514 Pomeroy^ Ohio. [November, 



raised a framework of timbers, of singular structure, and a Y/beel 

 horizontally inclined, withotber machinery attached. Single-banded 

 he began to dig in the soil and then to drill in the rock. In due time 

 a pair of sober horses were mounted upon the wheel and began an 

 endless journey, and day after day the drill was moved, and gradually 

 dropped deeper and deeper in the sand rock. Meanwhile the curios- 

 ity of the citizens, especially of the boys, became greatly excited. — 

 They wondered and wondered at these operations of the old man, 

 and finally pronounced him crazy. ' Old Blunden,' and his two 

 horses lean and spavined as they were, became a by-word among the 

 wicked boys, and a subject of ridicule and persecution. Yet he toiled 

 patiently on, amid their taunts and jeers, and at last against w^hat is 

 worse, the rude pinchings of poverty. After all his own means had 

 been thus exhausted, he applied to a neighbor for help, declaring his 

 confident hope of soon reaching a fountain of salt water! The 

 neighbor assented, and the fresh-fed horses continued their circuit, 

 until a depth of 600 feet had been reached by the drill. 



It was late in Autumn and late in the evening. A grease lamp was 

 burning close by the drill which the jaded horses were yet slowly 

 moving, under the eye of the old man. Suddenly an explosive 

 tempest of gas is heard in the well. Then a blast of wind, so violent 

 as to raise the drills and poles more than half way out,' and scatter 

 widely the boards of the roof of the shed. Simultaneously the gas 

 caught fire from the lamps, and a brilliant flame roared and towered 

 aloft to the hight of a dozen yards. The old man, confounded with 

 superstitious fear, rushed forth into the street wailing aloud ' Lord 

 have mercy, have mercy ! ' thinking of the fires of the nether world. 

 All night it continued to burn, and part of the following day. But 

 this strange phenomenon effectually discouraged Mr. Blunden, and 

 he never again dared to resume his thankless toil. A year passed 

 on, and the good old man (for he was sincerely pious,) closed his 

 eyes on all earthly things. After his death, some citizens re-opened 

 ' Blunden's well," and descending with the drill 4*75 feet further, they 

 struck a vein of foaming brine, which, for a long time continued to 

 overflow in a copious stream, until other Avells had been sunk in the 

 vicinit}'. At present the water rises within 15 to 30 feet of the sur- 

 face, in all these wells, and steam-power accomplishes the remainder 

 of the hight. Nineteen of these Artesian wells are already com- 

 pleted and two more were in progress during our visit ; and it is re- 

 marked as a most singular fact, that of all these wells, the original one, 



