The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1893-01-05
IN THE EARTH'S BOWELS.
Sucked Into a Mountain MaelstrOm and
Found $50 Miles Away.
a Strange Northygestern Tale 1T
Reveals One of the Most He.
markabic Subterranean
waterways.

Albert Mason, OF koOtenai, Is. c., tells
the following wonderful story, which
bears the imprint Of truth
Two prospectors, named respectively
Phil Barnes and Pierre Leger, Flathead
Indian guide named Klikat and myself,
left Bonner's Ferry on the 9TH day of
August, and struck out in northcasterly
direction, headed for the peaks and can
yons in the extreme northern range OF
the Rockies. The purpose OF my two
white companions was to prospect for
valuable minerals In section of country
which few, il any, white men have ever
entered before. My own object was to
seek diversion and adventure, and, being
a newspaper man, to gather facts hither-
to unknown and make them public at
my leisure.
On the 18th day OF August-according
| to the observations taken by me--we
were within % or 80 miles of the Cana
dian line and at an altitude of 800 feet
1t was noon of the day mentioned above
On our left was craggy precipice about
80 feet high, overhanging roaring noun
tain stream and extending fully two
miles to the south. But we heard more
than the swash OF the running stream
There came to our ears deep, roaring
sound, alternating in force, stronger and
weaker at intervals Of few seconds. 1t
came in jarring sounds, with a volume
like thunder. For some minutes we lis
tened in silence. Then suddenly Klikat
spoke:
'Me know what him is" he said, with
pleased look OF apprehension. Him
is Big Hole-in-the-Water Him heap
water run to he'll and put out devils
camp fire."
"Big hole in the water" l echoed,
"what do you mean by that, Klikat?"
"You come look" he said, advancing
to the edge OF the precipice andsthrowing
himself fiat ON the rock with his head
and shoulders hanging over. "Ugh"
he exclaimed "Big- Hole-in-the- Water
heap mad to-day. Him funny. Water
60 in ground never come out"
Following Kllkat's example cautious
ly approached the edge of the projecting
rock, threw myself on the ground, face
downward, and peered down from the
dizzy height. Barnes and Leger did
| likewise.
1t was curious and awe inspiring
sight that we beheld. Straight down be-
low us there was deep pool, or lake,
about a quarter of an acre in area and
inclosed on three sides by high walls OF
eternal rock, thus forming perpetual
and insurmountable barrier to the pas
sage OF the water beyond this spot. The
noisy mountain stream poured great vol
umes 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
accelerated tidal current to 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 suck hole in fact-iully
eight feet across at the surface, the water
spinning round and round, rushing down
ward with lightning speed. A tremen-
dous force of gravity was at work in that
awful pit of darkness. In the center OF
this funnel was a great mass of snow
white foam, dancing and whirling and
scattering flakes of itself around the dark
blue rim of the vortex. At intervals of
fifteen or twenty seconds there would be
greater downward 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 disap-
pear few moments later as the previous
one had done 1t was grand, a terrible
sight.
glanced at my two friends, who like
myself were electrified by this mighty
freak of nature.
"If could find ledge of quartz with
color in it anywhere near by" observed
Mr.. Barnes, "Iwould erect a stamp mill
right here and drop horizontal wheel
into that boiling suck hole. Great Scott
but wouldn't it spin though ?"
rather thought it would, but at that
moment my attention was suddenly and
shockingly attracted to Klikat, 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 whirl- |
ing pool. | started to my feet just as |
saw the Indian making frantic efforts to
cling to the edge Of the cliff. But his
hold was too slight and the rock crumb-
led under his grasp. Without uttering a
word or sound of any kind Klikat fell
headlong into the mad water beneath.
After few seconds he came to the sur
face. Barnes rushed to one of the pack
mules for rope, but 1t was too late.
Three, four. five times did Klikat swing
around in a spiral course that gradually
drew nearer to the center Of the great fun
mel, at the same time making frantic eff
forts to swim out OF it. But it was labor
lost. With movement that looked like