The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-01-29
One of the Wonders of fSoutIleastern
IeXas.

A Galveston Neaos correspondent thus
g v,s description of Sour Lake: It
il circular pool of an acre or two in
extent, situated in a depression on the
most elevated tract of land 10 a wide
scope OF country. 1t rises above the
contiguous territory, as al island 10 the
sea rises above the waters. Now con-
ceiYe q depression in the centre of our
island, filed with buhblIng, boiling
pond, as round as a well, surrounded
by dense forest, and we have Sour
L Ike and its topography. This simlli-
Jude is exact. All the region around
is very low and fiat, and sometimes the
Lake tract is surrounded by water.
The extent of the elevated region is
probably about two miles in any dIrec-
ton. The hotel and other buildings
are on the highest point Of the elevs-
ton.
On the edges Of the lake or pool are
situated most OF the wells, five or SIX
feet In depth. with pisEk cuIbing
lme of these are in vigor1 us state of
ebulliion, while { ere have very little
ebullItion. This etuliiion is nothing
but currents of pss scspiDg from the
bowels of the earib This is made sp-
parent by a common experiment. here.
Take q common fruit can, open at one
end and ssmall hole DO ed in the other.
Immerse half of 1t in the Rater where
the ebullition is going on and then
touch lighted match TO q hole. In-
staDtly brilliant fame pops up, which
will burr, unless blown out by the
wind, as long as you choose to hold the
can in its position. There are jcts OF
gas issuing out OF the ground ali about
the pool, go that with your fruit cans
and milk cane you msy have fames
without end. Yiu NAV s.yen set fire To-
the poole, or eppsfehilt 20 so, by ap-
plying q match to I e prf &c where u
IS bubblipg or boiiH.f tbest n smes
sDeedily go ou,. Whi, burning, how-
-ver, tbey lock fxceeoJngl5 queer, and
ore cannot help but Thick Of she old
'raditinnal hell, which Of late seems to
be falling into contempt. Now, ss
some may be ircliUed - doub. all tiis,
sls'e 'hs, / saw il sli les, sight an
this morning with my owo eyes
Some ~ these wells iLTo< Cp 2 ye'-
iowish and blecklsb oil, waich colI,c.e
on the furface and may be SIX mined
like cram. Tais smells very furiouslY
of ter or napibs. but at little distance
is pleseart 10 the nosiTils. The water
on which this fDbs.ABce collec,s tastes
precisely like the substance smells. He
who drinks Of it gets his whole body
considerably iDiecled with the smell.
TO such degree that he eve3 mskes
his bed smell Of il. This substance j.
gathered here, and the peop'e around
readily buy i. ~ oalsrs quart. They
say IL beats all cFfa'inn for curing
sores, cut- and buFns Il ia IL q INNS
bic and burns with greet Tmckr. Il
is, / euppcse, rquid carbon Nov,
suppose We could take this stuf ano
soiidify it, and crystslize il, and Iurify
IL to perfect clesrDess, why, We would
haye the true diamond. Where Is the
alchemyst who can do thisl
Others Of the wells are as sour as
crab apples, and these invariably send |
mp q strong odor Of sulphur. These |
bubble and boil considerably, and have
. whitish sppearsnce, - II pulserized |
chalk had been stirred up in them. |
This Is white sulphur. They hayc 9 |
slight taste of the fluid carbon. These
are said TO act powerfully upon the /
liver, and several have told me no case /
Of dyspepsia cold long Withstand them.
Then there IL another well that Il
strongiy impreRnsted With iron. Its
wstezs are distinctly marked from the