Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-02-21

ss,,Sssr.sarra hsalke Of
rgof.fnfr yvafer--Esrc Artessnn
Bore rsenefrefes n &russ2a
r.ous Esocs8 Nine Eccfsn ssch'
ness. and "a ssrsnm ot s'osifns.
yfnrer Bushes 40 the surface.
From The La Crosse Wis., Democrat Feb. IS.
This afternoon about . O'Clock the resi-
dents OF the eastern part CT the city were I
startled by n loud report, resembling the /
discharge OF p park &C the heGyes, attl-
lery.
Many supposed Il TO have been coca
stoned by blasting operations at the ston'-
auarrics cast Of the city, but the iacs "As
soon ascsrtaincd that the explosion Occur
rod al the nrtcsan well, that has -
sunk 10 the derth Of $50 feet, aaa s'''' W.
about midway between tno iiFef n"' Wv
bluffs. ,,,, .o,.;.
-. ,smsrkabe change going on With
-; 'e a. ho,e the drill had been working
,h,n,gb substra,um Of dark porous rock
-, Gye hours, aud had been making rapid
nrogress, when suddenly the machnsry
s,op ped ,sthe rods became violently agstated
and deaieaning explosion ensusd. fol-
lowed by stream Of boiling water, gushing
with mighty forcs through the tubs from
the depths below. The startled workmen
were blinded BY clouds Of steam. Gcor.e
HAYES, the workman In charge Of the drill
at the time, had very narrow escape He
received . jet Of boiling water on his meek
and breast, but was partially protected ny
heavy wooden clothing.
William Marks, another operative, was
badly scalded about the feet and ankles.
Patrick Cox, Andrew Parkinan and Karl
Snyder, the remaining work nsn, .tre bu'
slightly injured.
The horses became panic stricken, reafe'i
aul plunged violently, and eS'r, cati'
themselves from the harness, dasiie d mad
Is oyerthe ffozsn prairie IN The direction
of the bluiis. I.
The upward pressure Of the water -
y.rv Great certainly not less than . hundre'l
rounds TO the square inch The mean
temnerasure is about 1853 Of Rcmurs ther
moueter.
OF course all csnjcctures as to the extent
Of the submarine lake. and the length o
time which the boiling water will continue
: 10 Gov, must for the present be purely
| 1 speculative.
: There are many similar instances on re
cord Hugh Miller mentions similar cas-
at Inverness, in Scotland. where boillni
water has flowed for over seventy years
and also the famous hot well at Stu,tgartei
. in the uartz mountains Of Germany. Tn
n Geysers, or boiling springs. OF Iceland mr.
0 no doubt operated by the Same natura
. ! cause.
DR.. Perc:val, late State biologist, wa
= Of the opinion that far beneath the bed o
the Mississippi there existed another stream
!. n wing in the same direction, Of mucl
greater magnitude, and whose waters wer
n Of much higher temperature than tn
n waters Of the river.
!. The well has been visited this afternoon
\ BY crowds Of citizens, and the singula
4 phenomenon has gwen rise to much specu
!. lation aud wonder.
NJ Many strange theories have been ad
!. vanced. One scientific gentleman who ha
i had wide experience in geology ~ we'll n
h much practical knowledge Of mining ep
. / erAtions. is oil the opinion that the frictiol
Of the drill has ignited some hidden reser
h voir OF highly inilamable oil or gas, the in
tense heat OF which has caused the waite I
boil aud seek an outlet through the bore Z
the we'll
= Other intelligent parties entertain widel,
: different views, and the flowing we'll o
e boiling water bids fair 10 furnish prol,fi
theme for scientific inv, CATION.
The extensive vineyards Of Hon. Fdwi
F'nt and George \. Mctzsar are in IN
nincat danger Of being submerged hy tn
y boiling Hood. We trust that the Artesla
q Well Company Will not BIZ subject TO an
vexatious litigation in consequence OF tn
unforeseen aud unparalleled occurrence,
Fortunately those of our citizens who ar
d lie owners of the property liable 10 !
# inundated are wealthy, public spirited geI
. ,lcmen, who will not take advantage OF hi
freak OF the elements TO embarrass this Ell
: terptising project. The Snow for a srac
T, II about SIN acres has entirely disappeare,
70 and the brown grass Of the prairie. swolc
by the heated element, has assumed vii
and fanciful shapes.
The strange, weird spectacle OF . grsa
$ column OF steam rising from the midst q
: The vast snow clad plain in mid winter
\ indeed singular, and imprssses upon on
minds al once sense Of mans weakness
and awakens to us q faint conception of tn
IS awful power Of the hidden cleme nts beneat
q our feet.