Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-06-12
A SUBMERGED CITY.
Curious Discoveries Made While
Digging a Canal 10 Connect Lakes
EustIs and DOrs, Florida.

The following very interesting story of
the discovery OF submerged city or town
belonging 10 centuries long past, we fad in
the Tsvares Herald Of this week.
Fcr the past six months the work of dig
ging the canal TO connect Lakes Eustis
ana Dora, ia order To open up the more
southern lakes OF the Great Lake Region of
Florida" has been prosecuted by st Clair
Abrams & Summerlin near TaVares. The work
was undertaken and prosecuted in the interests
Of commerce and the development Of this pOr-
ton Of the peninsula OF Florida. The history
Of Ihe first digging. the subsequent damming
Of the waters OF Lake Dora, and the further
prosecution Of the work has already been given
IN previous issues Of the Herald The work
which was undertaken. however. with the view
oulV OF opening the channel between two OF the
iarger lakes in the great chain or lakes which
form the headwaters Of the Ocklawaha river
has. in the completion OF the worlI.Opened uo to
science chapter in the history of Florida as yet
unthOuEht OF and unwritten. A careful survey
Of the levels 0t the waters IN the two lakes last
Norember revealed the fact that Lake Dora
vas nearly four feet higher than LAKE Eustis,
into which its waters emptied. The northern
margin Of Lake Dora for nearly a mile on
either side Of the opening through which 1t
discharges its waters into the rIvulet between
it and Lake Eus'is was knoll about six feet
high and from ten to forty feet wide. on which
grew large pine, hickory and magnolia trees,
while the dec iYed stumps OF older trees
that had fallen during past centuries,
attested the fact Of the great age OF
the natural barrier which kept back
ApGpka. The second cutting Of the canal was
finished last week, under the sU pervision OF Mr..
T H. SpiOtt. who has been from the COM
meuceuent Oae OF the fOremen OF the work.
At the outlet OF Lake Dora the sand bar had
already been cut to the depth of nearly or
quite three feet on the previous digging, and
was dug 40 -sst two feet deeper last week. At
a distance of over four feet below the old level
Of Lake Dora a mound vas discovered. The
firsr excavations revealed the SEiSs@.ee. or
clearly defined wall lying in a line tending to-
wards the southwest from where it was first
struck This wall was composed of a dark
sandstone, very much cIumble in places. but
more distinct, more clearly defined, and the
stone more solid as the digging Increased in
depth The wall was evidently the eastern side
Of an ancient house or fertilization. as the
slope OF the outer wall was to the west About
eight feet from the slope Of the eastern wall
mound OF sand was struck, imbedded IN the
muck 70 nation above and around il. This
sand mound was dug into only a few inches,
as the depth Of the water demanded, but
slight increased depth Of the channel at that
point. but eaough was discovered 10 warrant
the belief that here, on the northwestern shore
Of lake Dora. Is submerged a CITY or town or
70 -tifiCation older by centuries than anything
vat discovered in this portion of Florida Small,
curiou-ly shaped blocks OF sandstone, some of
them showing traces Of fire. pieces OF pottery.
and utensils made OF a mottled mint were
thrown cut by the men while working waist
deep in water. The finest OF these specimens
vas presented to the Herald on Monday by
Nr Sprott who promises TO use his best en-
deavors 10 secure, il possible. more Of these
submerged cu-iOsities. There are several
theories BY the ''knowing ones TO account for
This submerged building or fOrtihcatiOn. Some
think a large house O. fOrtihcatiOn has gone
down in sink. such as has been known of in
Florida, but the topography Of the country
around would seem to contradict such a sur
mise. IS the land is high an1 rolling sDd no de-
preston exists TO warrant the belief that the
GROUND has ever been subjected to a
ewing in OF any portion OF the surrounding
country. or this parti .ular spot About thFee-
fOtr. hs Of a mile east of the present channel
between the two lakes Is 9 natural depression
with a hav head on either end although the
ri+ge between Is several feet higher which
some. think was the old channel Of the river
between the two lakes, and the gradual filling
M ~ This old river bad forced Lake Dora to
fi1d s new outlet in its present channel which
Is Tow the lowest land between the lakes
This would seem to ba the correct
theory as the discovery OF the mound
ard wall. which NAV have sunk somewhat
fr,m the action Of the water on its Ease Is
ahout On a level of the present ordinary high
vrater marx Of Like EuStis, the more northern
of lie two lakes aEd the last in the chain be-
fore tEe OcklawEha proper begins Further
invest cations sill &c made as soon IS practical
bIe into the sunken mound, fof tic purpose OF
ascertaining. II possible what IS really aO@
bisaeu by the waters Of Like Dora. spear
had of mottled flint. five ami half inches
long be- ona and a quarter incnes woe, nic-sy
fnisi1ed Is now 10 Dc seen Al thu Herald office
which was taken from the top OF the sand
,neund. and about fogr feet below the water
IsveI Of the lake.