Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-05-07
GREAT SALT LAKE
The Probable Outlet Accidently Dis
covered by Boy.
Salt Lake CUtah) Democrat.

Salt Lake Otah) Democrat.
Peter Whiiford, 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 horseback, and followed the
tracks of the cattle to within few
miles of the most southern point of
the lake. Frank was riding some dis
lance in advance of his father, and
was gazing intently on the ground,
as the tracks of the cattle were some,
what indistinct. While they were
riding quietly along in this manner,
Mr.. Whitford was startled by shout
from his sos. 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,
rumbliug sound, that seemed to come
from the center of the earth. In an
instant, and before Mr.. Whitfcrd had
time to think, MS son and the horse
he rode had disappeared from view.
and in the place where they had been
a yawning chasm appeared, from the
sides of which the earth was still cav
ing and dropping down.
Mr.. Whitford for several moments
was stupefed with terror, and then,
as he began 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 80
feet in width, and was nearly circular.
Mr.. Whitford noticed that on the OPP
posite side from where he was stands
ing the earth seemed comparatively
solid. He therefore proceeded eau
tiously 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 in
tently for several moments he beheld
the glimmer of 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
Fortunately he CARED upon the horn
of his saddle 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
adding the bridle-reins, when he
was overioyed 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 draw
ing him up, and twice he came very
near being dragged over the brink
himself. But he was finally success
full, 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, with
the exception of several bruises on
his left leg. He described his sensa~
tons while descending as most terri
BILE, 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 cav
ern 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 a foaming
stream of water was rushing madly
past. This stream appeard, as near
as Frank could tell in the dim light.
to be about fifty feet in width. The
spray which was constantly beiny
dashed over the rock 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 at either end,
just leaving room for the channel
of the stream. Young Whitford's
escape was no less marvellous than
was the wonderful discovery he made
This underground stream was flowing
in southwesterly direction, direct
ly from the lake, and it is not an
outlet, whatsis it? The place where
this occurred is about twenty-five
miles from the city, and the locality
will probably be visited by party
from this city in few days.