2. The people have been reported a dozen times in
newspaper stories. They have been investigated at least
twice by the U.S. Geological Survey. And they have
attracted the attention of numerous scientists and
historians since the German engineer, Gerard Will de
Brahm, recorded the mysterious lights in the North
Carolina mountains in 1771.
3. No matter how they try, scientists ranging from paranormal
investigators to serious physicists are unable to unlock the
mystery of the Brown Mountain Lights in Burke County.
“Artists and scientists alike have congregated around this
phenomena,” said Joshua P. Warren, Asheville native turned
paranormal investigator who spoke before a crowd of 120
Saturday at city hall at a symposium on the Brown Mountain
Lights.
Over the years there have been many scientific theories, but
the mystery still remains unsolved. One legend has it that
the light is the soul of an Indian maiden searching for her
brave warrior killed in a bloody battle. Another legend was
made famous by Scott Wiseman in his song about the
Brown Mountain Light.
4. Among the scientific investigations which have undertaken
from time to time to explain the lights have been two
conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey. The first was made
in 1913 when the conclusion was reached that the lights were
locomotive headlights from the Catawba Valley south of
Brown Mountain. The phenomenon first gained national
attention in 1913 when the U.S. Geological Survey became
interested in the mystery and sent scientists to study what
the cause of them might be.
Over the years there have been many scientific theories, but
the mystery still remains unsolved. One legend has it that
the light is the soul of an Indian maiden searching for her
brave warrior killed in a bloody battle. Another legend was
made famous by Scott Wiseman in his song about the
Brown Mountain Light.
5. One in a long series of ghost lights that have appeared
in the USA and the world, the Brown Mountain Will-
o'-the-wisp lights appear and disappear randomly. Like
large strobes in the sky, they seem to pop up and
disappear whenever convenient. Until we figure out
exactly when they come around, I'll venture to say
Harry Potter or some other wizard is playing tricks
with our less magical human minds.
