The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-03-06
A VISIT TO THE SHAFT
Where SO Many Afflicted Are
Cured.

AihENN5 tfdsi -hdiCl g. !tieif4s W no
in Georgia, has not heard Of tho wonderful
well Of electricity that has been re emily De.
voloped ard that is disturbing the doctors and
pulling the scientists Of the country? You
have heard Of it, Of course, but do yoa know
what il il, whore it is, aud what it looks like
In order to solve these questions for himself
and for the people, CoSsTI1UToE cores
pondent left Athens few days ago, equipped
with a a Iound trip ticket to Hilman. / con-
ftss that had listened to the current stories
of the wonders Of the well with broad incredu-
lily. Aud EoY Il at the Justice or injus-
tice Of that incredulty was to be settled, my
doubt increased. Soon firing OF the familiar
scenes that seemed to hurry past the win lows
in panoramic race, my ticket attracted MY
attention and my skcpticism was revived.
Why, thought T, calf it Hillman? Is it not
well, shaft, an excavation in the earth? |
learned afterwards that the name only applies
to the railroad station, and that it is given in
| homer OF Mr.. Iiillman, the orr gina! owner Of
the land on which the shaft was discovered.
Ny speculations were disturbed ty the
change Of cars at Barnett, and ! soon found
myself on board the Washington branch
which connects Washington with the main
! line. Captain w. II. Anthony, one Of the
most aftabe and efficient officers that ever
pulled bell cord, qas charge of the train be-
tween these points, and makes six trips daily.
He rs an enthusiast on the sub ject Of the cleo
trio shaft, and from him heard some remark
able stories Of its POWER and efficacy, He, bet
tor than anyone else, can notice the effect Of
the electricity on patients, as he carries them
all to and from the station. The captain says
he always feels like the keeper OF hospital on
the down trip, when he is surrounded by pa
ticnts on pillows. cots and stretchers, all en-
route to the well and all respondent. On the
turn trip he lifens himself to the leader of
Fourth of July picnic, with his passengers
cliattering and laughing, CONCENTRATING one
another, and trying the actively of their newly
| restored muscles.
At liiIman conveyance meets al trains
to carry visitors TO the hotel. The distance is
only few hundred yards through a beautiful
grove, and those who can DO SO generally pre-
fer to walk. The first impression Of the place
is pleasant one. Rising gently from all sides,
and coYorcd with thick growth Of Georgia
pines is the electric mound, and directly on
its summit stands the hotel. From here can
be obtained a view that cannot be eXcelled,
! even by Tullulah for natural beauty and gran
! deur. The surrounding country is undulatng
| and broken, but just at the base OF the mound
! there lies an e&panSc OF perhaps hundred
| acres, as level AS II billiard table. Here it is
| proposed to erect n mile race track and accom-
| inodations for a large number OF horses. The
| track can be made with hundred dollars
worth of grading, and will be one of the finest
| i'll the south. This will be used for training
! purposes by the largest stables of the north
and west, and here will be trained for the
spring and fall races some of the finest horses
tho turf. On the opposite side of tho
mound pavilion is bong erected. Near it
will be built another large hotel, and these
owo buildings Will be used by tourists and
| pleasure seekers, The present hotel stands
some distance OFF, where the invalid guests
cannot be disturbed by the noise OF the dance
nor the .gaity which is insepsrable from the
| summer hotel
Major b. +. Brown, formerly of the Plant.
ers, of Augusta, has charge OF the hotel and is
! general manager Of the company. The build
ing, as 1t nov stands, contains forty-eight
rooms, all OF which are large, ccmmodious and
| well furnished. Tho menu is particularly
elaborate and Is we'll served. ] was enjoying
an excellent supper with Colonel James A.
Benson, president of the company when the
conversation turned on the merits of the shaft.
The colonel is infatuated with the place, and
| believes III it only as he does in Michael Da-
! witt was helping myself to another roll
! for that electtited water gives one a wondious
| appetite-when the colonel began relating the
! divers cures effected at the shaft. One i'll
| stance after another was given where the cleo
| tricity had accomplished wonders, and [ noted
! every instance. wen, sir, said the colonel,
| and his blue eyes twinklcd rs he pulled out his
| watch, "Rotice its action, please" ! took the
wa CHI, heard its metallic palpitation followed
| the swift wheels in thoir revolutions, and com
pared it with my Waterbury and found them
both accurately together; everything about it
| was in perfect order Now" continued the
colonel, 81 brought that clock from the old
| country with me, 1t once laid for nine days in
| the bottom of Lake Killarney was afterwards
| crushed in n railway accident and has been
| baked in two stores that were burned to the
ground OF course it stopped: l took it to
| some of the best jewelers. III the state; all said
| it WAS ruined beyond repair, and could never
| work again. Last week came mp TO Hillman
! and happened to have that watch in my
/ bat IL int. ..pI.F 81
minutes and experienced slight shock. Al
! ter it was over | thought | heard q peculiar
| ckng in my vest. / pulled ont this watch
and, would you believe it, sir, the old thing
! was going like a Windmill. and ii hasn't va
/ ricd n second since!' The waiter gaSpcd, the
| butter turned pale, and dropped my roll and
| looked nj the colonel. For the first time in
my life doubted him. am frank to say it
now / doubted him. Since then have seen
the shaft, have felt its mysterious influence
and have been converted. | am ready to
believe even the watch story, and | begin
| to think that | wrongcd the colonel in
| doubling him, and if | ever see him again
| mean TO tell him so. But, seriously, was con-
| vCrtcd by my visit TO the shaft, Before max
! ing the descent /. like everybody else who has
| heard OF the place didn't know whether it was
| hog-wallow or palace, u house or hole in
| the ground. The we'll proper is anything but
| well. At tine foot of the mound. few rods
! from the hotel and reached by winding and
! picturesque iootpath, stands n we'll constructed
/ building The roof at the rear slantS until it
| lunches the hillside. while the front of the
! house rises perhaps thirty feet. The visitor
| enters he'door from the level of tine ground.
and finds himself in a comfortable room about
forty ioct square. Here are toilet rooms, set
| tees, and the visitors register. Stairways lead
! down into a kind Of basement, easy of access.
! There are three of these stairways. Descend
| ing one, we find ourselves in u peculiar looking
| chamber, the size OF an ordinary bedroom, or
somewhat smaller. This is one of the electric
gh laQr. gifl al of
| solid rock IN which the shaft was sunk, and on
| one side the original surface of the electric
| boulder IS seVG,
! The floor is natural earth, and settees are
| placed around the chamber. Here we find pa
| tents In various degrees of couyalescence
! reading, conversinS or gazing in rapt contem-
! plation upon the wonderful rock. \ large
/ Skylight above lets in Il hood OF light and the
( chamber is as comfortable and well ventilated
/ rs a parlor. y force pump stands in one cor
| ner and slight effort brings up 4 stream Of
| crystal water, which l understand possesses
! great medicinal properties. lplaced my hand