The Mystery of the Brown Mountain Lights

For centuries mysterious lights have been appearing above Brown Mountain located in the Pisgah National Forest near the town of Morganton, North Carolina. The lights are most often reported as small circular dots of light. They have been described as sometimes white, red, yellow, orange, and blue. Motions of the lights have been said to vary from slow movements to almost a firework type movement. The lights have been featured in newspapers dozens of times and have attracted the attention of numerous scientists, historians, and paranormal enthusiasts. Even the United States Geological Survey have investigated this anomaly twice. 

 

Photo by Burke County Travel and Tourism Director Ed Philips

Could It Be Ghosts?

 

Reports of these lights go as far back as the Cherokee and Catawba. According to Cherokee legend, around 1200 A.D. a great battle was fought between the Cherokee and Catawba on Brown Mountain and they believed the mysterious lights are the lost souls of maidens of the fallen searching for their lovers that died in battle. 

The most famous ghost story from the region is that of a woman named Belinda. Early in North Carolina history, a teenager named Belinda was married to a man named Jim and expecting a baby. Jim was an abuser and adulterer. On the day of the child’s birth both Belinda and the baby went missing and were never seen again. When the townsfolk heard of the disappearance, they went into the woods to search for her. At first, they only found her bloodied bonnet. As night approached, strange lights appeared and the townsfolk followed these lights to a pile of stones where they dug up two skulls: an adult and a baby. The lights were believed to be the lost souls of Belinda and the baby and still wander the hills to this day. 

 

What Do The Scientists Say?

 

1n 1771, a German engineer named Gerard Will De Brahm studied the mountain lights. He concluded “the mountain emits nitrous vapors which are borne by the wind and when laden winds meet each other the niter inflames, sulphurates, and deteriorates.” This theory has since been heavily disputed.

Another early account of the lights was reported in the Charlotte Daily Observer on September 23, 1913. Members of a local fishing club claimed to witness a series of mysterious red lights, circular in shape, just above the crest of the mountain. Soon after this account, United States Geological survey employee D.B. Stewart studied the area and determined the witnesses had just mistakenly train lights.

Because the reports of mysterious lights did not stop, the US Geological survey put together a more formal study in 1922. George Roger Mansfield released an extensive report stating the lights were the result of misidentified mundane lights.

“In summary it may be said that the Brown Mountain lights are clearly not of unusual nature or origin. About 47 percent of the lights that the writer was able to study instrumentally were due to automobile headlights, 33 per-cent to locomotive headlights, 10 percent to stationary lights, and 10 percent to brush fires.”

This report was reprinted in Geological Survey Circular 646, 1971. The entire report is available for reading at https://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/1971/0646/report.pdf.

There are many other proposed theories: St Elmo’s fire or electrical discharge during thunders storms, the moonlight reflecting off clouds, Phosphorescent light from fungus or insects, fire from moonshine stills, large fireflies and swamp gas. None of these theories have been substantiated by any significant evidence.

A more recent study of the strange phenomenon was done by Daniel B Caton. The professor of physics and astronomy at Appalachian State University put together a research group to investigate the physics of lights. The group called WCLEAR or Western-Carolina Lights Experimental Advanced Researchers uses stationary infrared-sensitive night, low-light to take images from dusk to dawn.  This team also has concluded that almost all the lights were from city/town lights, moving planes, trains, and helicopters. They proposed the lights are not mysterious if you have the time and experience to investigate them. See more of their research at http://dancaton.physics.appstate.edu/BML/index.htm

 

It’s Aliens!

 

While some people look for an answer in science, others looking to beyond the stars. People believe these lights could be the result of UFO burn off and reflections from the ships themselves. In 1961, a furniture salesman and local named Ralph Lael decided to investigate the lights for himself. He claims he came face to face with one of the alleged lights and followed it to a crystal cave. In the cave, a booming voice told him the secret to humanity and history of the planet “Pewam”. The voice told him to never reveal the location of the cave. The Aliens then took him on a trip to Venus.  During this trip, he was examined by the aliens and even copulated with one of the females. When he returned to Earth, he was given a mummified alien for evidence. Unfortunately, the mummified alien went missing and all that exists are blurry photographs.

Welcome to Hollywood

 

The Brown Mountain lights has also had its influence on Hollywood. The 1999 X Files episode entitled “field trip” centers around a mysterious case of missing hikers that were found dead in the vicinity of the Brown Mountain. Fox Mulder believes the lights were evidence of UFOs.

What and Weird, Ancient Aliens, and Mystery Hunters all have episodes based on the Brown Mountain Lights. The mystery was also the basis of the 2014 feature film Alien Abduction.

No matter what you believe, the Brown Mountain lights still cause great wonder. A three-day Brown Mountain lights festival is held every year for scientists, paranormal researchers and anyone who likes beautiful scenery and fun mysteries. The interest and mystery of the Brown Mountain Lights seem to only grow with time. 

 

Photo by John Bordsen for USA TODAY

References

Jackson, Sherry (2012 Oct) “The Mysterious Brown Mountain Lights” Retrieved from https://www.carolinacountry.com/departments/departments/feature-story/the-mysterious-brown-mountain-lights

Go Magazine (2019 May) “Brown Mountain Lights: A North Carolina Mystery” Retrieved from https://go.carolinas.aaa.com/go-carolinas/brown-mountain-lights/

Shockley Linda (2018 June) Brown Mountain Lights: The Mystery Continues (and Maybe Even Deepens) Retrieved from https://blueridgecountry.com/newsstand/magazine/brown-mountain-lights-revisited/

Franklin Sean (2017 Nov) A mystery in the mountains: Looking for the Brown Mountain Lights” Retrieved from https://www.wbir.com/article/news/local/a-mystery-in-the-mountains-looking-for-the-brown-mountain-lights/51-493428628

Tabler, Dave (2010 Oct) “The Brown Mountain Lights” Retrieved from https://www.appalachianhistory.net/2010/10/the-brown-mountain-lights.html

Paszkiewicz Kali (2019 Jan) “Aliens, Ghosts, and Giant Fireflies: Solving the Mystery of the Brown Mountain Lights” Retrieved from https://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/environment/aliens-ghosts-and-giant-fireflies-solving-the-mystery-of-the-brown-mountain-lights/

Mansfield, George 1971 “Geological Survey Circular” Retrieved from https://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/1971/0646/report.pdf

 

The Overtoun Bridge: The Infamous Dog Suicide Bridge

A century old bridge over a deep ravine leads its way to a beautiful historic Manor in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. This bridge has been the center of a strange phenomenon that has dog owners concerned. Nicknamed “the Bridge of Death” by locals, reportedly up to 600 dogs have attempted to leap to their death over the side of the bridge onto the sharp jagged rocks below. The incidents typically happen on a clear day and the dogs tend to jump off the same side.

 

Photo Credit:John Gunion - The Sun Glasgow

 

The bridge has also been the site of a murder and attempted suicide. In October 1994, a man threw his two-week-old son off the bridge to his death because he believed that his son was a reincarnation of the Devil. He then attempted to commit suicide by jumping off the bridge and slashing his own wrists.

The story of the Overtoun bridge reached popularity in 2005 when mentioned in a blogpost about lesser-known attractions and destinations in Glasgow. Since then, it has been written about and researched by dozens of organizations including NYTimes and the Glasglow Skeptics.

 

What is Causing this Strange Phenomenon?       

There are many different possible explanations for what is causing the mysterious behavior if these dogs.

In 2010, animal behaviorist David Sands investigated Overtoun Bridge and concluded that the dogs were not willingly trying to kill themselves but instead blindly following their instincts. One of the suggestions he made is that dogs have trouble interpreting the incline of the bridge, instead they perceive the bridge to be flat and safe. That however would not explain why dogs would jump over the bridge’s banister.

He also concluded that it was possible the dogs, especially long-nosed breeds, were drawn to the scent of mammals below. An invasive species called Mink that produce strong pheromones has been known to inhabit the surrounding area. Sands theorized that the dogs’ limited perspective and their ignorance to the changing landscape make them believe it is safe to jump.

Some people have theorized dogs are being empathetically depressed by their depressed owners and it caused them to want to die.

 

Is It Paranormal?

 

Some of the more supernatural theorists blame the “White Lady of Overtoun” who haunts the Overtoun Manor. The Overtoun Manor was built in 1962 by John White, a Scottish chemical manufacturer. After his death his son, James White, inherited the house. James died in 1908, leaving his widow to grieve over him for 30 years. After her death, she became known as “the white lady” when her image has been seen around the house still grieving. Some say the white lady is the force compelling the dogs to jump although it is unclear why.

 

Can You Believe the Hype?

 

Brian Dunning of Skeptoid podcast found contradicting reports on how many dogs have jumped and how long dogs have been jumping.  The earliest media account he could find was from 1995. Dunning contacted the Dunbartonshire Chamber of Commerce, the Dog Warden for West Dunbartonshire Council, and the Community Sergeant at the Dumbarton Police Office, but couldn't find any reliable records.

Dunning also contacted the current owners of the house Bob and Melissa Hill. They claimed in their decade of ownership they have only heard of three dogs jumping and only one was fatal. A local vet only had only treated four dogs that had jumped off the bridge in his 13 year career.

It is hard finding reliable records of these jumpings. If your dog did jump off a bridge, would you immediately report it to the police?

No matter what has been causing these jumps or if you believe they are happening, there is now a sign before going on the bridge that reads Dangerous Bridge: Please keep your dog on a lead.

 

Photo credit: mirror.co.uk

 

References

(1995, Jan 31)” Father who threw baby from bridge sent to Carstairs” Retreived from https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12666222.father-who-threw-devil-baby-from-bridge-sent-to-carstairs

Jessee, B (2020, Feb 28.) “Do Dogs Really Commit Suicide at Overtoun Bridge?” Retrieved from https://medium.com/the-mysterious-miscellany/do-dogs-really-commit-suicide-at-overtoun-bridge-680cd7863cb9

(2019, Oct 29) “Overtoun House, Dumbarton, Scotland: Dog Suicide Bridge?” Retrieved from https://h2g2.com/edited_entry/A87943341

Dunning, Brian. (2012, July 24). “The suicide dogs of Overtoun Bridge,” Skeptoid podcast #320. Transcript retrieved from https://skeptoid.com/episodes/4320