752 RALPH ARNOLD AND ROBERT ANDERSON 
Similar phenomena were mentioned! by Thomas Antisell half a 
century ago as existing in the region near the coast east of Santa 
Barbara, but they were regarded by him as being of a volcanic 
nature. Of the foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains a few miles 
east of Santa Barbara, he says: 
In this part of the chain the volcanic forces can not be said to be quiescent as 
yet. On Dr. Robbin’s ranch . . . . occasionally fire, smoke, and sulphurous 
vapor has been emitted, from fissures in the rock, in large quantities within a few 
years past. A similar volcanic vent exists at Rincon. 
The fire at Rincon Point referred to above, and which went popu- 
larly by the name of the “Rincon Volcano” was still active in 1890, 
when the vicinity was visited by Professor H. C. Ford.? In the course 
of his description he says, 
I found hot gases bursting from numerous apertures in the shales, accompanied 
in some cases by melted bitumen that hardened in concretionary masses upon 
cooling. 27." Crystals of sulphur had also formed upon all objects near the 
issue, and naptha appeared to be present. A few years ago a tunnel was run into 
the cliff at its base to a depth of 200 feet in search of oil. At this depth the work- 
men were obliged to cease operations in their endeavor to penetrate farther on 
account of the great heat. Upon entering this tunnel I found the temperature 
still high but noticed only weak sulphurous gases. Near the entrance for 50 or 
60 feet the roof and sides were thickly covered with attenuated colorless crystals 
of epsomite hanging fn tufts and masses... .. When the excavations of the 
Southern Pacific Railway were made at a point a mile farther west from the 
locality just described, a similar issue was discovered, and upon touching a match 
to the gas, combustion ensued and continued, notwithstanding vigorous efforts 
were made to extinguish it..... During the summer of 1888, Mr. Richard- 
son, who resides a short distance below the Rincon “‘fire wells,” was startled by 
loud reports in their direction and upon visiting the locality observed flames 
issuing to the height of several feet from the apertures. Parties from Santa 
Barbara visited the spot upon hearing of this outburst and confirmed Mr. Rich- 
ardson’s observations. 
The same writer mentions a similar ‘“‘solfatara”’ on the San Marcos 
Ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley, and says, “‘ Distributed over the 
surface were eight or ten apertures from which rose visible sulphurous 
fumes to the height of from two to three feet.” He found the tem- 
t Explorations and Surveys for the Pacific Railroad, Vol. VII, p. 71, Washington, 
1857. 
2 Bull. Santa Barbara Soc. Nat. Hist., Vol. I, No. 2, October, 1890. 
