Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-06-22
THE GREAT UTAH MYSTERY.
The Discovery of the Outlet of
~ Fa9ll Great Salt Lake.

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The discovery of the OutIet Of
~ agl Great Salt Lake.
From the Utah Reporter. June lO.l
To-day we give the facts as we have
them relative to the discovery of sub
terranean. outlet to Great Salt Lake.
This inland sea, the briniest of all the
waters of the world, and which formerin-
We estigations pronounced as being kept at
its level by the action of evaporation, has
itself solved the mystery of the noun
tains. The lofty hills and all the lovely
islands have for countless ages found a
mirror for their grand majesty in the
bosom of our lake, and its FURNISHED face
has been kept bright with the crys-
tai supplies of a thousand streams
from out the roaring canyons
clefts and snowy reservoirs of the Rocky
chain. The eye Of science has scanned
with care the agencies which, it was sup
posed, held the aqueous wonder in its
place, and the Humboldts and Sillimans
of two continents saw no escapement for
the Hanging Sea save through the
aerial pathways of the sun Many years
ago the bureau of topography sought to
explain the permanent equilibrium of
Great Salt Lake, whose thirst absorbs q
greater supply of fresh water than Michi-
gan or Erie, but still the reduction was
the same. Every trial said its shores
we're saved from food by the evaporating
power. This is no longer theory, and
never was correct.
One night last week the schooner
Pioneer, Captain Hannah, on her voy-
age from Corinne to Stockton, when at a
point in the lake between Fremont and
Kimball islands, nearly opposite this
city, came suddenly in contact with
something which the captain thought
more solid than water, believing his yes
sci to have stranded upon rocks. Instead
of this, however, the men on the Pioneer
discovered that she was in the whirl of q
maelstrom, for the vessel Immediately
revolved as if in a circular current; and
the motion was so rapid that the men
could scarce stand at their duties.
Captain Hannah being an old sailor,
and understanding the danger he was in,
at once added sail, and brisk wind
blowing at the time, the craft was, after
about half an hours detention, borne
beyond the vortex of the eddy. He in
forms General Connor. the owner of the
schooner, and from whom we get these
interesting facts that while in the trough
Of the ugly hole the deck was lower than
the water outside the whirlpool, and that
he owes the safety of the vessel and men
to the stiff breeze which fortunately
sprang up at the time. The noise of the
waters as they descended denoted that
some mighty airless cavity below gave
strength to suction, and the surging frothy
foam above was like the boiling of
mammoth cauldron That this is the
safety valve of Great Salt Lake there
seems to be no doubt, and we can reason
ably assume that similar openings are
numerous on the bottom. The steamer
Kate Connor will be ready in two or
three days to go on the lake, when the
general, accompanied by party of gen.
tlemen from this city, will go out and
examine the maelstrom.
The men of the college and university
will again be called to make scientific |
survey of this great discovery; and geol-
ogist and chemist will, in the waters of
the Utah Mediterranean, find many val
liable lessons 10 impart to student and
graduate. How marvellous are natures
works around us!J at