The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-09-23
IT MAKGs Folks DANCE.
Strange Effects of Water Found in
Texas.
From the Philadelphia Times.

From the Philadelphia Times.
WHARTON, Sept 1 IA discovery of i'm
mense scientific interest has recently been
made near this placo-a discovery which it
is thought will add hitherto unknown ele-
ment to the sixty-five already familiar to
the chemist. Chudleigh Mason, promi-
nent cotton planter living about five miles
from town, while boring an artesian well
on his place, struck water few days ago
at depth of 215 feet. A powerful stream
was thrown up with a loud report and
slight trembling of the surrounding earth.
Mr.. Mason, in order to test the quality of
the water, drank glass of it, and the ne
gro workmen also crowded about and drank
freely of the water, which was found to be
very cold AID good, though possessed of a
slight unfamiliar flavor, which was, how
ever, not disagreeable.
Within quarter Of an hour. or even less,
after drinking the water, Mr. Mason began
to feel strange twitchings in the muscles of
the face, and his workmen also commenced
to complain of the same sensation. This
twltching soon extended to the arms and
legs, creaaing all the while in violence,
until at last the negroes cast themselves
down, crying that they had been conjured
and rolled about on the ground shrieklng
dlOuu stLQ VIII bue HIBISCUS con-
tortions of the face and body. As the jerk
ing and Jumping Of the muscles of the
limbs grew more and more violent all hands
sprang up and joined in wild, uncontrol-
liable dance, or rather hopping up and
down like so many disturbed frogs. Mr.,
Mason, describing his sensations, says that
he was conscious of feeling of great ex-
hilaration and an increased acuteness of
every sense, The sight of the leaping
hO fpN frio To 81
that they were suffering only from fear,
and their cries and shrieks provoked him
to bursts OF laughter that sounded almost
maniacaL Mrs. Mason, seeing her hus-
bands extraordinary behavior, became
al rmed, and running out, attempted to
hold him down, but, though he endeavored
to assist her by clinging with all his strength
to post, it was found impossible to re-
strain him.
VIGOROUS AND INVOLUNTARY DANCING.
This dance was kept up until sheer ex-
haustion cauied the involuntary partici-
pants to fall PROSTATE TO the earth, where
they lay i'd kicked for some minutes, after
which thew fell into deep sleep. This sleep
was the heavy, dreamless slumber that fol-
lows intoxication and lasted for several
hours, but left them with clear heads and
no evil consequences beyond O soreness of
the back and limbs and pain in the face
resembling neuralgia, which, however, soon
passed away.
Mr.. Mason sent a jug of the water to
Houston to have it analysed, but the cnem-
lists of that city profess themselves at a
complete loss to account for one of the ele-
ments entering into the composition of the
water, and give as their unanimous opinion
that it may be added to the number of
known elements as a Goth. This element
imparts to the water beautiful bright blue
tinge, of metallic luster. and gives it
taste more like that of fresh cider
heated this element passes off in a colorless
gas of a most agreeable oder resem-
bling the perfume Of tub roses. only more
penetrating and pungent, and SO powerful
that a gallon OF the water simmering over a
slow fire will render a whole house fragrant
for hours. Taken from the well and left TO
stand, however, the water loses it's beautiful
blue color and thickens to the consistency of
turpentine, with a FAINT greenIsh tinge, and
will, when drunk or inhaled produce violelt
nausea and vomiting, acc mp MED by a
swimming in the head and q failure of the
sight and hearing, w1ich lasts for hours.
NEGROES REGARD IT WITH AWE.
The negroes about have christened the
well devils watern ID regard it with
superstitious awe and with one excep ion.
cannot b. prevailed upon to even approach
it. InlS exception Is an old darkey famll-
iarly known as Uncle Dence, who is actually
becoming a confirmed drunkard on the
wa err, on which ne INDUCES in DALI
spree in spite of all attempts to keep him
from drinking it, He claims That he feels
Younger and spryer alto. each dance. Many
OF tue crowds that come daily from all
parts of the country, and even from ada
cent ones, TO visit this well have the curl
osity to taste the water to judge of its sin
gular qualities for themselves, aud it is
curious to o serve the different ways in
which it affects individuals; for, while the
twitching of the nerves and muscles and
the uncomfortable propensity to dance are
common to all, the affect on the minds of
different persons is Of endless variety.
STARTLING EFFECTS ON DRINKERS.
One man will shout for joy, betraying
all the abandonment of child; another
will weep with a gentle, melancholy. A
third will sing hymns and perhaps a fourth
at the same time will be praying aloud
Your correspondent found himself reciting
whole pages of blank verse from the differ
emit poets that he had been unconscious of
having retained in his memory The effect
on the spirits is delightful ia the extreme, a
feeling OF exhilaration and lightness per-
vading the whole system, and che senses
take on an ac1teness and refinement that is
most remarkable.
BY the advice Of Prof Deichstag, one Of
the ablest chemists OF Houston, hermet-
ically sealed jar of this wonde full liquor
has been forW trded to the Society Il Chem
lists and Pharmacists IN New York for their
careful anaiyzatIol, which process, when
completed, he is confident viii confirm his
opinion OF the value and uniqueness Of the
discovery.