The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-04-18
Phenomena of Ocean Springs.

1t is known that on the Atlantic coast,
a few miles east and south of st. Angus.
tine, there is remarkable phenomenon
in nature a body of fresh water rising in
the ocean, extending on the surface,
probably, over an area of several acres,
which it is supposed is a shoot of some
underground current from the land of
| Florida. 1t is easy to conjecture a con
nection when we observe the figures in
the mysterious bottom of our great res
ervoir springs, like, for instance, that Of
Silver Spring, Marion county. This
ocean spring has been long known to
mariners familiar with coasting around
Florida, but being out of the course of
ships it is more locally familiar to OBJ
servers than otherwise. Though thus
known and spoken of for long years it
IS only at a comparatively recent period
that an officer of one of the United States
coast survey vessels had his attention at
tracted to it and made a report Of his
observations to the government.
A fresh water rising in the OCEAN
equally curious, occurs on the gulf coast
near james island, on the lower part OF
Franklin and Wakulla counties. The
announcement Of this in the public pres ;
is very recent, though perhaps the "boil'
in the sea has existed from an carly geo
! logical or maritime date.
It's probable that similar phenomena ex-
list on other parts of the coast, though no
report of them has been made by the
coasters who may have perchancc discov-
cred or encountered them.
Certainly, in connection with that vast
/ intcrstitial coral and concrete foundation
on which the surface crust of the State is
popularity if not scientifically considered
/ to rest, and with the remarkable "dip-
| ping" of rivers in their course over the
State, and with the lakes and lakclc.s
and funne-shapcd "sinks" which every
where puzzle the interested bcholdcr, the
subject would form one especially worthy
of inquiry of the learned more so than
all the Sensational cXistcnccs which have
claimed attention in more doubtful lines
of con lecture.
How much more curious would it be if
| it were ascertained that such fresh water
springs were found repressed under
the sea ; that fresh water exists in
tact, without having strength to
emerge to the surface. A spring of
tlllS tlltldtlCl tNlSlS Ou tllC tlSldU Sull
near Bahrin. There the arid shore affords
no fresh water; yet a parativcly
numerous population contrive to live
there, thanks to the copious springs
which burst from the bottom of the sea-
The fresh water is got by diving. The
diver, sitting in his boat, winds great
goatskin bag around his left arm, the
hand grasping its mouth; then he takes
in his hand heavy stone, to which is
attached a strong line, and thus equipped
he plungcs in and quickly reaches the
bottom. Instantly opening the bag over
the strong jet of fresh water he springs
up the ascending current, at the same
time closing the bag, and is helped on
board. The stone is then hauled up. and
the diver, after taking breath. plunges
in again. The source Of these copious
submarine springs is thought to be in
the green hills of Osman, some 500 OF
GOO miles distant. FLORIDA Hcrald