Los Angeles Star, January 17, 1857:
"We were lately informed by Mr. Stanley, of Capt. Greenwell's coast surveying party, that on the side of a high mountain, in the vicinity of San Fernando, he discovered a fissure in the rocks, from which a hot gas was fiercely issuing. The rocks and ground were almost too hot to be touched. Farther down the mountain, was a precipice, where he was informed by the natives, light was frequently seen at night, but no one ever attempted to discover the cause. It was no doubt caused by the ignition of the gas, produced by a favorable action of the surrounding atmosphere."