Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-07-27
Ben. Franklin in a New Business

From the Ballston NeWs.)
The origin of the famous boiling spring which
bears the name of Benjamin Franklin, is we'll
known to our readers. Fifteen years ago the
spirit ct the departed Franklin announced
through a spiritual medium that vein of min
eral water could be found by boring on the spot
where the spring is now located
Since that time the spirit of the benefactor of
mankind has turned its attention from heavenly
pursuits and occupied itself by locating sites
for mineral fountains. Soon after the Franklin
was finished, Benjamin announced that by
boring to the depth of $50 feet on a spot little
to the northeast Of the first well, another vein
of water might be developed. This fact was
stated to citizen of this village who is not a
believer in spiritualism, and he marked the
figures $685. on the wall of the spring house.
where they still remain
Soon after this time the work of boring COM
menced, and proceeded steadily and quietly,
with no remarkable incidents, until one even
ing, when the required depth was nearly
reached, the proprietor went into the derrick
and found the man who was boring sitting di-
rectly over the well, drilling away as though
the spirits had no control Of the internal foun-
tain, which was so soon to develop itself accord
ing TO announcement. He advised the man to
be cautious and get away in time, but the I'M
believer scoffed, and the regular thud of the
drill still kept time to the careless whistling of
the faithless borer. Just as the last fraction of
the 656th foot was drilled away, there came a
roar and rush of mighty waters carrying every
thing before it: stool, man, whistle and all went
up and came down with torrent of water and
gas.
The burly, bearded man of the drill looked
like the mythical Santa Claus as he came down
through the derrick and landed on terra tirma,
firm believer in spiritual manifestations. The
well was tubed, aud ever since it has spouted
daily. On last Thursday afternoon it was an
nounced 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 commenced flowing into the
tank; this continued but moment, when the
water began to recede, and its descent could be
heard until it was about one hundred feet from
the surface, where it rested, as if concentrating
its powers for the mighty effort which was to
astonish the waiting spectators.
Soon the bubbling and rushing of the ascend
ing waters was heard, and at :O5 o'clock the
water again flowed over the top of the tube,
gradually ascending and receding alternately
for about five minutes. When the liquid col
umn had reached height of thirty feet the
spectacle became beautiful
The stream of gas and water spouted upward
in solid column in the centre Of the building
and upon reaching its great height gracefully
turned, and, falling, formed a circle of snowI
white spray, which, wherever it was touched by
the sunlight, displayed all the colors of the rain
bow.
At 10 o'clock the column shot up to the
roof of the derrick, as if propelled by force
which it would be impossible to attain by art-
fetal means. 1t seemed as if the mighty mys-
terry 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, now nearing sixty
feet in height, continued spoutng, as if the great
heart of the earth itself were throbbing out its
life blood. The grand display continued until
half-past three O'Clock, when Mr.. Mitchell, with
much difficulty, and after several Intellectual
attempts, succeeded in recapping the tube.
Since the discovery of this last spring, the
name of which has not yet been revealed, Frank
Inns spirit has announced the location of two
more springs, the first of which, white sulphur
sDrnp will be deyeOped before another season