The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1885-03-17
A FLORIDA PHENOMENON.
A Supposed Volcano Turns Out to be .
Series of Sulphuric Pools.

a supposed volcano Turns Out to be .
Series Of Sulphuric Pools.
Captain Asher puts out the Florida
volcano, and the romance of the poor
Seminole lingering in the land of his
fathers is lost. At the same time his
story adds to the attractions of the
lovely land of fruit. flowers and Won
ders. Perhaps from these sulphuric
pools came the healing virtues which
laid the foundation for the legend that
i'm Florida flowed the waters of eternal
youth. Captain Asher was in search of
palmetto logs on the Ancilla River when
he deserted the smoke or cloud from a
point i'm the distance. Remembering
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 way in
small boats up the Amelia River. They
travelled up the river, or creek. for 1t
hardly deserves the name of river. for
miles. After ascending from it, mouth
about twenty-five or thirty 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 be-
came more distinct at this point, and
seemed straight ahead. he had the boat
hauled up to the bank and sprang
ashore. determined. if possible, 10 puT-
hi 81 h..
sprang on shore he gave an exclama-
ton of surprise. Scattered at various
points were huge rocks. towering many
feet above his head-a thing unheard of
in Florida. Mr.. Asher describes some
of these rocks rs being aS large a an
ordinary dwelling and apparently hol-
low, containing much water. He de-
scribes them rs being of Il ilinty appear
ance, and when struck with an iron or
steel instrument To- emit thousands OF
sparks. \ 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. As his foot came in con-
tact with the flinty substance 4 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 draw
ing the pole TO the top may he easily
lima gined when he discovered that the
rock, being hollow, was filled with a
strong sulphuric water. Pursuing their
way through the bog on hard ground
some distance. then again scratched
and bruised by the underbruSh. and
fighting mosquitoes that seemed To re-
sent this intrusion of their dominion,
they presently came to where the river
issued from its underground covert and
pursued It's way onward, to again dis,
appear 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, SEEM
ing in the distance TO be clouds of
smoke. The water in these pools was
as clear rs crystal and filed with beau
tiful fish. He caught a great many of
the fish and attempted TO drink some OF
the wafer, but it was unpalatable-
nauSeating to the smell and taste. He
spent several days wandering around
these points, and he says he never be-
fore thought there was such a place in
Florida. He SAYS that the rocks are
separated by distance of about 200
feet. and rear their black. grimy heads
to Heaven from a level plain OF mar>hy
soil. There are no indications of there
having been a hill, much less a volcano,
in this section, anc the smoke or cloud
seen so often is simply the vapOr rising
from the sulphuric pools.-DctrOa Free
Press.