, 1889-03-06
TWO TALES OF A TRAVELLER.
A Remarkable Body of salt and "A Pro
hibition Spring.
Special Correspondence,l


hibition Spring.
Especial correspondence
NEW YORK, Feb. 21.-While making a
tour through southwestern Louisiana last
summer / saw the most remarkable body
of salt in the world. 1t is on the isle of
Petit Anse. 1875 miles due west of New
Orleans. The. deposit is of pure crystal
salt. 1t covers $50 acres to an unknown
depth and has been explored $50 feet
down. The surface of the bed undulates
from one foot above to six feet below tide
level. The earth covering the salt anges
from 10 to % feet in depth, one hill ris-
ing 1873 feet, showing that an after forma-
ton took place. On the top of the salt
beneath the earth have been found the
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
terry of all kinds. The dip of the salt is
eight degrees.
There is n deposit of pink sandstone
quite d~ecomposed, a coal formation thir-
teen to seventeen feet thick and 70 per
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 the
north. There are also sulphur springs.
The salt is a c~onglomerate 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 3d. SO per cent. pure,
the remainder being made up of sulphate
N chloride of calcium. The position
of h salt shows it to be older than the
coal and limestone which lie above it.
and also thar the mastodon and CON
temporary animals.
The deposit was discovered during
1862, while a well was being excavated.
1t 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
n New York concern and receive n roy
atty of from 81 900 to 81, 900 per month,
according to the demand and supply. 1t
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 a spring that killed men, or at least
gave them apoplectic or other fits who
ventured to drink its water ant whisky
at the same time. was old that poll
ticians and men accustomed to hard
drinking periodically visited some In
diana spring to from the effects
of whisky in order to brace up for an
other year of debauch. l had supposed
these stories were myths until one day
in Louisville | got tangible evidence of
the whereabouts and positive existence
of this wonderful water. The name
of h 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 enolgn in looks,
but while there had ample opportunity
to see its power tested. Thesecond day
after my arrival n man came there full
of buster, declaring that he was not
afraid of tho water. In spite of the
warnings of n local physician he got fun
of whisky and took u glass of Pluto
water. Within an hours time he was
Frustrated with horrible commissions such
as l hope never to see again. Beforesun-
down he died the death of n maniac in
terrible agony. In less than a week
another fool thought he could mix the
Pluto water with asingle glass of whisky
and ascertain the effect in a mild way
without M serious consequences. lie
took the taft II not long after was
stricken Town with commissions and fits.
For several days three doctors worked
faithfully to save his life and finally got
him out of danger. but it was II long
time before lie recovered his equilibrium.
The popularity or rather anomaly of
this water is that it will absolutely cure
the effects of alcoholism if the patient
abstains from drink while using il and
for t~wenty-four hour before beginning
to take 1t. WILLIAM II BALIoU.