Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-23
IMMIGRANTS DEEP WELL
WATER FLOWING FROM 500
FEET UNDERGROUND.

" IL TIA IT A4'f " ~ = A@N'A'- ~&Ce
FEET UNDERGROUND.
superstttious Negroes Relieve that it
has Healing Virtues, and WIN Cure
All Ius-Hundreds Carry Home the In
uocent Liquid in Pitchers and Buckets
How the Well Was sunk, and Its
Purposes.
The artesian well at the works OF the
Gorrie Ice Company was visited yester-
day by numbers Of people. From the mid
die of the forenoon until dark they kept
coming and going.
The neat new building stands on a lot
between River and Indian streets, near
Farm, and not far from the Planters rice
mill. In the yard, few feet from the
building, was d stream Of clear water
flowing out of the top Of a +inch pipe
which stands A. feet above the ground.
The water dubbed over the rim of the
tubing. and falling 10 the ground ran of,
making a pretty little stream several
glasses stood ON the end Of barrel ana
everybody drank. The water was as clear
as the glass Itself.
Capt.Wbtesides, the President ofthe ice
company, was on the ground for awhile
about noon. He told the visitors that the
stream came up through earth and rock
306 feet. less only two inches. Catching
g0bletful OF the liquid and analyzing it by
the palate, sulphur was easily percepti-
bic. Otherwise the water had very little
taste, and seemed pure and soft as though
il had been distilled. Now and then the
breeze would catch the stream as 1t came
out of the pipe and send tine spray fly
ing across the yard. The ac-
Of VEf n
liberate the sulphur and slightly
but noticeably impregnate the air. The
we'll is only an inch and half in diane
ter at the bottom. For 20 feet down from
the surface it is cased with tWO-inch
pipe. The short f0ur-jDCh pipe is all
above the ground. The water would rise
to a height of Is feet above the surface If
the pipe was not cut on. Water flowed
when the well had been driven only 40
feet, but an absolutely pure supply was
wanted and the well was sunk 200 feet
deeper.
The people who live in that section of
toe city patrOnized the fountain well.
Children ran in and out with pitchers and
buckets, ana had the proprietors been
disposed to turn the result OF their enter
prise into a source OF immediate pecuni-
ary benefit many a nickel would have
been added to their bank account.
"You drink dat water am you soul 20
TO hebben suah," was the information one
sable old woman impaired to another.
Both caught pitchers full and hurried OF
10 quaf the sheOl-proof liquid.
1t is said that there is a rumor among
certain OF the dusky residents of Yama-
craw TO the effect that the water does pos
sess health-giying and sOul-saYing Vir-
tues. An aged deacon stood of a few feet
from the stream, and watched the spark
ling spray WITH deep interest for several
minutes yesterday afternoon.
Spurious, curious" he muttered, half
aloud. Il specs old Satan got sumpfin
70 do wild Cat we'll. Watah nebber run
Out'n hole deep as dat by umself.''
As the old darkey slipped cautiously at
glassful OF the beverage a reporter
asked him II he did not taste the sulphur.
Dat is suffer, boss, sual Euf / knowed
de ole debbil bsb sumpin' do wild dat wa
ter. Yes, san, it tastes jes like birthstone,
an ! bet be ben wadin' in dat riber down
Oar, or else ben thrOwin' some de water
on de IRE. / reckon dey mus cool de
forks in it, ca boss? / swear 1 wont tech
any more dat watah long as l live" and
the old fellow hObbled of.
There is no doubt a sort OF half belief
exists among some Ofthe old superstitious
c0loFed folks that the water contains
greater virtues than the ordinary
liquid. In their minds the artesian well
Is regarded somewhat as the undiscov-
cred fountain Of perpetual youth was by
the Old Castilian adYenturer Ponce De
Leon. The water Is 0eing tried by a great
many and II was Tum0red yesterday that
an old cClOred woman had been cured
OF rheumatism BIZ its use. One group
last evening compared the well TO the
pool, the waters Of which were stirred
once year by an angel. It is more than
likely that the faith Of those who are
giving the artesian water a trial is not
strong. The beneficial results TO be re-
corded VIII probably be few. except the
benefit that will ensUe from the use of
healthy drinking water, and perhaps an
external application that would not have
occurred in the ordinary course of events.
Everyone in the neighbOrhoOd is greatly
pleased at having pure and abundant
supply Of water.
Capt. Whltesides proposes TO connect
several houses which he owns in the
neIghborbOod, with the well, and finnish
them with artesian water.
At depth Of IS feet, the first rock was
strucg. 1t was black and hard, and the
casing was not sunk any lower. Below
the stratum OF rock, were layers OF differ
ent earth and soft chalk like rock.
A vein OF water was always found in
the soft rock, and sometimes the auger
would drop six inches. At other times
the boring would 90 on for hours without
making an inch. At 265 feet a good dow
was obtained. That was Friday morn
ing. Forty feet further down the boring
was abandoned and the machinery was
taken down. The works are expected to
be ready for the manufacture OF ice in
about two weeks