Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-07
QUEER THINGS FROM A WELL.
The Unknown Creatures said to
Have been Brought Up.

Have been Brought Up.
washington Letter TO the Boston
Transcript
Geological experts at the Smithsonian
Institution are busy studying and invent
ing names for the strange animals cast
up by the wonderful Artesian we'll at
San Marcos, Tex. Some of them have
been forwarded To Washington in bottles
and iars. and much excitement has been
occasioned among government scientists.
They declare that this Is the most re-
markable discovery of subterranean life
ever made.
The government contemplates the es-
adjustment of a FISH hatchery at San
Marcos for the propagation Of black bass.
catfish, and other pond fishes. Boring
was begun for the purpose Of obtaining
water, which was struck i'm plenty at
depth Of 1SS feet. In fact, when that
point was reached the drill suddenly
dropped four feet, having evidently reach
ed a big cavity and out poured vi
gorous stream. The stream Is still flow
ing. at a steady rate OF LOO gallons
minute and IL bids fair to keep on indie
hnitely.
The cavity struck by the drill was I'M
doubtedly the tunnel OF subterranean
river. That the water of this under
ground stream was full of life is salts
factorily proved by The great number OF
animals Of various kinds which are
thrown out at the surface through the
Arteslan pipe. But it is not their guam
tity that excites establishment nearly 50
much as their strange character. All OF
them appear TO belong to species hitherto
wholly unknown to science. There are
shrimps Of a queer kind. Of which the
well yields about half a pint day on
an average; sowbugs OF a new genus not
related 10 any hitherto found I'm fresh
water: and. most remarkable OF ALL sala-
manders six inches long, with surprising
ly developed legs.
Where does the river come from? That
seems TO be the first question. II is a mys-
terry up to date. In that region the phe-
nomeaon Of the lost" river Is frequent
and familiar Such a stream runs merrily
for a distance, and then sinks into the
ground perhaps II may reappear further
on and disappear again. The supposition
Is that the subterr7 mean river in question
l. a continuation Of some river that has
got itself lost far TO the north. The geo
logical strata IN the neighborhOod Of san
Marcos dip southwark toward the Gulf Of
Mexico. and IL is believed that there exists
at a higher level a hidden cavern OF con-
siderable size. through which the stream
runs This undiscovered cavern, with no
visible opening from above ground, fur
nishes the necessary supply OF air 20 the
creatures that live In the water that flows
through the tunnel.
From any point Of view the discovery is
quite extraordinary. All OF the species Of
animals thus far brought TO the surface
are blind and coorless, resembling in
fhoca reer.ncfg tho qrlIcta geour md hafra-
chia1s OF the great caves. where there Is
everlasting night. Dr. Stejneger. who
knows as much about salamanders as any
man living, has been making a special
study of the San Marcos specimens. He
finds that they have no near relatives
with which science IS acquainted in this
country or abroad. Their nearest of kin
are the so-called mud-puppes OF our
streams and certain Datrachlans OF Aus
trian caverns. They have remarkably
Ions less. and their noses are shovel
shaped.
1t is likely that DR.. Stejneger will put
these salamanders on record as represent
ing not merely a new genus, but a new
family I'm the order Of batrachians. one
OF the females laid five eggs after IL was
caught. The scientists are waiting with
interest for some fishes 10 come out OF the
wonderful well. They are sure 10 turn up
sooner or later, IL is believed, because they
are not at all likely 10 be absent where
there is so much food for them in the
shape Of shrimps etc. Perhaps they also
Will prove TO be OF an entirely new species
1t should be remembered that. the source
OF supply being Inaccessible. the only ami
mails thus far secured are those which
have been brought 10 the surface OF the
ground by the merest chance. There
would surely be good fishing I'm that
subterranean river, If one could get at II
with hook and line.
Most numerous by far among the crea-
lures cast up from the depths have been
the shrimps They are about three quar-
ters Of an inch long, colorless. and blind.
In and attached 10 their bodies are found
immense numbers Of parasitic protocol.
which are nearly related TO the micro
organisms that breed malaria in the hui
man system. This fact has an interesting
bearing upon the theory hitherto accepted
that Artesian water is necessarily free
from malaria microbes The snowbugs.
already referred TO, which are crusta-
ceans, have only been familiar up 10 now
as saltwater forms. They get a living
commonly by attaching themselves 20
fishes, out OF whose flesh they are able
10 take large bites by means OF their
strong jaws which are furnished with a
sort Of knife-and-fork arrangement one
small and new species OF leech turned UP
with the rest OF the animals.
The Artesian well is only a few rods
distant from the famous spring Of San
Marcos. which has an enormous outpour
Of water In fact. this spring is the
head Of the san Marcos river. Presuma-
bly, IL is fed by the same subterranean
stream. Evidence Of this Is afforded by
the fact that fluctuations in the level Of
the spring correspond to changes In the
level of the water in the well. As for
the animals I'm the underground stream
they must have been carried into II long
ago from the surface. All cave animals
are descended from open-air forms. and It
r. doubtless he same way with those OF
the subterranean river. They must have
lived for centuries in the dark to lose
so completely their normal coloratIon and
sense OF sight.