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For over a hundred years people reported seeing a strange smoke coming up from the Wakulla Swamp in Northwest, Florida. At times the eerie chimney of smoke was seen far out on the Gulf of Mexico. Some early seafarers used the smoke as a navigation marker when sailing into St.Marks. Tales and explanations emerged concerning the origin of the smoke, ranging from a pirates camp, moonshine still, a witches coven, to the possibility of a small fissure, or little volcano. People continued observing the weird smoke until the Charleston earthquake, in the late 1800s, after which the smoke hasn\'t been seen again. Over the years several attempts have been made to locate the source of the smoke. A few claim to have actually seen a small blackened crater atop a hill deep in the swamp. Others have brought back what appears to be molten rock. However, geologist have disagreed from the start that there ever was a Florida volcano. Although, an oil well company, drilling in the swamp, in the late 1940s, did bring up volcanic material. The Wakulla Swamp is a vast uninhabited subtropical forest, much of it is wet and mucky, with only a few rises called hammocks. Adding to the misery of the swamp are mosquitoes, alligators, and numerous species of snakes, including poisonous ones. Once a person visits the swamp it is easy to understand why no one wanted to venture to far into it, thus allowing the mysterious smoke to keep the secret of its origin. In October 1997, three UNX investigators went into the Wakulla Swamp looking for evidence of Florida\'s lost volcano. During the Fall of the year the vegetation dies back and makes the jungle a little more easier to navigate. The trip began by boat from the headwaters of the Wakulla River. The three men had obtained a hand-drawn map from a 74 year old Wakulla man who claimed to know the location of the crater. The man said that while hunting, during the 1930s, he had, \"come up on rocks scattered all over an area of the swamp, which appeared to have been blown out of the ground.\"Another man claimed that his uncle had actually seen a,\"crater the size of a wash tub that was burnt around the edges.\"The source of this information has been deceased for several years, therefore we were not able to interview him. The three UNX explorers went ashore near the intersection of two rivers and from that point hiked about two to three miles to a high ridge which seem to run through a hammock. The explorers found a high point, or hill, on this ridge, which was indeed scattered with rocks. Vegetation had grown over most of the rocks, however several were quite large and weighing an estimated hundred pounds. No explanation could be found for these rocks being thrown about the landscape. Searches for a fissure, crater, or hole, proved negative. However, a number of the smaller rocks did appear to have been burned, but not like molten lava. Was this place the site of Florida\'s lost volcano, or is the real site farther into the swamp? We don\'t know, and obviously no one else does either. Our researchers brought back eight rocks for examination, none are of volcanic origin, three definetly have been exposed to heat---But was it the heat of a volcano???Florida\'s Lost Volcano is still keeping its secret. UNX thanks Bill Myers, Todd Myers, and Jimmie Whitman for their exploration and report.

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Okay, I did some searching and this is what I\'ve found. It does appear that this volcano is believed to have existed.

This is from a handbook written in 1892 by C.L. Norton:

C.L. Norton
\"Handbook of Florida\"
1892
page 346

TALLAHASSEE

The Wakulla Volcano.---To the southeast and south of Tal-
lahassee there extends a vast belt of flat woods, merging
into an almost impenetrable tangle of undergrowth and
swamp. It is a famous hunting-ground, and somewhere
within its shades is the alleged Wakulla volcano. The cu-
rious inquirer is sure to hear the most contradictory state-
ments regarding this mystery. He will be told by some
that it can be seen from any high observatory in the vi-
cinity, and by others that it cannot be seen from any save the
most southerly uplands. He will meet people who have
seen the smoke almost every day of their lives, others who de-
clare that there is no such smoke, and still others who say
that they never heard of it. It seems to be pretty well estab-
lished, however, that ever since the country was settled
and, according to Indian tradition, long prior to that, a col-
umn of smoke or vapor has been visible in favorable
weather, rising from a fixed point far within the jungle, to
which no man has yet been able to penetrate. Several ex-
peditions have been organized to solve the mystery, but
none of them have penetrated more than twelve or fifteen
miles into the morass. Once or twice New York newspapers
have sent representatives with orders to solve the prob-
lem, but, according to the local version, they have always
proved recreant to their duty as soon as the difficulties in
the way become apparent. The \"volcano,\" therefore, bids
fair to remain a mystery until some well-equipped expedition
undertakes its discovery.*

* A column of smoke was pointed out to the author as the alleged \"volcano\"
and on several successive days bearings were taken with a pocket compass from
the cupola of the Court-house at Tallahassee. The smoke in favorable weather
was always visible in the same place, rolling up in strong volume?? ????
dense and dark like the smoke from a furnace chimney. The author was as-
sured by a Northern gentleman, long resident in Tallahassee, that ??? often
lighted with a faint glow at night. It is believed by many to be vapor from a
boiling spring, possibly intermingled with inflammable gas that occasionally
ignites. In March, 1891, the author with J. H. Staley, of Tallahassee, as guide,
tried to reach the \"volcano\" and nearly lost his life in the attempt. Later in
the same season, Messrs. Castleman and Barbour, with Staley as guide, spent
two weeks in the search, but with no better success. C.L.N.

~~~

and this from the New York Times:

June 20, 1880


THE VOLCANO OF THE FLORIDA SWAMP
From the Tallahassee (Fla.) Patriot, June 12
On Sunday night, a week ago, a large bright
light was seen in a south-easterly direction from
this city, which attracted the attention of many of
our citizens at first, but concluding that it was a
house on fire, they thought but little more of the
matter until the light reappeared several succeed-
ing nights in the same place, and put them to think-
ing again. It is much brigher some nights than
others---sometimes having the appearance of the
moon rising, but generally much brighter, and
looking more like a large fire shooting its flaming
tongue high up into the upper realms, frequently
reflected back by passing clouds. During the past
week we have conversed with several parties liv-
ing in that direction, all of whom had noticed the
light, and located it in the great swamp south-east
of here, on the Gulf coast, and about the
same spot from whence the much-talked-of column
of black smoke has been seen to issue for years,
supposed to be a volcano, which no living man has
ever been able to reach, from the fact of its being
surrounded by an impenetrable swamp. We were
told last Tuesday by a gentleman living in Wakula
County, near this noted swamp, that the light had
created much excitement in his neighborhood, as a
loud, rumbling noise was frequently heard in the
direction of it during the week. The noise was
said to be so loud Thursday, about midnight, as to
arouse the sleeping family of Mr. Frank Duggle,
and cause them to get up and run out doors, think-
ing another earthquake was on hand.

~~~

I\'m still trying to locate the Indian legends. I know which Nations lived there, but so far no luck on any legend regarding a volcano.