Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1892-08-28
UNDERNEATH FLORIDA.
THE EXPERIENCE OF A NEW ENG
LANDER UNDERGROUND.
Two College Boys In Search of PIumss
and skins--Into the Mysterious Abyss
by Observation-Disclosures Galore Below
Ftorida's surface.


and skins-Into the Mysterious Abyss
by Observation-Disclosures Galore Below
Ftortdn's surface.
The train from South Florida brought TO
Jacksonville two young men en- route from
the Rissimmee river to Portland, Me. Their
names are James Dickinson and Roland
Brown. They affably explained their mis-
sion and unfolded the narrative OF their
Florida experience Mr. Brown said:
We'll, 20 start at the beginning, we are
from little Maine village on the coast,
not far from Portland Dickinson and |
were both preparing for college in the same
Portland academy. but we saw that our
funds were at a low ebb. and that although
we had worked our way through mp to that
time, we would have to stop awhile and
pitch into something 10 be able TO get back
next year and finish up. We had read
great deal Of Florida and Florida hunting
In particular, "a cunning was our common
hobby. and an article on gathering heron
and egrct plumes In some magazine put a
new idea into our heads
"We went by rail to Kissimmse Here we
lifted out the canoe, and with all sail up ono
breezy afternoon started down the lake
which commences near Kissimmee. We
pushed on through the canals into Lake
Kissimmee aud on down the river. We
stretched tent over the canoe nights and
got along very comfortably Down this
marshy, slow flowing river we began to
find the herons and egrets aud commenced
/ our plume harvest. You see the plumes
are worth from 81 TO si.s0 each. and this
wns what we were counting on to help u.
| out
FLoRfDA's WONDERS
After twisting about the creek we final
iy ran right by a bluff. and about O'Clock
we hauled our canoe out on sandy beach
and climbed to the top, where we found an
Ideal camping ground, carpcted with fins
needles and abundant in firewood
We soon had our tent pitched. n FIRE
blazing and things fixed in comfortable
style Our supply Of water. however, wns
short. the creek being muddy and brack-
ish, and our metal tanks, which were filed
the week before, Were nearly empty Thess
zinc tanks were made to ft In the bow and
stern. and toek one Of them and started
OFT through the high pine woods to find a
spring The short twilight was over. bus
u full moon gave plenty OF light. After
walking about mile heard n murmur.
ing, rushing sound at my right. and head
ed for the water evidently In that direc-
ton
Presently ! saw good sized stream giim-
merinR through the trees. the silver river
seemed TO end abruptly, and IL looked very
puzzling until reached the bank, when I
saw that had run across one OF Florida,s
natural wonders, Of which had often read
Here was large stream of water flowing
between low banks for a long distance, and
suddenly pouring into the earth and disap-
pearing from sight, was a subterranean
river
But ! was after the water. which was
clear and cold So | stepped down tho
bank quite distance above the cataract
and tried to unscrew the cover OF my tank
The obstreperous piece Of metal was stuck
tight, and while ] was wrestling with IL
the crumbly clay hank gave way and
slipped into the water, still cIinging to my
water tank, which buoyed me up as n life
preseryer. ] chung TO II and kicked out for
the shore
INTO THR EARTH
Il had nbont hundred feet to drirt, and
although could touch the bank Mt times
] could find nothing to grtlsp but the treach-
erous crumbling clay Buoyed up by my
life preserver, swung round in n swirlinR
eddy, and with one last cry for help and
kind Of dreamy wonder AZ to how far down
] would drop, my breath left me. After
the first agonizing plunge down--it seemed
to me hundreds OF feet-my head shot out
| into the air for moment, and saw that
the stream was running horizontally
through the black, rayless cavern on whose
walls the spray was splashing caught
my breath when my head struck the roof,
and was borne violently under again. and
in the mighty pressure Of water became
| unconscious
When my senses returned I was floating
quistly on the surface OF "A body of water,
4 aFEHH N.Il
preserver. which had indeed saved me.
holding me up while | fioated unconscious.
padded slowly TO the nearest shore, and
fell down In the grass. bruised and wearied.
In the moonlight saw that the pool had
just left WAS circular, and about hundred
yards In diameter. black and deep, but
without ripple.
81 lay down under big pine tree to get
| rested aud wait for daylight, as | had en-
tirely lost my bearings. The pool was evil
IDENTIFY a sink hole, fed by the subterranean
stream. and with probably an underground
outlet. ! had been drawn into the river.
carried underground and borne through
the opening into the pool. and could have
been 10 the water but very few minutes,
as the rosy dush In the western sky had
not faded.
MADE MONEY, KEyERTHELEss
The quantities OF water which I had
swallowed made me weak and sick, and 1
fell asleep. and woke mp to find the sun
just rising. picked up my water tank,
determined 10 take IL back filled, and start
ed In the direction thought had come.
After two hours tramping | heard a gun
fired right ahead Of me. and in few min
utes was near enough 10 Dickinson 20 call
and attract his attention. He was nearly
frantic at my mysterious disappearance.