Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-01-25

ever. For the last 80 years or more the
house was occupied by family named
Connolly. Some three or four years ago
the head Of the family died, aged 101
years. though II Is generally believed he
was 103 years old, and the wife and son
still hold the fort, but will be compelled
to leave next Spring.
But 1t 10 Of the grand springs at Mrs.
Wier's home that we must not fail TO say
word. The place is full of springs, one
In front OF he hoase, one 10 the rear, one
to the west end, and another way up on
the hill. From the latter volumes Of
fresh water boil up out Of the ground
and is carried out to the pike where It
pours from a wooden trough into half
barrel tub from which weary over heated
dumb beasts slake their thirst on hot, 8 ul-
try days.
But there 10 history connected with
the spring in front that must not be
overlooked. Ponce de Leon never sought
more earnestly for the mythical springs
OF Florida that were TO clothe him with
immortal youth than the sick and ema-
eiatsd seek this spring and quaf its
liinpid waters In the hope that health
would return. Tradition has II that an
Indian trail went past this spring. The
bucks.ot one of the tribes took sick, grew
emaciated and thin, and became the
laughing stock Of all the other braves.
They sent for the medicine man, who
told them that II they would drink Of the
waters of this spring after the moon
shtne upon it In q certain manner they
would get well. The directions were fol.
lowed, and the sick bucks got well and
stout.
This tradition is what brought a repre-.
sentative of the Philadelphia Record up
on TIE grounds about year ago to hunt
ur the history OF this wonderful spring
The burlesque article in that paper Will
be remembered by mauy, but though q
burlesaue, 1t had wonderful effect, The
article was copied into the California
Call and other papers, and then COM
menced a correspondence from numbers
Of invalids everywhere to know more
about the healing qualities Of this spring
A man named Frank Sullivan from
San FrancIsco wrote that he vas nigh
unto death, he bad no money but II only
Mrs. Wier would send him some of that
life-giving water be would pay her when
he got well. Mrs. W,er would take no
n oney but she sent him several bottles OF
the water and the man got well, and is
now IN Texas stout and hearty. 1t may
nave Deeu tho water OF IL may nave Deen
faith that cured him, but he got well. A
lady Of indianapolis wanted to come and
board with Mrs. Wier that she might get
near the healing stream. To q / who
wrote Mrs. Wier told them that they
were welcome TO all the water they
wanted If they would come and get It.
She says 1t is no unusual thing to zee
crowds of people from Philadelphia COM
ing to d'ink from the spring, and
people from Wilmington, under the be-
llei that tue water has some unknown
heal ng quality, alIght from their carriages
aud quaff the iCe-cold water. We tried
the water yesterday. AT first II tasted
like other spring water, but after time
bitter, brackish taste followed, and
therein, it is sGid, Is it's healing quality.
A spring on Mr.. Tyres place, adjoining,
is said TO be still more marked ln It's
medicinal virtues. That these springs
are different from the common run OF
springs Is attested by the different taste
ol the water few moments after drink
ing, and who can tell but what Mrs.
Wier's country home may yet be a great
resort for suffering humanity afflicted
with diseased