Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-03-03
a MEDITERRANEAN LAKE. OF BOIL
ING WATER,


The La Crosse wisconsin, Democrat
tells the following remarkable story
This afternoon, about . o'clock, the
residents OF the eastern part Of the city
were startled by a loud report, resembling
the discharge Of park Of the heaviest ar
illery. Many supposed il TO be Occasioned
by blasting operations at the stone quar-
RES east Of the city, but the fact was soon
asceriained that the explosion occurred at
the artesian well that has been sunk 10 the
depth of two hundred and eighty feet, and
situated about midway between the river
and the bluffs
The workmen at the well became sen
able Of a remarkable change going on
within the bore. The drill had been work
ing through suhstratum OF dark porous
rock for FIVE hours, aud had been making
rapid progress, when suddenly the machin-
cry stopped, the rods became violently ag-
itated, and deafening explosion ensued,
followed by a stream Of boiling water,
gushing with mightyforce through the tube
from the depths below. The startled
workmen were blinded by clouds Of steam.
George Hays, the workman in charge Of
the drill at the time, had very narrow
escape. He received jet Of boiling water
in his neck ard breast, but was partially
protected by heavy wooden clothing Viii
liam Marks, another operative, was badly
scalded about the feet and ankles, Patrick
Cox, Andrew Parkmsn and Karl Snyder,
the remaining workmen, were but slightly
injured. The horses became panic stricken,
and reared and plunged violently, and ex.
Treating themselves from the harness.
dashed madly over the frozen prairie 10 the
direction OF she bluff.
The upward pressure Of the water is
very great, certainly not less than two hun
dred pounds 10 the square inch. The mean
temperature is about 1873 of Reumurs Their
mometer.
"Of course, all coniectures as to the eK-
tent of the submarine lake, and the length
of time which the boiling water will con
time TO flow, must for the present be pure
lv speculative. DR. Percival, late State
eeologist, was Of the opinion that far be-
meath the bed Of the Mississippi there ex-
listed another stream flowing in the same
direction Of much greater magnitude, and
whose waters were OF a much higher tenn
persture than the waters Of the river
The well has been visited this afternoon
bv crowds Of citizens, and the singular
phenomena has given rise TO much specula-
uon aud wonder. Many strange theories
have been advanced One scientific gen
tleman who has had wide experience in
zoology, rs well as much practical knowl-
edge OF mining operations, is Of the opin-
ion that the friction Of the drill has ignited
some hidden reservoir OF highly intiamma-
bic oil or gas. the intense heat Of which
has csused che water 10 boil and seek an
outlet through thebore Of abe wen. Other
intelligent parties entertain widely differ
ent views, and the flowing well Of boiling
water bids fair TO furnish a prolific theme
for scientific investigation.
The extensive vineyards Of Hon. I'd
win Flint and George A. Metzgar are in
imminent danger Of being submerged by
the boiling food We trust inat the Ar
tesian Well Company will not be subject
10 any vexatious litigation in consequence
Of this unforeseen and unparalleled occur
renee. Fortunately those Of our citizens
who arc the owners Of property liable 20 be
inundated are wealthy, public spirited gen
Ilemen, who will not take advantage Of this
freak Of the elements TO emharrass this en-
terprising project. The snow for a space
of about six acres has entirely disappeared,
and the brown grass Of the prairie, swollen
by the heated element, has assumed Wild
and faneifnl shapes.
The strange spectacle Of great column
Of steam rising from the midst Of the vast