Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1885-07-16
GREAT SALT LAKE.


The Probable Outlet Accidentally Discovered
bya Boy.
Peter Whitford, farmer, living a
few miles southeast of this city, and
his son Frank IS years Of age, were
looking for some stray cattle. They
were on horseback, and followed the
track of the cattle to within q few
miles of the most southern point of
the lake. Frank was riding some
distance In advance of his father, and
was gazing intently on the ground, as
the tracks of the cattle was 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 about into
the air, while his horse was plunging
wildly as 1t terror-stricken. At the
same time there was deep rumbling
sound, that seemed to como 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 a yawn-
ing chasm appeared, from the sides of
which the earth was still caving and
dropping down.
Mr.. WhitfOrd tor several moments
was stupefed 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 ring
ing in his ears, and he could not tell
how far he had fallen, or what dread
full fate he had met. The aperture
seemed to be about fifty feet in width,
and was nearly circular. Mr.. Whit
ford noticed that on the opposite side
from where he was standing the earth
seemed comparatively solid. He there
fore proceeded cautiously around, and,
face downward, crcpt slowly and
carefully forward until he was enabled
to peer over the brink of the chasm.
At first he could distinguish nothing
but inpenetrable darkness. The faint
rush OF waters far below was the only
sound that greeted his car, and after
gazing intently for several moments
he bcheld the glimmer and foam of
the water. He then began to "hello"
Justify, and waiting few minutes for
reply, he heard faint response
come up, from the depths below. He
was overjOyed 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 lariat
rope. about fifty 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.. Whitford heightened it by ad-
ding the bride reins, when he was
overjoyed by the discovery that it
reached his son.. Frank fastened the
rope securely around his body aud
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 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
imagined than described. Frank was
entirely uninjured except few bruises
on the left leg. He described his sem
sations while descending as most ter
rible, and owes his escape from injury
" thC AVA buhdtO CICuiuobtHCC vi Ills
horse remaining under him. The an
NAL 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 being about
seventy-fve feet in length. He had
fallen on the west side of shelf of
rocks, just below which foaming
stream of water was rushing madly
past. This stream appeared. as near
rs 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
narrowed down at either end, Just
leaving room for the channel of the
stream. Young Whitfords escape wasno
less marvellous than was the wonderful
discovery ne made. This underground
stream was flowing in southwesterly
direction, directly from the lake, and
if it is not an outlet, what Is FTP The
place where this occurred is about
twenty-five miles from the city, and
the locality will probably be visited by
II party from this city In few days.