The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-08-03
A SPIRITUAL SPRING.
HOW A VALUABLE SCOUTING SPRING WAS
DISCOVERED BY THE AID OF
BALSTON SPIRITS.
From lib G Ralsf0n News.

The origin of the famous boiling spring
which bears the name Of Benjamin
Franklin, is we'll known to our readers.
Eighteen years ago the spirit of the de-
parted Franklin announced through
spiritual medium that vein of mineral
water could be found by boring on the
spot where the spring is now located.
Since that time the spirit Of the bene
factor OF mankind has turned its attention
from heavenly pursuits, and occupied
Itself by locating sites for mineral foam
tains. Soon after the Franklin was fin.
ished, Benjamin announced that by
boring to the depth Of 656 feet on a spot
q little to the northeast Of the first well
another vein of water might be doYel-
oped. This fact was stated to citizen
Of the village, who is not believer in
Spiritualism, and he marked the figure
"656" on the wall of the spring house,
where they still remain. Soon after this
time the work Of boring commenced, ard
proceeded steadily and quietly with no
remarkable Incidents until one evening ;
when the required depth was nearly
reached, the proprietor went into the
derrick and found the man who was
boring, sitting directly over the we'll,
drilling away as though the spirits had
no control OF the internal fountain, which
was SO soon to develop itself according
to announcement. He advised the man
to be cautious and get away in time, but
the unbelieVer scoffed, and the regular
thud Of the drill still kept time to the
careless WhiStling Of the faithless b9rer.
Just as the last fraction of the six hun,
dred and fifty sixth foot was drilled
away, there came q roar and rush OF
mighty waters, carrying everything be-
fore 1t; stool, man, whistle and all went
up and came down with torrent of wa.
ter and gas The burly, bearded man of
the drill looked like the mythical Santa
Claus as he came down through the der,
TICK ana landed on terra tirma, a firm be
lever IN spiritual manifestations.
The well was tubed, and ever since it
has spouted daily. On last Thursday
afternoon it was announced that the
building would be open to the public.
and hundreds Of people gathered to wit
ness the strange phenomenon.
At o'clock the cap was removed from
the tube, and the water commence flow
ing into the tank; this continued but a
moment when the water began to recede,
and its descent could be heard until it
was about 100 feet from the surface,
where 1t rested, as if concentrating it's
powers for the mighty effort which was
soon to ast0nish the waiting spectators.
Soon the bubbling and rushing of the as
cendlng waters was heard, and at five
minutes past three the water again flowed
over the top of the tube, gradually as
cendlng and reCedlng alternately for
about five minutes. When the LIQUID
Column had reached a height of thirty
feet, the spectacle became Beautiful. The
stream OF gas and water spouted upward
Ia g solid column in the ce71tr., Of the
building, and upon reaching its greatest
height gracefully turned, and falling.
formed circle Of snow white spray,
which, wherever 1t was touched bT the
sunlight displayed all the colors Of the
rainbow at quarter past the column
shot up to the roof of the derrick, as if
propelled by force which it would be
impossible to attain by artificial means.
1t seemed as If the mighty mystery must
have exhausted itself, and that this must
be the final throe Of the great veins which
were being drained of their precious
mineral fluid. But the beautiful column,
no" nearing. sixty feet in height, con
tlnueQ sprouting as if the great heart of
the earth itself were throbbing out its
lite blood. The grand display continued
until halt-past 3, when Mr.. Mitchell with
much difficulty, and after several in.
ettectual attempts, succeeded in re-
Gaping the tube.
Since the discovery of this last spring,
the name Of which has not yet been re-
vealed, Franklin's spirit has announced
the location OF two more springs, the
first of which, white sulphur spring,
Will be developed before another season