Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1884-11-20
A FLORIDA PHENOMENON.
A Supposed Volcano Turns Out to be
q Series of SuIphuric Pools.
Detroit Free Press. J

lDttIOll FREE ITeSS.I
Captain Asher puts out the Florida vol
cano, and the romance of the poor Semi
mole lingering in the land of his fathers is
lost At the same time his story adds
to the attractions of the lovely land of
fruits, flowers and wonders. Perhaps from
these sulphuric pools came the healing
virtues which laid the foundation for the
legend that in Florida flowed the waters
of eternal youth. Captain Asher was in
seach of palmetto logs on the Ancilla
river when he deserted the smoke or cloud
from a point in the distance. Remember
ing the many reports he had heard about
this smoke he determined to unearth
this mystery, if possible. So calling his
crew together and packing up their
traps the party pursued their was in
small boats up the Ancilla River. They
travelled up the river, or creek, for it hard
ly deserves the name of river, for miles.
After ascending from its month about %
or 80 miles, he judges, he was brought to
an abrupt halt by rock barrier in front.
Upon investigating he found that the river
ended and was lost underneath the ground.
Seeing that the smoke became more dis
tinct at this point, and seemed straight
ahead, he mad the boat hauled up to the
bank and sprang ashore, determined, if
possible, to pursue his investigation on
foot. As ne sprang on shore he gave an
exclamation of surprise. Scattered at va
rious points were huge rocks, towering
many feet above his head-a thing unheard
of in Florida. Mr.. Asher describes some
of these rocks as being as large as an Or
dinary dwelling and apparently hollow,
,+n,, ,hac,
them as being of a finty appear
ance, and when struck with an iron or
steel instrument to emit thousands of
sparks. A mile or two further on were
seen numerous rocks that were formed into
round basins, their sides being smooth and
beautifully polished. Mr.. Asher sprang
upon the top of one of these basins. Ashis
foot came in contact with the t1inty sub
stance hollow sound was emitted from
the rock. Calling for pole, and it being
handed TO him, he placed it in the center
of the basin. What was his surprise on
drawing the pole to the top may be easily
imagined when he discovered that the
rock being hollow, was filled with strong
sulphuric water. Pursuing their way
through the bog on hard ground some dis
tance, then again scratched and bruised by
the underbrush and fighting mosquitoes
that seemed to resent this intrusion Of their
domain, they presently came to where the
river issued from its underground covert
and pursued its way onward, to again
disappear in the bowels of the earth.
Every few hundred yards these pools
would make their appearance, and from
them would issue white, misty clouds
that would ascend heavenward, seeming in
the distance to be clouds of smoke The
water in these pools was as clear as crystal
and filed with beautiful fish. He caught
a great many of the fish and attempted to
drink some of the water, but it was unpal
itable-nauseating TO the smell and taste.
He spent several days wandering around
these points. and he says he never before
thought there was such place in Florida.
He says that the rocks are separated by a
distance of about 200 feet and rear their
black, grimy heads to heaven from level
plain OF marshy soil. There are no indica-
tions of there having been hill, much less
a volcano, in this section, and the smoke OF
cloud seen so often is simply the vapor ris-
ing from the sulphuric pools.