Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-04-02
From the National Intelligencer.
TIL. E,srsl.d.. Of rlorid..

The Everglades OF Florida.
Facts that will presently relate indicate that
new and extensive vent has been formed for the
waters of the Everglades at some period since the
18th Of last November. These facts point to some
place between Cape Sable and Cape Romano, near
the southwestern extremity OF the peninsula of
Florida the location of this new vent, and from
them it seems probable that the new outlet or out
lets is or are connected with some deep hole in
the interior Of the "glades, by caYernous chan
mel through the rotten, tertiary lime rock which
underlays the whole peninsula and shallow shores;
and think the water will be found bubbling up
somewhere in Gallivan's bay, outside Of the clus-
ter Of Mangrove islands, sometimes called the
Labyrinth.
As many Of your readers may not be acquaint-
ed with the situation Of the Everglades, permit
me to say that at their southern extremity, when
the water in them is high, it has an elevation
above mean tide of near ten feet Theirnorthern
extremity is probablya number Of feet higher
Their whole extent, when fnll Of water, is near
one hundred and fifty miles long, by an average
breadth of ninety miles. This includes Lake
0kachobee, which, with the Kissimmee river is
in the same basin Of drainage. The Indian name
of "water grass" indicates the character of the
glades, and in their highest stage their average ,
depth of water is less than three feet Of which
more than twofeet were subject to being esapors-
ted and drained off by the old outlets A tolera-
bly, well-de6ned rim Of rhinestone enoloses the wa
ter in the basin Of the glades, and short rapids
usually attend the outlets that have been formed
through this "rim;"- ut,small cayefnous outlets
are known to exist by fresh water bnbbling up in.
many places in the sea near the shore. The wa
ter in the Everglades is generally the highest at
the beginning Of winter, after the summer and
autumn rains, and lowest at the commencement Of
summer; but they frequently remain quite full
for one or two years together, when there is rain
in excess. Such was the case In 1855; and on
the 10th of last November, perhaps iater, they
were unusually full, and had been so for more
than two years. -
The facts that indicate new vent to the waters
Of the glades are as follows: On the last DAYS of
December we had rumors that large bodies of fresh
water had been encountered in the bay to the
north Of Key West, and itsoon. became evident
that there was some truth in them from the num-
Der Of fish and reptiles, which afone inhabit shall
low salt water, coming on shore dead and dying.
On the 5th Of January this fresh water was driven
into Key West harborby q strong northwest wind,
struments, and otherwise set about an inquiry az
to the cause found the water then in ihe har-
Dor, 24to Beaume hydrometer, sea water general
ly indicating by it 4lo to5e. From tKs5th to the,
10Th of,January, this fresh water was driven into
the harbor at three several times, when the water
indicated from from 2Io to go at the intervals be-
tween its yisits the water in the harbor was, ut
44o to5o, On the 28th of February ft:was again
driven into the harbor by q northwest wind 4 but
in the mean time had gathered other fscts that
connected this phenomenon with the Everglades
learned that on the 1st of January the water Of
the glades at the Miami river, near Cape Florida,
was much lower than it usually is after dry win
ter and spring; and, although water then had
nearly ceased running out Of the known outlets,
yet in the next twenty days the water fell eight
inches at that. place. About the middle Of Febru-
ary small division Of our army, in pursuit OF the
remnant Of Seminoles, passed over apart Of the
glades, near Cape Sable, without being aware Of
it, so dry had that part become and 1t Is related
that about the same time and place detachments
Of tue army were compelled, in search Of fresh
water, to 60 three and four miles on to them be-
fore finding it; yet it is known that there was at
the same period much water on them ut their
northeastern extremity. This shows that the
new outlet must be at their southwestern eide.--
The further proof Of this is THAT about the 1st Of
feoruary vessellrom sen nenoe 70 Cedar heys cross
ed ssreak OF aiscoioIeo WAFER iour miles "ide,
some niteen mnes 70 the norm OF tne NorthTest
pass 10 THIS haroor. Il was as weli dehned as
tue wafer at the mouth OF the Miseissippi, ana
haa airecuon rom southwest 70 northeast, n
wnicn direcaons ,nis "ssreaK extended as lar Is
the eye cou'a reacn. I'm ner return, TWO week
later the same vesssf crossed the same streak.
L csl "a 80 .lklf. "a AZ
before, hndlng u OF the same width, with the same
direcuon' anu In tne same general lne; MANY
other vessels nave louna muc6 alscSlErea o1aoK-
mano since tne ist Oh iast january, ana aitogetn7