The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1905-08-04
BURNING MOUNTAIN.
Suns Rays Start Ii Going Every
Year and Indians Resort
T0lt,

=
Arbuckle Mountrins by prospectors
from California and Colorado the Ar
buckle Range, near old Fl. Arbuckle,
has been thoroughly explored, and
among the many curious freaks of
nature none have attracted so much
attention as Burning Mountain.
This old volcano frequently burns,
and the smoke can he seen from the
highest mountain peaks for many
miles away. Passengers on the
Santa Fe often notice large volumes
of smoke off to the left near Davis
as they come from the north, but
few ever stop to ask about it. In
fact, Burning Mountain has never
been fully explored until quite re-
Gently. and the general public knows
nothing of its history. Old residents
at the little town of Daugherty can
relate wonderful stories about this
mountain, but they rarely speak of
it to strangers.
Burning Mountain burns only
about four months in the year. 1t
appears that the heat Of the sun
causes the sulphur and asphaltum to
ignite, and it smolders and burns all
during the summer months, and in
the autumn it gradually grows dim,
and nearly goes out. The spot is
most romantic place, situated in the
rock-ribbed hills of the Arbuckle
Mountains, about nine miles south
west of Davis, and about five miles
from Daugherty on the west side of
the Washita River.
The Indians have made Burning
Mountain their summer resort for
several generations, and they former
ly believed smoke from this old crat-
er would cure them of almost any
ills flesh was heir to. 1t was believ-
ed that to smell this smoke one
would never have consumption, and
those who suffered from catarrh
would find immediate relief and
permanent cure. The fumes are
deadly if taken more than few min
utes at a time, and an old Indian re-
lates how some of his people many
wears ago dropped dead on the spot
from inhaling this smoke.
In order to get within few feet
of the crater one must climb to the
top of a rocky cliff, some 300 feet,
and then descend over a series of
rocky precipices down into the crat-
er. Once within this curious old vol
cano one feels rather faint and if
the Sulphur fumes happen to blow
in your direction you will probably
seek relief and shelter.
Unjust not be assumed that Burn
ing Mountain, a. it is locally called,
IS actually a blazing furnace or active
crater, such as those you read about
in the South Sea Islands. but only IA
mass of sulphur. Geolo-
gists have recently visited the place
and report it as an old gas blowout,
giving as their opinion that at one
tine the gas and oil weret brown out
At hi. 1oint and the asphaltum which |
nov shows in great abundance is the
heavier portions Of oil, and the sui
ohur being part Of the oil-bearing
strata.
The heat of the sun causes the as
Dhaltum to melt and run down INTO
he old crater and the smoke begins
% rise in great volumes. This is
aid to he the greatest phenomenon
n the entire country. Scientists call
t the "Arbuckle freak" and the To-
.al, ity is known throu ghout this sec
ion as the wonderland Of the
On the side of this burning noun
ain is most wonderful cave, which
mas been only partly explored, but a
party is being made up to explore it.
party of Davis business men found |
IN underground river about 1000
'eet beneath the surface, filled with
ish, and it is the intention of the new |
party to catch some of these fish and !
bring them to the surface to learn
whether or not they will live in cold !
water. such as this river affords.
q a - II q RIA.
H.