Jasper County Democrat, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1902 — HEALTH GIVING WATERS OF FRENCH LICK---INDIANA’S GREAT HEALTH RESORT [ARTICLE]

HEALTH GIVING WATERS OF FRENCH LICK---INDIANA’S GREAT HEALTH RESORT

French Lick, according to well-proven traditions, was settled by the French twelve years after the settlement of Vincennes. This makes French Lick Spring* the second oldest white settlement In Indiana. The French were not attracted to the locality by the same fertile lands which had attracted them to the Wabash valley at Vincennes. For the whole country surrounding French Lick Springs Is a series of rocky, broken hills, whers only ths narrow bottom lands of the creek can be cultivated. But the waters of the springs had been known to Europeans through the Indian traditions long before the advancement of permanent settlements. It was due to the medicinal qualities of the waters and also to their saline Character that the French traders as far back as 172? established a trading post at the springs and the government at Vincennes at great expense constructed a plank wagon road to the then practically Inaccessible region. Like ths hot springs of Arkansas. whose Indian traditions as a fountain of youth had reached ths early Spanish explorers on the Florida coast, the fame of the French Lick Springs waters had spread among all tribes of Indians long before the discovery of America, and Ponce de Leon was not the only fool lured to the unknown interior of ths continent In search of another fountain of youth. The imperfect understanding of the native language by the first explorers doubtless led them to believe In actual waters which would restore old and diseased bodies to their youthful state. The Indian language Is to a certain extent

allegorical, and when the Indians of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and those settled on the great lakes Informed the early adventurers from Europe that way In the Interior of the continent there were two places where the waters made one feel young again they were not far off from the truth, for since the settlement of the Mississippi and Ohio valleys the hot springs of Arkansas and the French Lick Springs of Indiana have been extensively patronized by people from all parts of the w6rld for the purposes cf renewing their life leases. At French Lick hundreds of people make an annual pilgrimage regularly, and many of them have not missed the yearly visit for thirty or forty years. There Is no doubt that the waters mentioned In the Journals of such early explorers as LaSalle. Champlain and Marquette referred to French Uck Springs and the Arkansas Hot Springs. These springs were not visited by these famous explorers, but their journals contain numerous references to traditions which prevailed among all tribes visited that In one region beyond a great river were hot springs which were sought by Indians from near and far for certain afflictions, and that In other regions abounding In caves and rivers which disappeared in the rocks were springs which attracted to them every spring the Indians of the north, who were cured of diseases due to purely animal diet (presumably stomach trouble). In the Islands of southeastern Alaska, where the Indians live all winter on venison and smoked salmon, they are attacked every spring with certain derangements of the stomach, which they cure or avoid by going to #ulpho-saline springs, one on Prince of Wales Island and the other south of Wrangel. Boon ss the winter Is over thousands of Indians are encamped about the springs. The government analyses of these waters show them to be almost equal to the French Lick Springs. From the same French explorers we have the traditions that the springs of the lost river and cave country were frequented In the fall of the year by the tribes of the swamp county of the South, presumably for malaria. It la a well-known fact that the early French settlers of Vincennes and other settlements on the then malaria breeding Wabash bottom lands resorted to French Lick Springs as a preventive of malaria. These visits were usually made In August and September, and were occasions for both 1 health and recreation. Game being plentiful In the vicinity, hunting deer and curing of venison for home consumption made the springs a great health and pleasure resort even when the visitors had to provide for their own accommodation. Natural mineral springs, except those of volcanic origin, hot springs, are not of recent creation, geologically speaking. There are no mineral springs now In existence which were not In existence at the time of the discovery of the American continent. It Is reasonable to assume that there was not a spring with the least health restoring qualities that was not known to the Indians. Some were known only to local tribes, others were known to all tribes of the continent either by actual visit of distant tribes or through traditions. The Indians have all passed away practically, but the reputation of the vartoue mineral springs of the country has not been changed relatively speaking by the whites. No spring that did hot have an Indian lnter-trlbal reputation has today a national reputation. These mineral springs that were thaa known only to the local tribe are still known locally only. But this applies also to other countries. All the famous waters of Europe of today are those only whose fame has been handed down successively to the present races from the primitive races. The waters which were famous to the Indians could be countM on the fingers bt one hand. They were the Saratogas, white sulphur, hot springs of Arkansas and French Lick Springs. These are still the Most famous springs in the United State*. Natural springs are caused by volcanic disturbances, by fracturing of the rocks, the exposure of sections of stratified rocks through the erosive action of the elements, and through other minor causes. The mineral Ingredients are derived

from the rocks through which the water percolates. The character of the rock determines the character of mineral waters, also the purity. Uniformity in temperature and volume of water issuing from a spring Indicate a deep source of the water. These uniformities of the French Lick Springs indicate a fracture or Assure of the underlying stratified rocks to great depth, perhaps to the archaean formation. As such fissures are caused by movements of the crust of the earth, this fracture was doubtless caused by the uplifting of what Is known as the Cincinnati dome, and this occurred many million years ago. Pluto has been discharging sulpho-sa-line waters at the rate of a gallon per minute, and In a million years It Is evident that the valley below for miles must be saturated with mineralized waters to the depth of 100 feet or more. It Is then not remarkable that mineral springs can be made anywhere below French Lick for a rnlle or two "Just as good as Pluto” by digging down to bedrock or by boring to the second stratum of rocks. Throughout that region there aro also minor fissures. These have filled up with the seepage of Pluto waters. One of the wonders of Indiana Is Lost river. The region through which this river runs Is the most rugged In the state, with picturesque h'.Us, knobs and broken ridges, with deep and narrow valleys. The whole country through the western parts of Orange and Crawfoid counties is an almost unbroken chain of forestclad hills and ridges. All species of trees and shrubs growing on American soil can be found, and it Is a natural game preserve. The early Indians used to hunt great game along the river, and in the caves and caverns are still found evidences of a race of people that lived before even the Indians—the mound builders. They were no doubt attracted to the waters of French Lick, and It Is evident that these waters have been the health resorts of all races of people that have Inhabited this continent. But how long the springs have been In existence no one knows. They were known in Europe almost a century before Indiana was carved out of the Northwest territory. In this locality there Is still evidence that the mound builders made the springs a resort. Indians, according to tradition, had

been coming here for generations before the French traders established a post. Two generations of Vincennes settlers had been regular visitors at French Lick springs at the time of the declaration of Independence, and many of their descendants, now In the fifth generation, still come here. The springs were shown on the charts of the French government, published half a century before the country was acquired by the United States. At the time of the acquisition the springs were so well known that Jefferson wrote about them and congress made a reservation of the tract of land containing them. When the United States acquired the country a saline reservation was made, of the tract of land containing French Lick. During the war of 1812 the government manufactured salt at the Lick. Many old visitors still remember the evaporated tracts which remained on the ground until 1340. A few remember the old French fort and the apple trees which the traders had planted. In 1330 coi.gress ordered the sftle of this saline reservation, and Dr. William A. Bowles, who as a member of the legislature had procured the passage of a Joint resolution to congress requesting the sale of the reservation, purchased the tract cf what now constitutes French Lick and West Baden. The latter part he lost on execution sale years later. The purchaser later developed the West Baden springs. Dr. Bowles Greeted a tavern and entertained guests frorii all over the country. He leased the hotel to various parties. The hotel was a large, plain frame building, standing at the foot of the hill, on which had been erected the old French fort many years before. It could only be reached by stage from Orleans, Mitchell or Shoals, they being the nearest railroad stations. Dr. Bowles resumed the management of the place, and In 1864 he rented It to Dr. Samuel Ryan for fifteen years, and under Dr. Ryan's management a new Impulse was given to the business and much Improvement was made. At the end of that time It was managed by the Bowles estate for one year, and In 1880 Dr. Ryan, J. M. Andrews and H. E. Wells purchased the property. Dr. Ryan afterward selling his Interests to the other two. The property is now owned by Thomas Taggart, W. H. McDoel, James' Murdock. Crawford Fairbanks. Henry Hickman, George L. Dickinson of Bedford and one or two others. One of the traditions of this place is the story of the lost treasure, & legend that has been handed down from generation to generation, and there are old men there now who repeat what their gra-id-fathers told them about It. As has been stated, the Indians frequently attacked the French trading post, and once or twice the traders were driven away. In 1750—that Is the year of the legend—the post was attacked and the traders started as fast as possible toward Vincennes, carrying with them their treasure—a large barrel, filled with gold and silver coins—on a cart, to which they had hitched all the horses at their command. Closely pressed In their retreat, they were at last compelled to abandon the cart, but they took time to hide the money In the caverns that abound In the hills. The traders were overtaken by the Indians before they reached Vincennes and all were killed. The hidden treasure has never been found, though In the early days, under the American government, men spent their lives hunting for it. There are many old characters In the hills who come to French Lick and try to enlist some visitor In a search for ths hidden money. In the early days, as now, French Lick was ths resort of some of the most noted men oOlndiana and other states. An old register bears oh Its pages the names of Governor Willard, Governor Whitcomb, Governor Morton, Governor Hendricks, |>r Williams, Governor Hovey, 5 resham. Senators Voorheea, McTurpie and many others. Carter n, ths elder mayor of Chicago, requent visitor here, and since his arter Harrison, the younger, also « Chicago, has visited here. Is not a man of prominence In for the last seventy-five years some time, has been a guest at Lick springs. Recently Richard and a large party of New York ny hall leaders sought the benehe French Lick springs. Senator with but one exception, has been ar visitor tor forty years.