Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1885-05-16
GREAT SALT LAKE.
The Probable Outlet Accidentally
Discovered by-a Boy

Discovered by-a Boy.
Peter Whitford, a farmer living q few
miles south-eas 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 Il few miles of the
most southern point If the lake. Frank
was riding some distance IN advance of
his father, and was gazing inteutly on
/ the ground, as the tracks of the cattle
were somewhat indisJjucJ. While they
were riding quietly along in this man
ner AIR. WhtfOrd was startled by a
shout from his son, and looking quietly
up he saw Frank throw his arms wildly
into the air, while his horse vas plung-
ing about as if terror striker. At the
same time there was p deep, Tumblng
sound that seemed to come from the
center Of the earth In an instant, and
before Mr.. WhltfOrd had time to think,
his son and the horse he rode had dis
appeared from view, and IN the place
where they had been a yawniDg cbasm
appeared, from the sides OF which the
earth was still caVing and dropping
down
IIr Whitford for several moments
was stupened with terror, and then, as
he began to realize the terrible situa-
ton he became almost frantic, I he
last piercing shrek of his son was stin
ringing In his ears. and he could not
tell how far he had fallen or what dread
ful fate he had met. The aperture
seemed TO be about thirty feet in width,
and was nearly circular. Mr. WhitfOrd
noticed that on the opposite side from
where he was standing the earth seem
ed comparatively solid. lie therefore
proceeded cautiously around, and face
downward, crspt slowly and carefully
forward until re was enabled to peer
over the brink Ct the chasm At first
he could distinguish nothing but inn
peBetrable darkness. The faint rush
OF water TAR below was the only sound
that greeted his ear, and after gazing
intenly for several moments he beheld
the glimmer and foam of the water.
He then began to ''hellO' Justify, and
waiting q few moments for a reply. he
heard faint response come up from
the depths below: He was OveriOyed
by the discovery that his son was still
alive, and immediately set about TO de-
wise some means for his rescue. For
tunatelY, he carried upon the horn of
his saddle 8 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, 3 I'D
Mr. Whitford Heightened it by adding
the bride reins, when he was over
joyed by the discovery that it had
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 weighs only 126 pounds, it was
only by superhuman efforts that Mr..
WhitfOrd succeeded in dragging him
up, snd twice he cane near being drag
ged 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, with the exception Of several
bruises on the lett leg lie described
his sensations while descending as most
terrible and owes his escape from injury
to the fortunate circumstance Of his
horse remaining under him. The ami
mai struck the bottom first, and thus
broke the force Of Franks fail. The
horse, Frank thought, was not dead
bat be intended TO return anC shoot him.
Frank described the cavern in which he
descended as being about sevenUy-hve
feet in length. He had fallen on the
west side OF shelf OF rocks, just below
which q 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. Ehe
spray that was constantly being dashed
over the rock on which he had fallen
had left a heavy deposit OF salt, from
when it was evident the stream
came from the Great Salt Lake. The
cavern narrowed down at either end
inst leaving room for the channel of the
stream. Young WhitiOrd's escape was
no less marvellous than was the wonder
full discovery he made. The under
ground streaR was flowing in a south
westerly direction, directly from the
lake and if it is not an outlet what is iJP
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 ina few days--Ez.