Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1885-06-27
GREAT SALT LAKE.
The Probable Outlet Accidentally Discov-
cred by = Boy.

cred by . Boy.
Peter Whitford, a farmer, living q
few M es southeast of the city. and his
son Frank, 10 years of age, were look
ing for ONE stray cattle. They were
horseback, and followed the tracks
of the cattle to within a few miles of
the most southern point of the lake.
Frank was riding some distance in ad-
vance of his father, and was gazing in-
tently on the ground, as the tracks of
the cattle were somewhat indistinct.
While they were riding quietly along
in this manner, Mr.. Whitford was
startled by a shout from his son, and,
looking quickly up, he saw Frank throw
his arms wildly into the air, while his
horse was plunging about as if terror
stricken. At the same time, there was
a deep, rumbling sound, that seemed
to come from the center of the earth.
In an instant, and before Mr.. Whitford
had time to think, his son and the
horse he rode had disappeared from
view, and in the place where they had
been . yawning chasm appeared, from
the sides of which the earth was still
caying and dropping down.
MIR. Whitford for several moments
was stupetied with terror, and then, as
he began to realize the terrible situa-
ton, he became almost frantic. The
last piercing shrek of his son was still
ringing in his ears, aud he could not
tell how far he had fallen or what
dreadful fate he had met. The aper-
ture seemed to be about 80 feet in
width, and was nearly circular. Mr..
Whitford noticed that on the opposite
side from where he was standing the
earth seemed comparatively solid. He
therefore proceeded cautiously around,
and. face downward, crept slowly and
carefully forward until he was enabled
to peer over the brink of the chasm.
| At first he could distinguish nothing
but im%penetrable darkness. The faint
rush of waters far below was the ouly
sound that greeted his ear, and aftor
gazing intently for several moments he
beheld the glimmer and foam of the
water. He then began to ''hello" lust
lily, and, waiting a few minutes for a
reply, he heard a faint response come
up from the depths below. He was
overjoyed by the discovery that his sou
was still alive, and Immediately gel
about to devise some means for his
rescue. Fortunately he carried upon
the horn of his saddle a stout laria,
rope, about fifty feet in length, which
he hastily procured and lowered ovel
the side Of tho opening. Frank shout.
ed up that it would not reach by sew.
eral feet. and MIR. Whitford heightened
it by adding the bridle-rcins. when he
was overjoyed by the discovery that il
reached his son. Frank fastened tn,
rope securely around his body, ant
shouted for his father to draw him up
Although he is very small in stature
and does not weigh over 125 pounds. i
was only by superhuman efforts tina
MIR. Whitford succeeded in drawing
him up, and twice he came very nea;
being dragged owe the brink himself
But he was finally successful, however
and the emotions of the father and son
when the latter was safely landed OF
solid ground, can be more readily i'm
agined than described. Frank was en-
tirely uninjured, with the exception O
several bruises on the left leg. He dc
scribed his sensations while descendin!
as most terrible. and owes his escape
from injury to the fortunate circum
stance of his horse remaining unde
him. The animal struck the bottom
first. and this broke the force o
Franks fall. The horse, Frank thought
was not dead, but he intended to re
turn and shoot him. Frank describe,
the yer in which he descended a
being about seventy-fivc feet in length
He had fallen on the west side Of
shelf of rocks. just below which a foam
ing stream of water was rushing madl,
past. This stream appeared, as nea
as Frank could tell in the dim light, t,
be about fifty feet in width. The spra,
that was constantly being dashed owe
the rock on which he had fallen ha'
left a heavy deposit of salt. from whicI
it was evident the stream came iron
Grea: Salt Lake. The cavern MAJ
rowcd down ut either end Just lcavin,
o for the channel Ut the stream
Young Whitfnrd's escape was no les
marvellous than was the wonderful di.
covcry he made. This undcrgroun
stream was flowing in Southwestern
direction, directly from the lake, an
if it is not an outlet. what is it? Th
place where this occurred is abor
twenty-five miles from the city. and tn
locality will probably be visited by
party from this city in n few days
From the SAT- Lake gum Democro