Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-07-19

From the Charleston Courier.


Captain Sisson, of the schr. Exit, has
favored US with the following account OF
singular phenomenon, discovered by him
on the Florida coast
"On Tuesday, 23d ult while sailing
towards Mosquito, eight miles south of
ST. Augustine light bearing N. w. by
N. sheet of white water was discovered,
which was taken for a shoal, as the water
was discolored The lead was hove, and
nine fathoms of water found. The Exit
was hove to, the lead again hove, when
nearer 10 it, and the bottom found muddy.
As the schr. neared the place, it was found
not to be a shoal. but building up of the
water. The Exit sailed through it and
soundeG-no bottom was found with a
lead line twenty fathoms in length The
vessel was forced out of the boiling water,
which was about 200 feet across-tAe cir
conference about 600 feet. 1t was con-
cluded that it was a subterranean spring.
When the schr. was in it, or 10 leeward,
could smell something like guupowder or
marsh mud. 1t was about two and half
miles from the beach,"
Since the above was furnished, we have
found the following description of this I'M
usual appearance, in the Savannah GeOr-
gian:
CURIOSITY.
From a friend, who has furnished the
following, we are gratifed to learn that
the fact of the existence of large mineral
| fountain, at sea, to the southwark Of St.
Augustine, is confirmed by Lieutenants
Pettigrue and Ingraham, as well as by
Capt. Sisson of the schr. Exit
This fountain has been frequently seen
and desc ribed by others, but from the
singularity of such a phenomenon, its
existence has often been a subject of dis
credit.
AS described by the gentlemen men
toned. the fountain is situated about p
miles from the land, and or from St.
Augustine lighthouse, the latter bearing
by compass N. w. by N.
1t is distinguished at some distance by
yellowish appearance on the surface oil
the sea, and the breaking or ripping oft
escaping waters on the weather side, and
suIphurous atmosphere may be smelIed
half mile to leeward of the fountain
The soundings ad jacent to the fountain
are fathoms on the seward side, and Id
fathoms on the land side. In the fountain
itself, Capt. Sisson reports that the lead
at 25 fathoms failed to touch In sailing
over this fountain they found it difficult tC
keep determinate course, or a position
central or convenient for observation, ow
ing to the activity with which the curren
disengages from beneath the vessel get.
drited to one side or the other, although
there is no difficulty in circumnavigatine
the spot. The waters of this fountain, a:
fa1 as their observation went, were cool
brackish and sui phurous, and the volume
discharged they conjecture to be as larg'
as column of 100 feet diameter
Other mariners have stated the water
of this fountain to be decidedly fresh, ant
the volume of greater extent, but when tn
accompanying resistances are taken int
view, the turmoil of waters meeting undo
, different impulses, it may be expected tina
, descriptions of this singular fountain ma
in some particulars until it is made sui
Juct Of methodical examination. In tn
, mean time there seems to be good reaso
! for supposing the origin of this fountai
t to be homogeneous with that of many 9th
, ers in the interior Of Florida, impregnate
f with sul phurous hydrogen.
8 But to the mariner the locality Of thi
s fountain is worthy of particular attention
D because instead Of its being a shoal, as tn
: breaks might indicate, it may be a goo
i mark at a time when other marks cannc
Q be. Instead of Scylla and Charybd
v to be avoided, he may find an opportun
e haven for the supply of fresh water.
d We commend it to the notice of GU
/ chart makers.
If In noticing this marine eruption, tn
] conjecture is irresistible, that such eruE
tons are more common than is supposed
j. and that the phenomena attending ther
a being similar to those of shoals and sunk
O en- rocks, this may be the cause of man
t, errors In the charts of the day in design
p iatng the one from the other
h The eruption in question would hav
d been avoided as a shoal, had its yellow
IF ish* loom and its lonely situation not a
n tracted the attention of those on board tn
Z Exit. Another marine eruption on la
n ger scale is reported to be situated in tn
B. Gulf of Mexico abreast OF Charlotte Fla
d Dor, and another in the Bay of Benga
d abreast of the Ganges, which strengthe
h the probability that they occur more gel
J. orally Another deceptive appearance
" the eruption Of St. Anastasia, caused it
q be mistaken by some on board for the e.
uvia of whales. Captains of vessels shou
be on the alert for the discovery of the.
p eruptions, The best kew to them we tai
'p to be the ripping and breaking of Il
Or strong currents which they occasion
OF the spot. How acceptable is the poss
y, bility that even some spots looked upc