The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1880-01-16

Capable of Being Set
55 --- Adre. 81
Especial Correspondence Galveston News.
LAKE SOURI, have, in my time,
been in many of the most remarkable
places in the world, and now have
turned up, as I think, in that which is
the most remarkable of all. came
over here yesterday from Sour Lake
Station, on the railroad, in a cart, over
the meanest road In the world, and
Immediately set to work investigating.
These strange places have a fascination
for me, and enjoy their society hugely.
Hence, you can conceive how I have
enjoyed Sour Lake. .,-.--...
1t is circular pool of an acre or two
in extent, situated in a depression on
the most elevated tract of land in q
wide scope of country. 1t rises above
the contiguous territory, as an island
In the sea rises above the waters. Now
conceive depression in the centre of
our island, filled with bubbling, boil
ing pond, as round as we'll, surround
ed by a dense forest, and we have Sour
Lake and its topography. This simil-
itude is exact. All the region around
is very low and flat, and sometimes
the Lake tract is surrounded by water.
The extent of the elevated region is
probably about two miles in any direc-
tion. The hotel and other buildings
are on the highest point of the eleva-
tion.
On the edges of the lake or pool are
situated most OF the wells, five or six
feet in depth, with plank curbing.
Some of these are in q vigorous state Of
ebullition, while others have very little
ebullition. This ebullition is nothing
but currents of gas escaping from the
bowels of the earth. This is made ap-
parent by common experiment here.
Take a common fruit can, open at one
end and a small hole bored in the other.
Immerse half of it in the water where
the ebullition is going on and then
touch lighted match to the hole. In
stantly a brilliant flame pops up, which
will burn, unless blown out by the
wind, as long as you choose to hold the
can in its position. There are jets of
gas issuing out of the ground all about
the pool, so that with your fruit cans
without end. You may even set fire
to the pools, or apparently do so, by
applying a match to the surface where
it is bubbling or boiling; but these
flames speedily go out. While burn
ing, however, they look exceedingly
queer, and one cannot help but think
of the old traditional hell, which of
late seems to be falling into contempt.
Now, as some may be inclined to doubt
all this, I state that I saw it all last
night and this morning with my own
eyes.
Some of these wells throw up a yell
lowish and blackish oil, which collects
on the surface and may be skinned
like cream. This smells very furiously
of tar or naptha, but at a little distance
is pleasant to the nostrils. The water
on which this substance collects tastes
precisely like the substance smells. He
who drinks of it gets his whole body
considerably infected with the smell,
to such q degree that he even makes
his bed smell of it. This substance is
gathered here, and the people around
readily buy it at a dollar quart. They
say it beats all creation for curing sores,
cuts and burns. 1t is infiammable and
burns with a great smoke. It is, I
suppose, liquid carbon. Now, suppose
we could take this stuff and solidify it,
and crystalize it, and purify it to per-
feet clearness, why, we would have the
true diamond. Where is the alchemyst
who can do this? ?
Others of the wells are as sour as
| SAoO CpPlSo3 anu SAOo0 1AVoIAdUly S0k1u
up a strong odor of sulphur. These
bubble and boil considerably, and have
whitish appearance, as if pulverized
chalk had been stirred up in them.
This is white sulphur. They have a
slight taste of the fluid carbon. These
are said to act powerfully upon the
liver, and several have told me no case
ofdyspepsia could long Withstand them.
Then there is another we'll that is
strongly impregnated with iron. Its
waters are distinctly marked from the
others in appearance, being exceedingly
soft and limpid; so much so that it
looks like little pool of liquid air, if
such thing may be. A few feet from
this chalibeate well is another which is
called ssthe Vermifuge." Ittastes rather
nasty, and do not doubt that it de-
serves its name. They say that chill
dren sick With worms are cffectually
cured by it.
Then there is another we'll or pool,
which, if what is said of it be true, is,
if not the most remarkable, yet GER.
tainly destined to be the most renowned
of all They call it ssyouth and beauty.' ,;