Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-11-20
A Subterranean Wonder.

On Tuesday. Oct. 2sth, represent
atiye Of the Gazette for the first time
visited what is known by the various
names of 1.-The Grand Gulf, 1.-THE "Twin
Sinks" and the "Gulf Cave" that be.
ing the day set by Maj. NJ. G. Norman
of Alton, Oregon county, its owner, for
an exploration of this great and awe
inspiring phenomenon of nature.
To give anything like comprehen-
sive description of this stupendous
wonder, either by voice or with pen,
is quite difficult matter, for like Nj
agara falls, nothing short of ocular in
spection will give one realization of
its remarkable character or its i'm
mensity. That its existence has not
become widely known is due to the
fact that until recently it has been
known only to people sparsely settled
around 1t, who from familiarity with
it, as in the case of Niagara, think but
little Of it. This was demonstrated to
the writer on inquiry as tn its location
of woman less than three miles from
it, who has resided in the locality
many years. She had never heard of
either the "Grand Cuff or Irwin
Sinks" and could give US no informa-
ton that would indicate Its locality.
The Grand Gulf is located eight miles
northwest OF the celebrated NJ ,mmoth
Spring of Arkansas, OIL high, rolling
table land, and that this immense
spring, or rather subterranean river,
flowing sixty-four thousand cubic feet
of water per minute, Is the outlet for
the subterranean lake in the Grand
Gulf cave, there is little question. The
existence of the Gulf to one who might
not know of it, is only made apparent
when he reaches its very brink and
gazes down into the depths of an abyss
full two hundred and fifty feet in depth
and not to exceed one hundred feet
across at the surface at its widest place.
1t is formed by three irregular canyons,
one starting three miles away In
westerly direction; one starting 600
yards away In a southwesterly direc-
ton and the third approaching from
the east from distance of q mile or
more. Where the first two come to-
gether, and u little below their Junction
the .yo are cut off from the third by
natural bridge of solid rock, $50 feet
high, about $50 feet through at the
base aud of an everage width at the
top of some eighteen or twenty feet.
Through this bridge at its base is an
opening from the first two TO the third,
or deepest canyon. coming from the
east. This opening is sufficiently wide
for two teams to pass abreast, and ve-y
higi,-so high in fact that our COM
panion made three trials before biing
able to throw stone to hit the top af
the arch on the upper side. Up To the
very verge of these canyons and across
the top of the bridge, stands the prim-
eval forest.
Nearly opposite the opening or arch
which forms the bridge, and OH the
lower and southerly side of the car.yon
that makes I'm from the east, is the
mouth of the great Gull Cave. Stand
ing at the mouth of this cave the Wis.,
itor is at the deepest point off all these
canyons The mouth Is some forty
feet i'm diameter each way, and the
visitor on entering passes down an in-
cline of some twenty feet to the hun
dred. the orifice narrowing up as he
After proceeding some two
hundred feet, there is right-angie
turn to the left, following which and
still descending, for some hfty feet,
comes another to the right. AMI the
is such that one Is compelled
to stoop. procet ding on this last turn
some forty or fifty feet more. one comes
to q big spring of clear and very cold
water that crosses the passage from
right to left. at this point. MAJ. Nor.
man was Obliged Il, blast away the
rock To make an opening sufficiently
Isrue, r., int reduce his exploring boat,
fhoIIoI, previously the few visitors
that had dared enter the place had
through Oh hands aud knees
Al a distance Of 100 yards from the
mouth of the cave and at the end of