Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-06-11
GREAT SALT LAKE.
The Probable Outlet Accidentally Discov-
cred by a Boy.

Peter Whitford, farmer, living
few miles southeast of the city, and his
son Frank, 10 years of age. were look
ing for some stray cattle. They were
on horseback. and followed the tracks
OF the cattle to within few miles of
the most southern point of the lake.
Frank was riding some distance in adj
vance of his father, and was gazing in
tently on the ground, as the tracks of
the cattle we're somewhat indistinct.
While they were riding quietly along
in this manner, Mr.. Whitford was
startled by 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
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
caving and dropping down.
Mr.. Whitford for several moments
was stupefied 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, and 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 impenetrable darkness. The faint
rush of waters far below was the only
sound that greeted his ear, and after
gazing intently for several moments he
beheld the glimmer and foam of the
water. He then began to '.hello" lust
lily, and, waiting few minutes for
reply, he heard faint response come
up from the depths below. He was
oyerjoyed by the discovery that his son
was still alive. and Immediately set
about to devise some means for his
rescne. Fortunately he carried upon
the horn of his saddle a stout lariat
rope, about fifty feet in length, which
he hastily procured and lowered over
the side of the opening. Frank shout
ed up that it would not reach by sew
eral feet, and Mr.. Whitford heightened
it by adding the bridle-reins, when he
was overjoyed by the discovery that it
reached his son. Frank fastened the
rope securely around his body, and
shouted for his father to draw him up.
Although he is very small in stature,
and does not weigh over 125 pounds, it
was only by superhuman efforts that
Mr.. Whitford succeeded in drawing
him up, and twice he came very near
being dragged over the brink himself.
But he was finally successful, however,
and the emotions of the father and son,
when the latter was safely landed on
solid ground, can be more readily i'm
agined than described. Frank was en-
tirely uninjured, with the exception of
several bruises on the left leg. He de-
scribed his sensations while descending
as most terrible, and owes his escape
from injury to the fortunate circum-
stance of his horse remaining under
HihA. Il uc duiludl StIuch Lue DOILOm
first, and this broke the force of
Franks fall. The horse, Frank thought,
was not dead, but he intended to re-
turn and shoot him. Frank described
the cavern in which he descended as
being about seyenty-five feet in length.
He had fallen on the west side of a
shelf of rocks, just below which foam
ing stream of water was rushing madly
past This stream appeared, as near
as Frank could tell in the dim light, to
be about fifty feet in width. The spray
that was constantly being dashed over
the rock on which he had fallen had
left heavy deposit of salt, from which
it was evident the stream came from
Great Salt Lake. The cavern mar
rowed down at either end just leaving
room for the channel of the stream.
Young Whitford's escape was no less
marvellous than was the wonderful dis
covery he made. This underground
stream was flowing in southwesterly
direction, directly from the lake, and
if it is not an outlet, what is itp The
place where this occurred is about
twenty-five miles from the city. and the
locality will probably be visited by a
party from this city in few days.
From the Salt Lake (UtaD Democrat.