Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-05-25

The Probs.bI- outict Accidentally Dlscov-
cred by a iioy.
salt Lake lUtahl DeInocras

Ia
Peter Whitford, a farmer, living a few
mile. southeast % the city. and his son
Frank nineteen years Of age, were look
ing for some stray cattle. They were on
horseback, and followed the tracks OF the
cattle o. witain a few miles Of the most
southern point of the lake. Frank was
riding some distance ia advance OF his
father and was gazing intenIy on the
ground. AZ the track of the cattle were
somewhat lndistiact. While they were
riding quietly along in this manner.
Mr. VII tford was startled by a shout
from his son, and. looking quickly up,
be saw Frank throw his arms wildly into
the air, while his horse was plunging
about as II terror-stricken. At the same
time there vas deep rumbling sound
that seemed TO come from the center Of
the earth. In an instant. and before Mr..
Whitford had time 70 think, his son
and the horse be rode had disappeared
from view, and in the place whore they
had been yawning chssm appeared.
from the sides OF which tho earth was
still eaving and dropping down
Mr.. Whitford for several moments was
stupeded with terror. and then, as ne be-
gan % real 10 the terrible situation, he be-
came almost frantic. The lass piercing
shrek OF his sOn was still ringing IN ,
ears. aud ne could not toll how far he had
faAen or what dreadful fate he had met
The aperture seemed % be about thirty
feet in width, and was nearly circular.
Mr.. Nhitford noticed that on the opposite
side from where he was standing the earth
seemed comparatively solid. he there-
fore proceeded cautiously around ani.
face downward. crept slowly and carefu.-
~ forward until he was enabled 20 peer
over the brink II the chasm. At first he
could distinguish nothing but impene-
trable darkness. The faint rush Of waters
FAR below as the only sound that greeted
his ear. and after gazing intently for sew
eral moments be beheld the glimmer and
foam OF the water. He then began 70
''hello" Justify. and. waiting a few min =
utes for reply. be heard a faint RESPONSE
come up from she depths below. He was
ov, ,rjoysd by the discovery that h.s son
was still alive, and immediately SIT about
% devise some means for his rescue. For
tunateiv be carried upon the horn OF his
saddle a stout ariat rope about fifty feet
Ia length. which be hastily procured and
lowered over the side OF the opening.
Frans shouted up that IL would not reach
by several feet, and Mr. Whitford length =
ened is by adding thu bridle-refns, when
he was over joyed az the discovery that il
reached his son. Frank fastened the rope
securely around his body and shouted TO
bis father 70 draw bim gp Although he
l. very small in stature aud does not weigh
over - pounds. IL was only by super
human efforts that Mr.. Whitford sue
eeedsd in drawing him up. aud twice he
came very near being dragged over the
brink himself. But be was finally success
fui. however. aud the emotions ~ the
father and son, when the latter was safely
landed on solid ground. can be mors
readily imagined than described. Frank
vas entirely anujured. with the excep-
ti0n q several bruises on The left leg. lie
described his sensations while descending
a. most terrible. and owes h.s escape
from injury CD the fortunate cir
cumstance ~ bis horse remaining
under hlm. The animal struck the
bottom frs. and this brsks th. force f
Franks fall The horse. Frans Thought.
was not dead. bat be- Intended 70 return
AMI shoot him. Frank descr. Ted she cav
eru I'm which he descended as being about
seventy five fact in length. Hs hasl fallen
1n the vest side of a shelf Of rocks. nsst
below Which = foauing stream of rva...r
va rushing madiY past This stream ap-
pesre-i- a. near ~ Frank couid seu in shs
dim H-ht. - he about fftv feet in width.
The spray thst vas constantly being
dashed over che rocks On wb 'ch he hat
fallen had ieft a heavy deposit ~ salt.
from which it vas avi1ene the stres rl
came frrm Grest Sait Lake The cavern
narrowed iowa st 81 hr end. iast Ias~iu 2
rsoui fsr the eharnei ot tas stream Yoaax
Wh.tiorf's escape was M iess marvellous
thar was the wonaarlai A sr'rerv he
nlaie. This underground stream wa
sowing in = scafn westerly frrf I'm. sf-
rectiv trem tae lase an4 4 r. IS a.t sa
outlet. what Ia ~ Tia plscs where tbss
ocr.srrel = ahogt twenfr-fivs naies frsm
kse tv ani the Ica cv psll rretahlv he
visifsf by e rarsy fram -sis city q a fs~
laws.