South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1880-01-30
Natural Wonders In Texas.
a Curious Lake-wslis that Emis Ga, and
Contains Sou, Water.

"siAs tuat Limits Csn1 and
Contairs Sour Water.
! have in my iima been In many Of
the most remarkable places in the world.
ana now have turned .up, I think, in
The most remarkable Of all. Sour Lake
Is circular pool Of an acre or two in
extent, situated in n depression on the
most elevated tract Of land in n wide
scope OF country. 1t rises above the
contiguous territory as an island in the
sea rises above the waters. Now con.
ceive depression in the centre of our
island filed with a bubblinc. boiling
pond, rs round az we'll. surrounded
by dense forest, and VIC have Sour
Lake anil its topography.
On the e.iycs Of the lake or pool are
situated most of the wells, Ave or six
ieet IN depth, with plank curbing. Some
OF these are in a vigorous state Of ebul-
htion, while others have very little el,ul-
iition. This cbullition 10 nothing bu.
currents OF gas escaping from the earth.
This is male apparent by a common
experiment here. Take common fruit
can open Il, one end and small hole
bored in The other. Immerse half OF it
ing on, and then touch q lighted match
TO the hole. Instantly q brilliant flame
pops up. which will burn unless blown
out by the wind ~ long rs you choose
TO hold the can in its position There
arc jets OF gas issueing out Of the
groun! all about the pool so that with
fruit cans ami 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
IL is hubbling or boiling, but these flames
speedily 60 out.
Some OF these wells throw NJ n yel.
lowish AMI b!acSish oil, which COLLECTS
on the surface and may he SKINNED like
cream. This smells very strongly of
Tar or nap,ha. but ut little distance is
pleasant To the nostrils. The wafer on
which this substance collects tastes pre-
ciscly like the substance smells. lie
who drinks OF IL gsts his whole body
considerably infected with The smell. =
This substance is gathered here, and
the people readily buy it at n dollar n
quart. Trey say 1t cures sores, cuts
emf burns. IL ~ inhammable and burns
with q great smoke. 1t is, | Suppose.
liquid carbon.
O;h OF the wells are as sour "a crab.
APPLES, AMI the Sc invariably send up n
strong odor of sulphur. They bubble
and boil considerably. and have a Will
'i>h appearance. as if pu!verized chalk
Ind b'on stirred up in them. This il
white sulphur. They have slight taste
OF the auld carbon. These are said t.
act powerfully upon the liver, and sev.
mr., ~ I,n.~ eel. Il
con!h long withstand them Then there
Is another well that is strongly iinpreg
mated with iron. It's walers are distinct
ly marked from the oilers in appear
ance. being exceedingly soft and linn.
pd.
Then there is anoih well or pool.
which, it what is said Of it he true, ~,
If not the most rcmaI k able. get certain.
" destined TO I've the mast renowned OF
all. They call il Youth anil Beauty"
IL deposits n peculiar sort OF sediment
on its bottom, which, n, thew say. has
the remarkable property of identifying
the skin anil removing freck les am
told that this deposit Is So much in de-
maBd that it is not always easy 10 keen
supply Of it during the winter season.
The site here IA really a glorious one
Tor Il Watering place; n great prtirie to
the south filed with fra2 rance and wild
flowers, and great forest in every 9th
or direction, penetrated with labyrinth
lie walks; osks, ma!noliaa. myrtlcS.
hollirH, heechcs, and naples anil gums.
and vines without end. How easy
would it he u light all this extensive
ground into n blaze Of glory at night, nv
utilizing the gas that pours in torren'-,
ous Of the earth. Cor. Gulc stor, News