The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-08-12
. The Fonnlaln 81 YolIlII.


{ A correspondent Of the New York Courier
and Enquirer gives the following desetip-
ton Of singular and besptiful spring in
Florida, which tradition says, is the iaenti-
cal "Fouhtain Of Perpetual Youth" whose
fabled virtues 30 inasmed the imaginations
and excited the Ioagings ofthe romsntis
Spaniards-the same fountain for which De
Soto sought, and in the search for which be
was led to the discovery Of stream so much
more wonderful, and Of waters which, iItAey
did not reiusenate the man, have Done much
TO give new ccmplexion % ihe world.
We ehouid think such "crystal wsters"
as are here described, might penetrate The
system and cleanse it Of the weakness Of
age; and Gun scarcely wonder, AT the wild
faith Of the Custillian. Who would not
ike, in these hot days at least, one plunge
into the clear cold basin, to test the virtues
of the waters, even now!
"a few days since, returned from q Wis
it to this famous fountain. / cen vouch for
its existence. Isuppose that the efficacy Of
its miraculous virtues has long since vanish.
ed. But its beauties are so extraordinary,
and its whole nature SO anomalous, sssto
excite in the beholder no little admiration
and wonder. "Wahalla" springs, for 90
the Indians christened them, are situated
sixteen miles south from .Tallahassee.T-
They form the sources Of The Wakulla riv.
er, which flowing directly south twenty
miles, mingles with the waters of the great
gulf. The springs, covering an area Of
some two hundred yards in circumference,
are entirely embosomed in dense forest OF
oaks and expresses, whose limbs are hung
with banners Of gray moss, which gives .
solemn, sonibre appearance TO the surround
ings. From the shore you remark at once
the singular clearness Of the waters and the
distinct colcrs OF blue and green which coy
er patches in its surface. By means Of a
rough scow, and stalwurt negro at the
sweeps, our party was soon afoot. Not u
ripple curled the smooth surface. Stretch
). ed at length upon the boards, we guzed down
into the limpid depths. BY actual measur-
ment. the bottom was two hundred and
eighty feet below us, yet we could dislin-
guish the minutest object there with utmost
precision. A bit Of silver in gentle unduly
alions, slipped to the bottom, appeared iun7
diminished in size. At times the white
sands were decked with dancing shadows
or when at rest, were tesselated with hues
every variety Of shade. Shells and fakes
Of mica radiated like prisms. ,.+,g s.a
'"'In some places immense trees were res
clining upon beds of moss, like giants at
j rest. There were elevations and depres,,
sions, huge ranges of coral. like rock, "and
I valleys stretching in pensive quietness be.
tween" There were abrupt precipices and,
I, topling crags which overhung abysses which
no plummet had yet sounded. Moses and
water placed like forests Of ferns. They
waved their tops as if famed by gentle
breeze. And'lhere were vast troops of FISH,
f es whose home life we could look in upon
without breach OF etiquette. They seemed
entirely unconcerned, looking up at US with
J perfect indifference and moving silently on
into the messy forest beneath. A dozen
! yards distant was an ugly looking alligator
who eyed Us wiStfully. On nearer ap.
u proach he gradually sank into the water and
disappeared from view in very few min
utes III q bed Of rushes. While skirting
d along the botders we came over the bones
u Of mastadon, which we judged to be about
G eighty feet below the surface. They con
/ sisted Of portions Of the jaw bone, with sew
il erul of the teeth in good preservation. Sew
!. erals years since, gentleman in this vicini
h ty, by means of marine armor succeeded
d inrecovering large quantity Of these bones.
h They are very calcareous, and crumble easi
/ y BY exposure to the air. These spring
Il are no ordinary curiosity. To the natuarlis
and the man ofscience they afford q s1bjec
o for investigation and Interesting exploration
The sombre forest, the cloudless heavens
n the strange waterfowls, associated as the
n are with the enjoy yments and pleasantries 9
u delightful party,-will not soon fade fror
o my memory" ~t