The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-04-22
A L1FE.GIYING FOUNTAIN.
Discovery os Wonderful Spring in North
Carolina.

Discovery os Wonderful Spring in North
Carolina.
ABINGDON, VA, April 5.-A curious
spring has been discovered in Ashe Coun-
ty, N. G. In July, 1885, wood-cutter
working some distance from his home
told the lad who accompanied him to
search the neighborhood for spring, as
the water carried from their home was too
warm to be refreshing. Following the
stream by the roadside, the boy reached
point where the stream made sort Of
horseshoe curve as it again came out by
the roadside. This spot was a tangled
mass of briers and overhanging shrubs,
but the boy penetrated the thicket and
following the curve, found near the edge
of the stream, but literally in its bed, a
spring. He cleaned ont the dead leaves,
twigs and other rubbish, aud put the
spring in running order" In so doing
he had to thrust his arm almost to the
elbow into the water. This arm was in
swollen and infamed condition from
poison OAK, and had been 80 for some
time. The next morning it was noticed
that as much of the arm as had been in
the water was improved. The change
had been so sudden that its relief was
attributed to its having been so long in
the water on the preceding day. The
boy determined to try second applica-
tion of his new remedy, and on the next
morning his arm was we'll. The boys
father then tried the efficacy of the water
upon sores which had annoyed him for
many weeks, and in marvellously short
time was entirely relieved. He then
concluded to keep secert the locality Of
the spring, allowing no one to go to it
but himself, but always keeping a supply
of water at his house. The neighbors
swarmed to his house to try the magic
water. Many were healed of various
maladies, and all were eager to know
where the spring was situated. The old
man kept his secret, however, going un.
der cover Of night to fetch the water.
Finally he was followed to his life. giving
fountain. In less than twenty.four
hours every brier and bramble for many
a yard around had been beaten down by
the feet of men and hoofs of horses, so
great was the throng coming and going.
A "basket meeting was appointed by the
Methodist circuit rider, to be held at the
spring on certain Sunday. 1t is esti-
mated that seven hundred persons were
present. The preacher told of his wife's
wonderful cure. In consequence of a
kick from cow one of her legs had been
| in q painful condition for four weeks.
Within fifteen minutes after the first ap-
plication of this water she began to ex.
perience relief from pain, and after twelve
or fifteen hours treatment the pain was
entirely gone. This was one of many
instances related by the preacher to his
eager listeners. From that day people
came from far and near, driving some
times thirty or forty miles in wagon
and waiting several days for chance
to fill their barrels. On Sundays from
three hundred to four hundred persons
were to be seen on the spot. There is no
house within half mile of the spring
and no hotel for several miles, so the
neighbors, much to their annoyance and
inconvenience, are frequently obliged to
take in the weary sufferers seeking these
healing waters.
The average number of persons visit
ing the spring daily until the bad
weather of the winter began is estimated
at 200. During the winter the water;has
been hauled at considerable expense to
various places where ready sale is found
for it at S. case. In fact the demand
has been greater than the supply, the
distance from a railroad making a trip
considerable of an undertaking.
Only partial analysis of the water
has as yet been made. A New Orleans
chemist says its specific gravity is l,OOl,
and that it is largely charged with car
bonic acid. 1t contains iron, the sui
pilates chlorides, and carbonates of cal.
cium, and magnesia.
The country surrounding the spring j,
extremely rough, but not without the
picturesque element which has made all
Western North Carolina famous. New
River RUS within few hundred yards
of the pace and the roar of its waterfall
adds to the weirdness of the scene.