Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-06-26
Creyice under the Mississippi
lUNE 25th. IS47.

Creyice under the Mississippi.
JUNE 25th. l647.
tits known by many Of our citizens
that in April last, Messrs. Finch ~
Foster, Obtained powerful engine, for
the purpose of working pumps, to
prosecute discovery of ore in a crew
ice leading to the east bank OF the
river, in town 6 range 6. The ensine
was shipped upon the Uncle TOBY )
and was delayed Cor some time by low
water on the rapids. The place OF op-
erations, is southwest of Lancaster, a.
bout Is miles. in broken region. quite
unsettled. My Informant, who left
the spot FIVE houFsago says the crevlce
which Messrs. Finch 81 Foster were
following west, gave out, within lew
rods OF the river, and seemed to end IN
large sink-hole. They believed that
It this point, in running west, 1t must
be that the crsvice pitched uader; es-
peeially as they had found crevlce
IN exactly the same line Of direction
on the west side Of the river, rising
from a pond near the river, in an an-
Gle of about 200 and extending west
ward into the bluff, forming large
opening, or more properly, cavern.
Finch said he was anxious to know
whether or not the river cut off the
crevicc: but il is not probable that
either Finch or Foster, at first, had
any idea of possible connection of
the crcvices through grand opening
under the whole bed of the river, at
that point fully three-fourths of mile
wide. They obtained their pumps
and engine, 10 work the crevlces to a
greater depth on the east side OF the
river, with every probability of find
ING an underbody; so | am informed
by Mr.. Graham who has every means
Of knowing, | believe. 1t was then,
we NAV consider,mere curiosity, which
induced them TO place their pumps and
work them in the sink-hole; since
they expressed their surprise often,
that, with the pumps, they were sink
ing the water in the pit, much below
the level of the river, with which, OF
course. they supposed it must have a
aubterranesn connection. On Monday
of last week. however, they had sunk
the water in the pit. thirty feet or
'morc-and had padded canoe along
under the roof Of the cave or tunnel,
into which the sink-hole opened, more
than one hundred feet, which was as
far as they ven,ured to explore; and
vet they had no idea Of subtcrranean
passage entirely under The river. and
were about to remove the pumps and
engine to their diggings, where the
water was again getting strong. But
it happened that day or two ago MIR.
Josiah Felt, who lives on the Iowa
side and was out in search of his horse.
came to the sink-hole on the west side
of the river, corresponding TO the one
on the east side, and to his astonish-
ment. found that the water had disap-
peared in it. Crossing the river. he
passed the night at the cabin Of Finch
& Foster, to whom he mentioned the
fact. that the water had disappeared in
the sink-hole on the other side, saying
that sit must have got the bottom
Knocked out" 1t was then that the
idea of a subterranean connection oil
the two pits flashed upon their minds.
After working the pumps another
day, Finch & Foster again launched
heir conoe into the cavern, well pro-
vided with lights. and steered cautious
" westu ard under broad cap. rock OF
solid limestone, of toleraby even sur
.sce and in about twenty minutes,
they saw light before them, gradual
y becoming clearer, and at length
reached an aperture rising from the
water al an angle Of about l9', thro'
which they assembled on foot, and
found themselves surrounded by the
green turf Of Iowa! The news soon
-sad-many of the people of Iowa,
n5ngst others, Mr.. Noble and Mr.
rbes, of GsrniviIlo, and two o.
rec wagon loads ofpeople from Iur-
-ey River, were on the spot. Last
ght the whole length of the tunnel
IS illuminated with candles, present.
ing magnificent spectacle; and q
whole feet Of canoes was padding
through it. SVundings were made, By
which IL is sscertained that the bottom
G lae cavern is quite level, aud tbC