Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-29
A GREAT SALT LAKE STORY.
The Probable Outlet Accidentally Dis
covered by Boy.

covered by Roy.
From, the SAT- Lake Democrat.
Peter Whitford, a farmer living a few
miles southeast of the city, and his son
Frank, 10 years Of age, were looking for
some stray cattle. They were on horse
back, and followed the tracks of the cat
tie to within few miles of the most
southern point of the lake. Frank was
riding some distance in advance OF his
father, and was gazing iutently on the
ground, as the tracks OF the cattle We're
somewhat ndistinct. While they We're
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 il
terror-stricken. At the same time there
was deep, rumbling sound that seemed
to come from the centre of the earth. In
an instant, and before Dir. 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
stupehed with terror, and then, as he be-
gan to realize the terrible situation, 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 aperture seemed to be about so fee Z
in width. and was nearly circular. MI.
| Whtford 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 be could distinguish nothing bit i'm
penetrable 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 glim-
mer and foam of the water. He then be-
gan to "Hello' Justify, and, waiting a
few minutes for reply, he heard faint
response come up from the depths below.
He was OyeriOved by the discovery that
his son was still alive, and Immediately
set about to devise some means for his
rescue. Fortunately he carried upon the
horn of his saddle a stout laTIat rope
about 80 feet in length, which he hastily
procured and lowered over the side of the
! opening. Frank shouted up that it would
not reach by several feet, and Mr.. Whit
| ford heightened it by adding the Bride
reins, when he was OverjOyed by the dis
covery that it reached his son. Frank
fastened the rope securely around his
body and shouted to his father to draw
him up. Although he is very small in
stature and does not weigh over l25
pounds 1t was only by superhuman efforts
teat Mr.. WhitfOrd succeeded in drawing
him up, and twice he came very near be-
| ing 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 imagined
than described. Frank was entirely I'M
| injured, with the exception of several
| bruises on the left leg. He described his
| sensations while desdending as most ter
! rible, and owes his escape from injury to
| the fortunate circumstance of his horse
remaining under him. The animal struck
the bottom first, and this broke the force
! Of Franks fall. The horse, Frank
thought, was not dead, but he intended to
return and shoot him. Frank described
the cavern in which he descended as be-
ing about IS feet in length. He had fallen
on the west side Of a shelf of rocks, just
| below which a fOaming stream OF water
was rushing madly past. This stream APP
| peared, as near as Frank could tell in the
dim light. to be about 90 feet in width
The spray that was constantly being
dashed over the rocks on which he had
fallen had left a heavy deposit of salt
from which it was evident the stream
came from Great Salt Lake. The cavern
narrowed down ateither end, just leaving
room for the channel Of the stream
Young WhitfOrd's escape was no less
marvellous than was the wonderful dis
| c0very he made. This underground
stream was flowing in a southwestern di-
rectiOn. directly from the lake, and if il is
not an outlet, what is it? The place
where this occurred is about % miles
| from the city.