Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-02-25
TWO TALES OF A TRAVELLER.
A Remarkable Body of Salt and . Pro-
 hibition Spring.
Special Correspondence.l

n AAoAAdAhn Douy O1 S8lC AnO o t,TOs
 hibition Spring.
 Special Correspondence.l
 NEW YORK, Feb. 21.-While making . tour through southwestern Louisiana Last summer saw the most remarkable body of salt in the world. It is on the isle of Petit Anse, 125 miles due west of New Orleans. The; deposit is of pure crystal salt. It covers 150 acres to an unknown depth and has been explored 150 feet down. The surface of the bed undulates from one foot above to six feet below tide level. The earth covering the salt ranges from 10 to 23 feet in depth, one hill ris- ing 1S3 feet, showing that an after forma- tion took place. On the top of the salt beneath the earth have been found tho remains of the mastodon, mammoth sloth, toed horse, tusks and bones inter mingled with Indian relics, such as arrow and spear points, tomahawk heads, paint pots, mortar and pestle and pot tery of all kinds. The dip of the salt is eight degrees.
 There is deposit of pink sandstone quite decomposed, coal formation thir- cent carbon, the Ignite cropping out 100 feet above the sea. Over the salt come pink and yellow clay beds, the sandstone, then clay, each stratum trending towards tho north. There are also sulphur springs. The salt is a conglomerate mass of crys- affiliations, which in the mine look like dark salt, but when exposed to the light are seen to be white. By analysis the salt is found to be 99.89 per cent. pure, the remainder being made up of sulphate and chloride of calcium. The position of the salt shows it to be older than the coal and limestone which lie above it, and also than the mastodon and con- temporary animals.
 The deposit was discovered during 1862, while we'll was being excavated. It was seized first by Jefferson Davis during the war and the salt used for the Confederate forces. Admiral Farragut seized it next. The land is owned by the Louisiana Averys, who lease the bed to New York concern and receive a roy alty of from S1 ,0O0 to s5,000 per month, according to the demand and supply. It lies next to the great estate of Joseph Jefferson, the actor.
 There is some water that will not mix with whisky, however absurd this may seem. Such water is the very strongest alkali. often heard while in the south of spring that killed men, or at least gave them apoplectic or other fits who ventured to drink its water and whisky at the same time. was told that poE- ticians and men accustomed to hard drinking periodically visited some En- diana spring to recover from the effects of whisky in order to brace up for an- other year of debauch. had supposed these stories were myths until one day in Louisville I got tangible evidence of the whereabouts and positive existence of this wonderful water. The name of the spring was given as Pluto and its location in southern Indiana at an obscure place called French Lick, eighty. miles northwest of Louisville. I went up to French Lick, having nothing more interesting on hand. The spring was certainly ordinary enough in looks, but while there had ample opportunity to see it's powers tested. The day after my arrival a man came there full of buster, declaring that he was not afraid of the water. In spite of tho warnings of a local physician he got full o water. Within an hours time he was prostrated with horrible convulsions such as hope never to see again. Before sum- down he died the death of a maniac In terrible agony. In less than . week another fool thought he could mix the Pluto water with single glass of whisky and ascertain the effect in mild way without any serious consequences. He took the draft and not long after was stricken down with convulsions and fits.
 For several days three doctors worked faithfully to save his life and finally got him out of danger, but 1t was long time before he recovered his equilibrium. The peculiarity or rather anomaly Of this water is that it will absolutely euro the effects of alcoholism if the patient abstains from drink while using 1t and for twenty-four hours before beginning to take it. WILLIAM H. BAiLoU.