The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1880-02-07
On the edges OF the lake {

pool are situated most of the
wells, five or sixfeet in depth,
vita plank culbing. Some of
these are in IA vigorous state OF
ebuiIltion, while others have very
little ebulliticn. This ebullition
is nothing eut currents Of gas es-
Gaping from the bowels of the
earth. This is made apparent by
. commoa experiment here. Take
a common fruit can open, at one
end and IL small hole horad in the
other. Immer>e half of it in the
water where the ebullition is 60
ing on and then touch u lighted
match to the hole. Instantly Il
brilliant flame pops, up, which
will burn, unless blown out by
the wind, as long as sou choose
to hold the can in its position.
There art. jets of gas issuing out
Of the ground all about the pool
so that with your fruit cans and
milk cans yOu May have flames
without end. You may even set
fire to the pools, or apparently
do so by applying a match to
the surface where 1t is bnbb!lng
or boiling: but these flames speed
ly 90 out. While burning, how
ever, they look exceedingly queer
and one canuot help but thiuk of
the Old traditional hell, which OF
late seems to be falling into con
tempt Now, as some may be in
clined to doubt all this, | state
that | saw it all at last night and
this morning with my own eyes.
Some of these wells throw up
y~lloWish and blackish Oil,
which collects On the surface and
NAV be skinned like cream. This
smells very furiOnsly of tar or
naptha, but at a little distance is
pleasant to the nostrilS. The WA
ter Oh which this Substance col
lects tastes precisely like the sub
stance smells. He who drinks of
il gets his whole body cOnSidrra-
bly infected with the smell, to
such degree that he even makes
his bed Smell of it. This sub
stance is gathered here, aud the
people around readily buy it at a
dollar a quart. They say it beats
all creation for curing sores, cuts
and burns. 1t is intlammable
and burus with IA great smoke. Ii
is, | suppose, liquid caribou. Now
suppose we could take this stuff
and soIidify it. and crystalline ii
| it. and purify it to perfect clear
ness, why, we woald have the
true diamond. Where is the al
chemist vino can do this !!
Oilers of the wells are as sOu1
AS crab apples, and these invaria
bic send up strong odor OF sull
hur. THESE bubble ANA boil con
siderably, and have whitiSh ap
pearance, as if pulverized chall
had been stirred up in them
This is white sulphur. They
have slight taste of the hul'
carbon. These are said to ac
powerfully upon the liver, and se'
eral have told me no case of dys.
pepsia could long wi'hs,andthem
there is another well that is struD
ly impregnated with iron. 1t
waters are distinctly marked :rol
the other in appearance, being e
ceeding!y soft and limpid; $
much so that it looks like Il littl
pool OF liquid air, if such thin
may b3. \ few feet from TIN
challbeate well is another whlc
lis called "the Ver'nlfuge."
tastes rather nasty, AMI do nc
loabt that it deserves It's nam
They SAY that children sick Wit
worms are etfectuaIly cured by i
Then there is another we'll G
pool, which. ii what is said OF
be true, is, if not the most rema
nab,e. vet certainly destined
op the most renowned OF all. The
cali it "youlh and beuaty." 1t d
. .,osits Il peculiar sort OF se'llnel
. ,l It's bottom, which, as they SD
has the rema, kable property
, identifying the skin ami REM
! inc ireckles. Let a lady bavl'
splotches or frtcles on her han
Oh face apply a little junction.
|, this, two rights in succession, al
they say she will wake up t
q srrOnd morning as beautiful IA
= nymph Just risen from her ba'
II am told that this deposit Is