Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 July 1895 — FIELD ON FIRE TWO MONTHS. [ARTICLE]

FIELD ON FIRE TWO MONTHS.

Peculiar Phenctuanon Near Indianapolis—Was Once a Swamp. A field which has been burning ceaselessly for two months is the remarkable phenomenon presented by a farm adjacent to the village of Maywood, near Indianapolis. This field is not a toweringsVesuvius,. but is rather a valley, and from its deepest part comes the smoke that some believe is the precursor of a worse flame that may reduce the village in the number of houses if not in the number of persons. Two months ago smoke was seen coming from the ground on a lowland spot of the Campbell farm. It was thought strange by those who saw it, but it was believed to be nothing more than ths smoldering remains of some fire. But day after day the smoke ascended or blew a great distance, clinging, although treacherously, to the ground. After a week or so farm hands passing the field saw flames mingling with the smoke. They investigated and found the dry grass and black earth on fire. Sticks were driven into the ground and it was discovered that for a depth of from two to four feet the earth was absolutely reduced to ashes. The field in which this peculiar fire is burning is a bottom field of black earth that shows clearly its vegetable origin. Those who have lived at the village for years say that twenty years ago the field was a swamp, seemingly ages old, and that it was years before even cattle could be suffered to tread it in search of pasture food. Recently attempts have been made to cultivate it, but none was made this year. The field looks as though a giant mole had gamboled under its surface, for it is ridged with tunnels, whose upper sides sometimes assume the prominence of miniature mountains. The manner in which the fire is breaking out is evidence of its subterranean origin. So complete has the destruction of the earth and grass been in the district patches that the little portions where yellow, withered grass may be look like oases in a desert.