A FIERY GRAVE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6149, 24 October 1881, Page 3

A FIERY GRAVE.

© Tho Westphalian papers give an account of i terrible catastrophe which occurred in the lorth-western part of that province. There las been for some time in operation in the wighbourhood of Solingen, not far from Barnen, a strange phenomenon. A part of the ioil of a hilly heath became excessively hot, so auch so that some people close by availed ;hemselves of the heat for domestic purposes, rho explanation suggested was that some inflammable subterranean gas, or perhaps petroleum, hurl been accidentally set on fire. Some water had been brought to the spot by an artificial channel, but its contact with the burning soil had only produced violent convulsions, which seemed to shatter all the. ground around. Attracted by curiosity some persons drove out in a carriage from Rcinschcid to inspect the spot. When arrived at a distance of about a-tjuiivtor nf an English mile, they heard a straiige rumbling nuige, which so terrified the horses that they had to alight, and soiid the carriage back some distance, They walked on, discussing the likelihood of any danger, when suddenly a space of the hillside nl>out_ 100 metres square opened, disclosing a gulf of liquid fire, and throwing up flames. The house where the family mentioned above lived was at once surrounded Ly tiie iliimes. and was, before their riyes, swallowed up in the liquid iievy CRiildro;! at tlmir fwt, apparently feeding the flames. It is known Unit hfiym'al persons were in the house at tho timo ; norm wimi suvf.d, but it has not boon ascertained how many purishud,