Cabinet card photograph depicting a large group of men and boys gathered around a wooden drilling structure as water erupts from the ground. The image captures the moment a strong flow of water bursts upward, forming a mound of froth and spray at the center of the frame.

The crowd stands closely packed around the rig, many wearing work clothes, suspenders, and hats typical of late nineteenth century laborers and townspeople. A ladder leaning against the drilling frame and the presence of tools and equipment indicate the scene likely documents the completion of a well or drilling operation.

A handwritten caption along the edge reads “Well drilled, Belle Plaine, Iowa.” Photographs documenting the striking of water were often made as commemorative images of important local infrastructure projects and community events.