An article published in the Arkansas Gazette on January 15, 1856 created an onslaught of speculation about a volcanic eruption in southeastern Logan County, Arkansas. It wasn't until January 15, 1981, that the Gazette republished the story of the volcano.

"...On the third day of December last, a singular noise was heard here. It has been differently described by those who heard it as like a blast in a wall, the explosion of a meteor, or a single distant clap of heavy thunder. So far as ascertained, the nearer the center or place of explosion, there was a rumbling and a sensible vibration of the earth.

"Much speculation was had as to its cause. It was not probable that it was thunder, for it was mid-winter and the sky was clear; nor blasting in a well, for people do not work in wells in the wet and wintry season. Upon inquiry we found that the explosion had been heard as far as Fort Gibson, and generally in a circle whose diameter is two hundred miles and expected to find some notice of it in the papers of your city. The other day, Col. Logan, of Scott County, visited our city and gave us an apparent solution of the mystery. "It appears, from his statement, that Mr. Wm. Gipson, while bear hunting on Christmas day, attempted to cross Dry Creek, situated in T 5 N, R. 26 W., but found the mountain to be on fire. Gipson describes it as sending forth smoke at the top which at night time has a ruddy glare and is visible for miles...The ground is heated, and the sides of the mountain are numerous fissures, through which vapor is constantly escaping..." *

The article continued to say that Mr. William Gipson stated that the steam or vapor was so hot that it was painful to the hand when held over it. He was so afraid that he did not go any further up the mountain nor did he investigate the source.

Colonel Logan (a prominent man that the county was named after) lived within five miles of the sighting and promised to visit the site and report what he had seen. Upon his investigation he reported that the earth had burst or broken up, throwing out huge masses of rock and earth. It appeared that the earth was on fire, burning from underneath. Leaves appeared to have withered and the heat from the ground gradually destroyed the roots of the trees.

So, reader, it is left up to you to believe this tale. Did someone make it up and report it to the newspaper as a truth? I have searched the archives of the library of Logan County and I have found no other information on this occurrence.

The information provided here came from the files of the Arkansas Gazette and the historical magazine Wagon Wheels, published by the Logan County Historical Society.

I have seen a portion of a mountain, not far from my home, that appears to have a clean slice removed from the center of it. It looks as if something had taken a hunk out of the mountain and left it in two pieces. Could this have a connection to the volcano?

Arkansas is famous for her Diamond Mine and Quartz Crystals found all over the state. Did pressure from a volcano cause these minerals to form? It's all a possibility, don't you think?

Be sure and catch a future article in Suite 101 about the earthquakes felt in and around the state of Arkansas.

* This is a portion of the article printed by the Arkansas Gazette, January 15, 1856.

Sept. 24, 2001

(Posted Feb. 22, 2010)

www.suite101.com/article.cfm/arkansas/80715/1