is a volcanic disturbance, but is rath-
er the burning of asphalt deposits,
which are mined in this country
A person who examined the locality
lately said: 1T is only at two or
three places that smoke issues from
the ground, although for a distance of
moro than forty feet the temperature
of the rocks and soil one foot under
ground is found to be from 225 to 250
degrees Fahrenheit. An opening in
the dirt and rock may be made at any
point along this extent and, within
I from eight to fifteen inches of the sur
face Of the ground the rocks, soil and
crystals will be found so hot that
small particles of wood thrown into
the hole win ignite in a short time.
From a space four feet square, clear
ed to the depth of foot, a volume Of
intense heat escapes from between
the rocks and out of the SOIL which
would be sufficient for heating a
house in the coolest weather and 1t
is with some difficulty that digging
in the rocks can be carried on. owing
to the intensity of the heat arising.
Every indication points to there being
a still hotter fire short distance
within the side of the mountain"
William Oats, who has lived in the
neighborhood many years, gives this
account of the burning mountain:
"The first discovery of the burning
mountain was made by me about TWEEN
ty-six years ago; the fire burned inter
mittently for about two years; It next
broke out about fifteen years later,
and burned about six months; il burn
ed again for a short time about two
years ago and has now been active
about three weeks. The usual time
of the year for its breaking out has
been late in the winter or early in the
, spring. During the time of its burn
ing when it was first discovered TWEEN
ty-six years ago an explosion occW'
red. which blew a hole in the side of
the mountain about thirty feet in di'
ameter This was probably in the
character of a cave in, however as
more Of the dirt and rock went back
into the hole than came out of 1t. We
could not see the bottom of this hole
as it extended straight back in'o the
side of the mountain instead of down
ward; this hole has since been filled
by the caving Of the ground. | feel
certain there is a bed OF saltpetre be
low the place where the fire is burn
ing: ] believe there is also a deposit
of sulphur there, as I have in time
taken several gallons of sulphur Of a
very fine grade from this burning
mountain. ] believe the fire is ma
tural one II undoubtedly comes
from within"