The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-02-26

| From the Ea crosse DeEilOCttsts r eD ID.
The Warm Regions Struck at La
CrOSseg Wisconsin, startling Phe.
nOmefOn-Ellsc0VeFy OF a @nbteF.
FaHean Lake OF Boiling Water.
This afternoon, about two o'clock,
the residents of the eastern part OF
! the city were startled by a loud re-
port, resembling the discharge of a
park Of the heaviest artillery. Many
supposed it to be OccasiOned by blast
ing operations at the stOne-quarries,
east of the city; but the fact was soon
ascertained that the explosion Occur
red at the artesian well, that has been
sunk to the depth of two hundred and
eighty feet, and situated about mid
way between the river and the bluffs.
The workmen at the we'll became
sensible of a remarkable change GO
| ing on within the bore; the drill had
been working through a substratum
of dark porous rock for five hours,
and had been making rapid progress,
when suddenly the machinery stopped.
the rods became violently agitated
and a deafening explosion ensued,
| followed by a stream of boiling water
gushing with mighty force through
the tube from the depths below. The
startled workmen were blinded by
clouds of steam. George Hayes, the
workman in charge of the drill at the
time, had a narrow escape. He re-
ceived a Jet of boiling water in his
neck and breast, but was partially
protected by heavy wooden clothing.
/ William Marks, another operative,
was badly scalded about the feet and
ankles. Patrick Cox, Andrew Park
man and Karl Snyder. the remaining
workmen, were but slightly injured.
The horses became panic stricken.
reared and plunged violently, and, ex
Treating themselves from the harness,
dashed madly over the frozen prairie
in the direction of the bluffs.
The upward pressure Of the water
is very great, certainly not less than
two hundred pounds TO the square
inch. The mean temperature is about
1873 of Renmurs' thermometer.
OF course all conjecture as to the
extent of the submarine lake and
the length of time which the boiling
water will continue Ito flow will be
purely speculative. Doctor Percival,
late State GeOlogist. Vas Of the opin-
ion that far beneatifthe bed Of the
Mississippi there zexisted another
stream, flowing In thezsame direction,
of much greater magnitude, AMI whose
waters were Of q mach higher tenn
perature than the waters Of the river.
The well has beer visited this af-
,ternoon by crowds Of citizens, and the
singular phenomena has given rise to
much speculation andwonder. Many
strange theories havesbeen advanced.
One scientific gentleman, who has had
wide experience in geology, as we'll as
much practical knowledge Of mining
operations, is of the epinion that the
friction of the drill has ignited some
hidden reservoir of highly infamable
soil or gas, the intense heat of which
has caused the water TO boil and seek
well. Other intelligent parties enter
tain widely different views, and the
flowing we'll of boiling water bids
fair to furnish a prolific theme for
scientific investigations.
The extensive vineyards Of Hon.
Edwin Flint and George A. Metzgar
are in imminent danger Of being sub
merged by the boiling flood We trust
that the Artesian We'll Company will
not be subject to any-yexatious litiga-
Jion in consequence of this unfore-
seen and unparalleled occurrence.
fortunately those of onr citizens who
are the owners of property liable to
be inundated are wealthy. public
spirited gentlemen, who will not take
advantage Of this freak of the ele-
ments to embarass this enterprising
project. The snow for a space Of
about six acres has entirely disap-
peared, and the broYn grass of the
prairie swollen by the heated ele-
ment. has assumed Wild and fanciful
shapes. -
The strange, weird spectacle of a
great column of the steam rising from
the midst of the vast snow-clad plain
in mid winter, is indeed singular, and
.fmpresses upon our minds at once a
sense of mans weakness, and awakens
us to a faint conception of the awful
power of the hidden elements beneath
our feet