Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-07
A WONDERFUL SPRING.
The Discovery Made by Boy I'm North
Carolina.

Inc DtscoseTy mhuc Dy " hoy III Noftu
Carolina.
An Abingdon VA special says: A
curious spring has been discovered in
Ashe county, n. G. In July, 1885, a
woodcutter working some distance from
his home told the lad who accompanied
him to search the neighborhood for a
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 a sort of horseshoe curve
as it again came out by the
roadside. This spot was a tangled
mass of briars and overhanging
shrubs, but the boy penetrated the
thicket, and following the curve, found
near the edge of the stream, but literal
ly in its bed, a spring. He cleaned out
the dead leaves, twigs, and other rub
bisb, and put the spring in "rvnniny
order" In so doing he had to thrust
his arm almost to the elbow into the
water. This arm was in a swollen and
inhamed condition from poison-oak,
and had been so 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 at
tributed to its having been so long
in the water on the preceding
day. The boy determined to try
a second application of his new
remedy, and on the next morn
ing his arm was well. The boys
father then tried the efficacy of the wa
ter upon sores which had annoyed him
tor many weeks, and in marvellously
short time was entirely relieved. lie
then concluded to keep secret the To-
cality Of the spring, allowing no one
to 20 to it but himself, but always
keeping supply Of water at his house.
The neighbors swarmed to his house to
try the magic water. Many we're
healed Of various maladies, and all
were eager to know where the spring
was situated. The old man kept his
secret, however, going under cover of
night to fetch the water. Finally he
was followed to his life-giving foun.
tain. In less than twenty-four hours
every briar and bramble for many a
yard around had been beaten down by
the feet of men and hoofs Of horses, 50
great was the throDg coming and going.
A "basket meeting" was appointed
by the Methodist circuit-rider to be
held at the spring on a certain Sun
day. 1t is estimated that 700 persons
were present. The preacher told of
his wife's wonderful cure. In conse-
quence of a kick from a COW one Of her
legs had been in painful condition for
four weeks. Within fifteen minutes
after the first application Of this water
she began toexperience relief from pain,
and after twelve or fifteen hours treat.
ment 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 sometimes thirty or
forty miles in wagon and waiting
several days for chance to fill their
barrels. On Sundays from 800 to 400
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 fire.
quently obliged to take in the weary
sufferers seeking these healing waters.
The average number of persons Wis.,
itiDg the spring daily until the bad
weather of the winter began is esti-
mated at 200. During the winter the
water has been hauled at considerable
expense to various places, where ready
sale is found for it at SIS a case. In
fact, the demand has been greater than
the supply, the distance from railroad
making trip considerable Of an under
taking.
Only partial analysis of the water
has as yet been made. A New Orleans
chemist says its specific gravity is l,00l,
and that it is largely charged with car
bonic acid. 1t contains iron, the sui
pilates, chlorides, and carbonates of |
calcium and magnesia.
The country surrounding the spring
is extremely rough, but not without the
element which has made
all Western North Carolina famous
New river runs within few hundred |
yards Of the place, and the roar Of its
waterfall adds to the weirdness of the
scene.