Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-03-18

recently discovered in the northern
ranges OF the Rocky mountains in Mon.
tana. An accident, which proved fatal
to hunters life, was the agency through
which the discovery was made, writes
Albert Monson in the San Francisco
CHrOQi6k.
Two prospectors, named respectively
Phil Barnes and Pierre Leger, a Flathead
Indian guide named Klka,, and myself
let Bonner's Ferry on the 9Th day of
August aud struck out in q nor,heasterly
direction, headed for the peaks aud
canyons in the extreme northern range
of the main divide Of the Rockies.
After whipping, pulhag, and pushing
our pack mules through the almost
boundless wilderness Of underground,
timber, gloomy canyons, cragged peaks,
and drifts Of snow we found ourselves
on the 7sth day Of August--according to
the observations taken by me--within
twenty-five or thirty miles Of the Can.
adian line and at an altitude of 1850
feet.
II was noon Of the day mentioned
above. We had come to a standstill,
unable to advance owing to great per.
pcndicular cliffs In front Of US and to
the right. On our left was craggy
precipice, about eighty feet high, over.
hanging a roaring mountain stream and
extending fully two miles TO the south.
Beyond the torrent aud its rocky bed
was still higher precipice. We could
hear the noisy stream as II ran iranticaliy
down the sleeps from the melting snow
ON the distant peaks.
But we heard still more than the swash
of the running stream. As we sood
there looking vainly around for some
opening by which we might advance,
there came to our ears deep roaring
sound, alternating In force, stronger and
weaker at intervals Of a few seconds.
II came in jarring sounds, with volume
like thunder. For some minutes we
listened In silence. Then suddenly Xii.
kat spoke.
ME know what him is," he said. with
pleased air OF comprehension Him
Is Big Holc-in-ihe-Water.' Him heap
water run to hell and put out devils
camp fire.
blk nOlt VI wv Whit tNl0'hs
"What do YOU mean by that, kilkap'
you can look he said advancing to
the edge Of the precipice aud throwing
himself fiat on the rock with his head
and shoulders hanging over. "Ughl'
he exclaimed. Observation-Disclosures
heap mad to day. Him funny. Water
20 IN ground, never come out,
Following Kilkai's example,
cautiously approached the edge Of the
projecting rock, threw myself on the
ground, face downward. aud peered
down tho dizzy height. Barnes and
Leger did likewise.
II was curious and awe inspiring
sight that we beheld. Straight down
below us there was deep pool. or lake,
about a quarter Of an acre aud enclosed
on three sides by high walls Of eternal
rock, thus forming perpetual and insur-
mountable barrier to the passage OF the
water beyond this spot. The noisy
mountain stream poured great volumes
of sparkling water into this natural basin
and then lost itself. The water in the
pool swung rapidly around as ON pivot
and constantly drifted IN a steadily ac-
celebrated tidal current toward the center.
And here was the most startling feature
OF this wonderful stream.
In the very center OF the deep water
was large circular cavity or depression,
funnel shaped-a great suck hole" In
fact-fully eight feet across at the sur.
face, the water spinning round and
round, rushing downward with lightning
speed "A tremendous force oigravity
was ut work in that awful pit Of dark
ness. In the center of this funnel was
great mass of snow.white foam, dane.
ing and whiring and scattering flakes of
itself around the dark blue rim Of the
vortex. At intervals of fifteen or twenty
seconds there would be greater down
ward rush Of water, the pillar Of foam
would disappear with the increased
speed OF the current; then the roar would
increase in volume, another pillar Of
foam would form, only to disappear
few minutes later as the previous one
had done. II was a grand, terrible
sight.
1glanced at my two friends, who, like
myself, were electrified by this mighty
freak Of nature.
I'll could find ledge Of quartz with
color in II anywhere near by" observed
Mr. Barnes, 81 would erect stamp mill
right here and drop a horizontal wheel
into that boiling suck hole. Great Scott
but wouldn't 1t spin, though"
! rather thought II would, but at that
moment my attention was suddenly and
shockingly attracted to Kllkat, who had
been lying about eight feet away on my
left. There was low crumbling sound
and then mass OF shelving rock right
under Klikat broke loose and fell with a
fearful crash into the edge of the whirling
pool. | started to my feet Just rs saw
the Indian making frantic efforts to cling
to the edge of the cliff. But his hold
was too slight and the rock crumblcd
under his grasp. Without ultering word
or sound of any kind Klikat fell head
long into the mad water beneath.
After a few seconds he came to the
surface. Barnes rushed to one Of the
pack mules for a rope, but IL was too late,
Three, four, five times did kllkat swing
around in spiral course that gradually
drew nearer the center OF the great
funnel, at the same time making frantic
efforts to swim out oft But II was labor
lost. With movement that looked
like a sudden twist he shot into the very
center Of the vortex. For one brief
moment he spun around like top, and
then-dOwn he went with the pillar Of
foam, out of sight into the bowels Of the
earth and the darkness OF death.
For some seconds II seemed as II the
great rayenous funnel had been satlated
The cavity filled with water aud was
silent hut il was short safety, II
nuirliV pneued itg 1nrk and uulltnous