The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-01-05
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A Blowing Well.

Something of curiosity in the shape
of Il ''blowing well was discovered
on Conception street, between Dauphih
and Cont streets, says the Mobile Req
aSter. A year or so ago MT. j. L.
Palmes, the plumber, put down drive
well on the sidewalk across the Street
from Thorp's stable. When the well
was first put down it gave out to the
pump good stream of clear water
1t afterward fell into disuse, and yes-
terday Mr.. Palmes went to take up the
pipe The drawing frame was rugged
up and the first section OF the pipe was
taken up. The well had been over
forty feet deep, but when all but about
tN Nenty-siX feet of the pipe had been
taken out Kissing sound was heard,
followed by a noise from the pipe
which was like the sound made by boil
ing water.
An examination was at once made,
but explanation of the noise was not
easily obtained. From the end of the
pipe was pouring a strong current of
air. A negro man who was helping
to raise the pipe, placed his hand over
the mouth of the pipe to ascertain the
pressure. When he removed his hand
there was a sudden blast, as of escape
OF steam from pop valve, and a col
umn of water shot out of the pipe to
the height of ten feet.
This queer behavior of the contents
of drive well rather disconnected the
colored man.
a little later, however, this expert
ment was repeated, and the water shot
out of the pipe with the same violence
rs before.
Last night, Mr.. Palmes escorted
reporter to the spot where the curious
well is located. There the reporter
found an inch pipe projecting about a
foot above the sidewalk on the east
side of Conception street. The cap on
the pipe was rather hard to move, but
Mr.. Palmes, with the assistance of
Maj. W. ii. Sheffield, succeeded in get
ting it off. As the tap was unscrewed
the sound of escaping gas was heard,
and when the tap was removed q cur
rent of the gas was felt rushing from
the pipe. The gas made no noise in
its exit from the mouth of the pipe, but
there was noise heard proceeding
from the interior of the pipe as if there
was water down there in state of
ebullition. Efforts made to induce the
water to spout were unsuccessful, but
by reducing the diameter of the pipe
the gas was made to hiss like the es-
cape of steam.
The gas gas it seems to be, al
though not possessing infiammable
MISUNDERSTANDING fiat like the taste
of High rock water. 1t is evidently a
diluted carbonic acid gas. Lighted
matches were applied to it, with no
further result than to blow the matches
out.
1t is useless to try to explain the
presence of this body of compressed
gas. ltseems strong enough to boil wat
er and yet not quite strong enough to
make "a flowing well. The gas was al
lowed to escape for several hours yes
terday. without there being any notice
able diminution in the pressure. If
for no other reason than the mystery
connected with it, the we'll is a great
curiosity. 1t is very probable that
when the water is pumped out of the
well the how of gas will be very much
increased. The water at present in
the pipe acts as a heavy buffer upon
the gas. Only small quantity of the
gas III the subterranean cavity is now
escaping.