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The OTF crew investigated what is touted as the "Worlds most famous spooklight" not once, but twice. Following are the results of the investigations, as well as a brand new, never before offered theory. Courtesy of your friends at OTF.
This article will most likely be long, but I believe I have concocted a theory on the origination of the infamous "Hornet Spooklight" that has never been put forth. First, some background.
On the Fringe originally investigated the seemingly inexplicable light in February 2009, as our third episode in season one. We learned at that time this light has supposedly been around for over 150 yrs. Follow the link to get a detailed back story on the light. If you are unfamiliar with the phenomenon please follow the link, and then come back here.
http://www.prairieghosts.com/devprom.html
One thing we noticed on this first trip was that NOBODY has ever put forth the idea that it could have been headlight refraction before the onset of the automobile. But they should have. Trains had headlights. I came across at least one picture online with a little research showing steam locomotives as early as 1833 with working headlamps. The first trains entered the indian territory in 1862. The first DOCUMENTED occurence was reported in 1866. Guess where the train came from? Joplin, Missouri into Miami, OK. Straight along side the "Devils Promenade". It was the Frisco line, by the way. With SEVERAL spurs pointing in SEVERAL directions all throughout the spooklight viewing area.
Anyway, we thought we had the culprit for awhile. Especially after we witnessed a light that matched the eye-witness descriptions of the light exactly and chased it down. It was a car, almost 3 miles away. Its headlights glowing, dancing, disappearing, reappearing and taking on the shape of a large ball. Precisely as it has been described for years.
I still stand by our debunking on that episode. I think we were able to explain away a LARGE number of the sightings that appear on that particular road(E50). An interesting side note to the story, many of the claims stated: "There it was, rising and falling, doing its thing, UNTIL a car came along and chased it off." I hate to be the bearer of bad news. The light was from the CAR. When the car came in range, they apparently thought it scared the Spooklight. We witnessed and FILMED 5 examples of this happening on our latest trip.
All in all, our first trip to Joplin was a blast. (cont. Below)
On to the theory.
Fast forward to May of 2009. We have returned to do this right.
As we spent the better part of 2 weeks trying to decide where to go for our season finale, it finally started to weigh on our minds. This is THE MOST FAMOUS spooklight phenomena in the WORLD! There MUST be more to it than trains and cars. So we decided to go back. Spend some real time with it.
Long story short(so we can get to the LOOOONG theory), We spent two full nights investigating this time. We had an eye-witness testimony, and this witness came out to investigate with us. We also brought out a paranormal investigator with 10 years of experience under his belt. Through research, and all of this time we had spent looking and talking, someone had mentioned the fault line. Then something hit me. People had talked about the fault line before, but they always talked about the possibility of gases from tectonic activity. Never(from what I can find), as thoroughly or involving specifically what Im about to offer up for scrutinization.
Less than a mile from the beginning of one corner of the area they call the spooksville triangle, where the light has been appearing since the FIRST SETTLERS came into the area, is the United States largest, and nastiest super-fund site. The Environmental Protection Agency began defining, finding and listing the country's most environmentaly devastated areas(due to mining, radioactivity, etc.) in an attempt to secure federal funds for the reclamation of these sites. This area, known as the Tar-Creek superfund site, is the worst in the nation. It is because the Picher Lead and zinc Mines, that operated from 1900 to 1970, absolutely destroyed this environment, and caused elevated lead levels in local residents bloodstream's, resulting in serious health issues.
I told you that story, to tell you this one.
The Theory:
It dawned on me that fireworks are made to produce their brilliant colors with heavy metal salts. Three of the major contributors: Lead, Zinc and Cadmium. The Picher Mines produced Lead and Zinc. In VAST quantities. (they produced 90% of the lead used for bullets in WWI and WWII). Interestingly, the huge chat piles(left-over ore and dirt) contain an incredibly high amount of Cadmium. I smell a story developing. Please follow the link for confirmation of what Ive stated. And notice they say these metals dissolve and work their way into the groundwater.
http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Extension/ozark/mining.html
Part 2: Cadmium and phosphorescence
Next time you sit at a stoplight, notice the red, yellow and green. The light you see is cadmium...phosphorescing. Also, old CRT computer monitors. Theres actually a list of things caused to light up by this exact same principle. Its a LOOOOONG list.
I want to point out that Im not saying its caused by the mines. Im saying that these materials were in the ground all along(obviously).
What I see here are the building blocks that would be necessary for this to possibly happen. "But alas" you think, "There are still missing pieces."
Fear not. Im not done.
Two possibilities to create the particulate, OR gas needed to get this cadmium airborne.
If it be gas: the cadmium in the groundwater. Over a fault no less. Im no scientist, OR geolgist. Nor do I claim to be. But it seems possible to me that gases from the fault sifting through the soil and aquifer could get this stuff airborne as a gas.
If it be particulate: I can also concievably think it possible for the grinding of the huge stable core of Great Plains against the Ozark Mountain plateau to produce the friction necessary to grind the lead, zinc and most importantly, cadmium to a fine dust. Hence the particulate necessary to do this(as this fault is literally LACED with lead, Zinc and Cadmium). Also, any gases in the earth being forced out could cause the particulate to make it into the air.
Sooooooo. Now, we have the materials. We have the method of delivery. All we're lacking is the catalyst. How does it light up? Allow me to explain.
For Cadmium to Phosphoresce, it has to be "charged", so to speak. It has to be exposed to Ionizing Radiation.
Now where might we find Ionizing radiation?
The sun baby.
There are two mean expositions to the public(and concievably anything in the air) of Ionizing radiation.
#1-UV light. As an Ionizing Radiation, it can cause chemical reactions and cause many substances to phosphouresce.
#2-Radon Gas. Does the same thing. And guess what? The EPA found elevated levels of it in the area.
#3-Electromagnetic fields. How do you think they do it in the stoplights and computer monitors?
Generally speaking, fault lines and other sub-surface tectonic forces cause elevated electromagnetic fields. Sounds like the perfect storm to me.
The first person I mentioned this to said, "Then why does it only show up at night, and not during the day?"
My thoughts would be this: It DOES show up in the day. The sun or ambient light is just too bright. This isnt a concentrated, pressurized(or contained) situation. Its free floating. And to answer why it would be shining at night: First, theres that pesky radon gas and electromagnetic field to irradiate it, but also this:
A Phosphorescent Material does not have to immediately light up. Its not reflecting energy. Its ABSORBING it. The slower time scales of re-emission are associated with "Forbidden" energy state transitions in quantum mechanics. These transitions occur less often in certain material(i.e. cadmium), and absorbed radiation may be re-emitted at low intensity for several minutes up to several HOURS. Follow the links for confirmation and more info. Notice this is how they make glow in the dark toys.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphoresence
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/457522/phosphorescence
So there we go. My new theory on the origin of the World Famous "Hornet Spooklight". Go ahead. Tear it to pieces.
Thats what we're all supposed to do.
Our first investigation of "The Hornet Spooklight" is available in our E-Store!
The Hornet Spooklight 'Re-visited' is currently in post-production, and will be available soon.
How to get there
Depends on where you're coming from. If you're staying in Joplin, which I highly suggest(because of Pizza by Stout), then head West towards Oklahoma on I-44. Look for a sign for Hwy 43 south. Dont jump the gun and take 43 North, as you will PASS by that intersection before you get to 43 South. Take 43 South until you see the sign for Coyote Drive. Take that turn and follow it until you come to Gum Road. Turn Right on Gum Road and follow it until it dead ends at a "T" which is Stateline Road. Turn left and follow it until you come to the first road to the right which is County Road E-50. Thats it, you're there. This is the "Current" spooklight road. Old-timers claim that the original is County Road E-40. To get to it, follow the same directions above, except turn LEFT at the Stateline Road intersection, and its the first road on your LEFT after that. The main thing to remember: IF you're actually interested in finding the spooklight, its not confined to these roads, its actually reported to show up anywhere inside the so called "Spooksville Triangle". It does not have well-defined boundaries, but generally speaking its from Baxter Springs, Kansas to Hornet or Seneca, Missouri to Miami or Quapaw, Oklahoma.
Also, all of the roads in the E-40/E-50 area inter-connect, so just drive around and check it all out.
Justin
OTF
This article is subject to all applicable copyright laws and may not be reprinted without the express written consent of the copyright holder.
copyright 2009 Justin Minor
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