The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-04-05
An Oily Letter from OiIsprinss

The following from the Sandusky Register
is very good take off on the "Ol Springs"
excitement at present prevailing in Ohio and
Western Pennsylvania:
"As the Oil Springs in Trumbull county,
Ohio, are exciting great deal ofnteress we
prevailed upon the fat Contributor to 20
down there last week, in order that we might
furnish our readers with lr authentic -ac-
count Of the locality. We have received the
following unctious letter:
DEAR REGISTER; Everything here is so
greasy and oily it is with extreme difficulty
that can write at all. Ny pen slips out of
my fingers there is an oily scum on the ink
the paper is fairly transparent, and slosh
around in my chair in demned unpleasant
manner. Patience and perseverance (sweet
oil Is unnecessary here, will however, over
come many obstacle.
AN Oily TRAKK
Iarrived here at very late hour last
night. on an oil train. and might as well
have come on traiH oil. as we were sixteen
hours behind time All trains are behind
time here ! learn, owing to the accumulation
Of oil on the track at this end Of the road =
The oil fries out of the ground, and lubri
Gates the rails for great distance. We
shouldn't have arrived az all If the passen
gers hadn't got out and sprinkled the track
with cigar ashes.
! slip out of bed (nobody "arrises" here :;
we all slip into bed and slip OUT at an ear
" hour this morning, and began investigs-
tons. found a section embracing fourteen
thousand acres Of land, chuck full of springs.
HOW THE WOMEN FRY DoUGHNUTs
Drilling is unnecessary here, as the oil
hoils up in springs sometimes to the height
OF twenty-five f,et and is caught in tin pals
as it comes down. On hot day, am told,
it is Of no unusual thing to see woman
frying doughnuts in these jets of oil. The
balls of dough are dropped into the jets,
where they are allowed TO toss about like
corks in fountain, until they are fried by
the heat of the sun
SLIPPERY ELM.
The only species of tree which abounds
here is slippery elm. These trees are so Slip
perry squirrel can't climb them without dip
ping his paws in Spauldng's Prepared glue.
small bottle of which he always carries
suspended about his neck. There are a few
maple trees here, but no sugar is made, as
nothing but olruns out when they are tap.
ped.
\ RIVER OF OIL.
There is one considerable sized creek run
ming through Trunbull county, which is all
/ oil. TWAS discovered short time ago in a
singular manner. Three buys went in bath
ing, ana wnru they came out'were so greasy
that they couldn't stay in their clothes. As
fast as they slipped them on they would slip
OFT again, and one of the lads in needless
moment, narrowly escaped Slipping out Of
his skin. On reaching home, their parents
being extremely frugal, wrung them out, and
extracted about fourteen gallons of pure oil
from the three boys! Fact A company
are erecting large candle factory on the
banks of this river, preparing to dip candles
] in it.
| ADJUSTMENTS.
The principal amusements here are clim
bing creased poles and catching oiled pigs
the necessary appliances being constantly CT
hand. Sliding down hill is popular AMONG
all classes during the summer months. Thi.
is effected without sleds, on hill of sole
'allow, just back of the tavern. AsI write
laughter rich and gushing is waited to m,
window from number of the beauties o
Blowers Corners" as they sweetly dissolv,
down the sides ofthe melting slope.
i CREASED LIGHTNING.
There was thunder storm this afternoon
and as the electric fluid ran down one O
those slippery elms told You of, was treat
ed to my first view of "greased lightning.
1t is quite common here they say. Thun
der here is divested of all its harsh intona
tons by the minute particles ofoil which fl
the air and grease the wheels of Jove's nois,
chariot
i fany ofyour readers think have ecu
it fat in this letter, let them visit the Oi
Springs and see for themselves Yours truly
Far CONTRIBUTOR.
EMnter af New DrlennS