Smyrna times., 1860-04-19
A. Town on a Lake.

Rev. w. c. Smith, presiding elder of one Of
the Indiana Conferences, gives the following
account Of MOrgsntown, in that State, one Of
the peculisrities Of which is that it is built On
q lake:
We read Of acity set upon a hill" but
Morgantown, in my district, stands upon lake!
This was not known for q number ofyears after
the town was settled. The discovery was made
by digging wells to procure full supply of wa-
ter. The supply Of water ia the wells which
had been used failing in the dry season, few
years since, one Of the citizens concluded 10
sink well deeper and see ifhe could not strike
stronger vein. When some thirty-five or
forty feet below the surface of the earth, the
man at work in the well suddenly struck his pick
through crust; the water gushed up with such
rapidity that with tifficulty he was saved by
the men at the winclass. In a few moments
the water was some fifteen feet in the well.--
In two or three instances afterward men were
near being lost by coming suddenly TO this in
exhaustab.e fountain Of water. :.
Wells have been sunk in different parts Of
the town from each other, and believe forty
feety is the greatest depth TO reach this Lake.
Lead lines have been dropped into several Of
these wells, but no bottom has been found. In
digging down to this lake they invariably pass
through strata Of sand, leaves and timber, re-
sembling drif-wood. Thin 10 some twenty feet
below the surface Of the earth. After passing
through this strata, a stratum Of hard clay il
/ found, and when within eighteen inches of the
lake hard crust is reached, which is a sure
indication that they are near the water Wher
they reach this crust they commence wall
thereon, carrying il 60 the top ofthe well, ther
put down large auger, and bore hole to the
water, which gushes up with great force, fill
ing the well from l5 TO 90 feet in few min
utes. When the auger strikes the lake the at
mosphere bursts up for a few seconds, produc
4 ing sound resembling very much the blowing
off OF steam from an engine. l have not giveI
all the particulars Of what has been discovere,
of this mysterious lake. Enough is known Il
settle il beyend doubt that the whole tow
stands upon a lake under ground.
r2i4-- .---
jos SmtrH.-Mornons has again show
/ itself in Illinois, and under widely differen
auspices from the modern Mahomedanism {
! Utah. Young Joe Smith claims to be the tru
leader, as matter Of inheritance, we suppos.
of the Mormon Church, and at Amboy he wa
installed into Office by Conference-thoug
: no account is given az to the source from who
!, the delegates derived their installing powe
!. His title is " President Prophet" and churc
. Is organized under him, that 10 declared TO
: entirely independent of the organization
4 which Brigham Young has long been prophe
!. priess and king. The Illinois branch oppos,
= polygamy and the other vices of the infamo.
|. disciples at Utah ; and Saith declares that
= will only teach the two doctrines of religie
s and morality. he also inculcates patriotic d
!. ties and obedience I'd the laws Of the Ian
= speaks kindly OF the anti-Mormons. and sa.
i. that he holds no feelings Of enmiiy towards al
% msn living. II is hoped his teachings will n
at be without influence 10 far-off Utah, where Z
"A formation IL much needed.