Volume 15 , Issue 9

NW Oklahoma Mysteries

Have you heard about the 1922 bluish-hellish flames that menaced a paralytic in northwest Oklahoma, in the community of Alva? It was thought to be another occurrence of spontaneous human combustion (SHC).

They say fiery mysteries may be related to spontaneous human combustion, where flammable objects near the fire are untouched and witnesses have said that the flames burned a bright, hellish blue. They also said back in 1922 that there always seemed to be a link to ill-health, fevers or seizures. Is this what happened on 13 March 1922 to Ona Smith, an invalid, paralyzed and bed-ridden in the vicinity of 5th & Center Street, in Alva, Oklahoma?

During the January, 1920 census, Ona and Everitt "Ed" Smith were living on a farm in Patterson township, with Ed's parents, Joseph T. and Eva S. Smith. Ona and Ed Smith had a couple of children: Cleo Smith, a son, born ca. 1917; and a daughter, Ruth, born 11 July 1919, Freedom, Woods county, Oklahoma. There is an Ona Smith buried in the Alva cemetery, who had died 20 March 1922. We wonder when and what caused the paralysis of Ona Smith. In newspaper articles of that time period we found mention of Ona's maiden name in the New York Tribune listed as "Weyers." Was this a typo? In another newspaper we find it listed as the daughter of Mrs. Jno. Meyers. Was it Meyers or Weyers? Which is correct?

Spook Flames Menace Paralytic

In the The Lima [Ohio] News, dated 14 July 1922, p.10, there was mention of these bluish flames that menaced a paralytic and a copy-cat combustion that occurred at Norman, Oklahoma a few months later.

Break out in all parts of room and in bedding of Invalid woman, Ona Smith, Alva, Oklahoma, March 13, 1922, blue flames, their origin a mystery, which seemed to burst from the air itself, threatened a horrible death to Mrs. Ona Smith, 23, an invalid, who laid paralyzed on a bed in a little cottage in Alva, Oklahoma.

The authorities were completely baffled by the outbreaks. Bedside watchers, who were keeping vigil day and night, could only leap to the rescue as the mysterious fires burst out at intervals in the bedding, clothing worn by Mrs. Smith, wall draperies, or any inflammable material in the room. Two mattresses had been reduced to smoldering ruins, a calendar on the wall had been ignited, a shawl worn by the invalid had burst into flames and several other blazes had started in bedding in the last few days. Witnesses said the fires seemed to start in the air, blue flames jumping and crackling. - (New York Times 14 March 1922).

"haunted house" Is Guarded

This copy-cat combustion occurred at Norman, Oklahoma just a few months later, when flames burst out in residence in Oklahoma. As to the origin of the mystery, sheriff suspected enemies and seeked the truth. From the Norman Oklahoma (United Press), a guard was placed around the alleged haunted house in which J. L. W. Wagoner and his wife lived, following twelve mysterious fires in the house in the past two days. Fires had burst out in all parts of the house during all hours of the past two days and nights, according to Wagoner.

Bed clothing had become ignited in rooms where there were no occupants. Clothes closets had been discovered in flames hours after any member of the family was near. Two fires broke out on the roof and to cap the climax, a wet wash rag, hanging in the kitchen, burst into flames. All of the conflagrations were extinguished before serious damage resulted.

Dr. I.H. Godlove, instructor in the chemistry department of the Oklahoma State University, visited the scene of the mystery, said the blaze might have resulted from a mixture of phosphorus and bisulphide. Students in Godlove's department at the university began experiments with chemicals of combustible nature in an effort to find a solution that would act instantaneously and also in an effort to find a solution that could be easily concealed.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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