Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-15
ACALIPORNIA WONDER
Eathnway's Well of Scaiding Water
Wnica Feeds q fish Pond,

l. i. Flower. who resides at 1892 q
street, most estimable gentleman,
states that some months since, being an
invalid, lie went to Sierra Valley for the
benefit of his health. Near the north
end Of this valley, which lies both IN
Plumas and Sierra counties, resides q
farmer by the name of Hathaway. In
July last MIR. Hathaway concluded to
sink an Artesian we'll and did 90. 1t a
depth of a little over 300 feet he struck a
strong vein OF water ana the well imme-
diately began to flow at the rate OF 200
gallons per minute. Strange as it may
appear the water is so hot that it bolls
an egg in seven minutes, scalds the
hands, and the steam that rises from
this seethIng, boiling spring Is obsery-
able for many miles
ltmay be supposed that Mr.. Hatha-
way was disappointed in this boiling
well, but, on the contrary, it proves to
be n regular bonanza. The boiling
water bias been piped through his house
and is used for heating purposes; 1t IS
run into the kitchen and used in cook
ing. and saves an immense amount of
fuel. His barns, apple houses, cattle
sheds, etc. will all he kept warm
throughout the winter and his domestic
animals will escape the rigors of the
cold spell, which is of unusual severity
in that altitude. The water when 1t
cools is soft, pleasant to the taste, and
very healthful.
The water from the well makes quite
a little stream, flows half a mile over the
sandy desert cools while flowing, forms
a little lake several feet IN depth, and
sinks in the sand. Some weeks ago the
children told Mr.. Hathaway that the lit
tie lake was teeming with fish. The
father laughed at the little folks talking
such nonsense. The children, however,
insisted upon the truthfulness OF the
statement, andproved their assertion 10y
going to the lake aud taking from Its
waters a dozen or more little fish, ex-
hibiting them in childish triumph to
their astonished parents. Mr.. Flower
was boarding with the Hathaway family,
and he, with others. went out to investi-
gate. They found the waters OF the lit
tie lake. as the children stated, full Of
little fish, varying from one to three
inches. resembling the mountain trout
These fish have grown since, and from
appearances will be, when fully grown,
as large as the common brook trout
"Where did they come from ," was the
question immediately asked, and which no
one so far has been able to answer. lisa
well-known fact that no trout eggs have
been planted there, a. none are obtaina-
bic short OF one hundred miles, and no
one had even thought of putting fish in
that small body of water. Some said
they came up through the well, but this
would seem impossible, ~ the water is
so hot that some of the little fish that
were put in it where it boiled
ont OF the ground were cooked
IN five minutes, and fsh-eggs would
not last even that long. Mr..
Hathaway's daughter says that a cloud
burst over the valley few months ago
and the country was deluged with water,
and she holds that the fish were thus
introduced. This idea, however, is
secuted, for another similar well, stream,
and pond, only three hundred yards
distant has no fish in it. Another
theory is that many years ago the
Feather river overfowed this section and
the fish eggs, like foul seeds, have been
lying dormant (0 ever since until
brought to life by water. None of these
theories seem to be correct, at least all
are doubted, and the mystery still re-
mains. "Where did they come from 2"
1t is another evidence OF the fruitfulness
of California soil and shows what may
be expect in this glorious climate.