The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-12-27
FLORIDA SULPHUR POOLS.
Natural Phenomena in the Peninsu.
iar state Explained.

Inr State Explained.
Jacksonville Fla Times Union.i
The Apalachicola Tribune explains the
great smoke which has been puzzling
observers for years, and which could be
seen on any cloudless day ascending
from the vicinity of Amelia river, in
Florida. Various efforts have been
made to discover the supposed volcano,
while, on the other hand, some have
concluded that the smoke came from the
camp-hres of some remnant of the Semi
mole Indians. The Times Democrat ex-
pedition threw no light upon ne mys-
terry, the tall grass, bogs and dense un-
| dergrowth impeding the progress of the
curious.
One Capt. Asher is the hero who ar
rived in Apalachico1a, with the follow
ing information, which puts out the
Florida volcano, and the romance is lost
of the poor Seminole lingering in the
land of his fathers. At the same time
land of fruits, flowers, and wonders.
Perhaps from the sulphuric pools came
the healing virtues which laid the foun-
dation for the legend that in Florida
flowed the waters of eternal youth
Capt. Asher was in search of palmetto
logs on the Amelia river when he de-
| scried the smoke or cloud from point
| in the distance. Remembering the
many reports he had heard about
this smoke, he determined to un-
earth this mystery, if posi-
ble So, calling his crew to-
| gether, and picking up their traps, the
party pursued their way in the small
boats up the Ancilla river. They trav-
eled up the river, or creek, for it hardly
deserves the name of river, for miles.
After ascending from it's mouth twenty
five or thirty miles, he judges, he was
brought to an abrupt halt by rock bar
rier in front. Upon investigating he
found that the river ended and was lost
underneath the ground. Seeing that
| point, and seemed straight ahead, he had
| the boat hauled up to the bank and
/ sprang ashore, determined, if possible,
| to pursue his Investigations on foot. AS
/ he sprang on shore he gave an exclama-
tion of surprise. Scattered at various
| points were huge rocks, towering many
| feet above his head-a thing unheard df
| in Florida
Mr.. Asher describes some Of the rocks
| as being as large as an ordinary dwell
ing and apparently hollow, containing
| much water He describes them as
being of flinty appearance, and when
| struck with an iron or steel instrument
to emit thousands of sparks. A mile OF
/ 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. AS
his foot came in contact with the finty
| substance q hollow sound was
emitted from the rock. Calling
for a 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 discovered that the rock, being
hollow, was filled with strol sui
phuric water Pursuing their way
through the bog, sometimes up to Their
knees, again on hard ground for some
distance, then again scratched anC
bruised by the underbrush, and fighting
mosquitoes that seemed to resent thi:
intrusion of their dominion, the little
party had hard time of it. Present.,
they came to where the river issued from
, its underground covert and pursued it,
way onward, to again disappear in tn,
bowels of the earth.
Mr.. Asher states that every few hun
dred yards those pools would make thei
appearance, and from them would issu,
white, misty clouds that would ascent
heayenward, seeming in the distanc,
, to be clouds of smoke He stated tina
J the water in these pools was as clear a
crystal and filled with beautiful fish
both fresh and salt. He caught grea
many of the fish, and attempte to drinl
some of the water, but it was unpalata
Demonstrating to the smell and taste
He spent several days wandering arount
these points, and he says b.
never before thought there was such
place in Florida. He discovered severa
rocks that he presumed would hav,
answered very well for houses, bein:
quite as large, hollow, and the walls a
smooth as glass. He appeared to thinl
it very strange that these monster rock
should be found in such low, fiat
marshy section. He says that tn,
rocks are separated by distance of 90,
feet, and rear their black, grimy head
to heaven from level plain of marsh,
soil There are no indications of ther
], having been hill, much less volcano
in this section, and the smoke or clout
seen so often is simply the vapor risini
from the sulphuric pools.