The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-05-04
AR13oNA's NATURAL pR1DoE.
Some Interesting Particulars Regard
ing the Wonderful Span of a Chasm.

Some Interesting Particulars Regard
ing the Wonderful Span of a Chas1n.
From the St. Louis Republic
While the natural bridge of Virginia
has a worldwide reputation, few are
aware that Arizona can lay claim to a
curiosity of the same order that easily
rivals its eastern cousin, 10th in dimen-
sions and grandeur of its adjacent scenery.
The great natural bridge of Arizona. dis
tant as II is from the transContinental
lines of travel, has escaped thus far the
initials of the tourist and the posters Of
the patent medicine advertiser It rs
situated on Pine creek, a tributary of the
east fork of the Verde, in nearly the geo
graphical center of the territory, and is at
the head of Tonic basin, a region more
famous for Indian fights and cowboy feuds
than for the beauties of IT'S Batural
scenery, On a recent trip through T1to
basin the St Louis Republic cor
respondent visited mining camp
only seven miles distant from this
natural curiosity. and with a companion
availed himself of the opportunity to see
! 1t. We were at the Gowan mine, and,
saddling our horses one lazy afternoon.
we soon left seven miles of mountain trail
behind US and found ourselves on the
summit of cypreSS-crowned hill, whose
sharp, eastern slope descended abruptly
for 800 feet to coy little valley hemmed
! in on the opposite side by the PERCEPTIONS
cliffs of rough craggy mountain Max
ing the descent with difficulty, we reached
a large level clearing containing an area
of probably 100 acres, part of which was
cultivated and planted in corn, beans
potatoes and other vegetables. At the
far side of the clearing we saw a log
house half hidden in the shade of grove
of walnut trees, but could discover no
signs of the bridge.
On inquiring from man who APP
preached US from the house, we found
that we were already standing on the
bridge and did no. know it, for this beau
tiful garden spot is fTinged on all sides by
shrubbery, tall ferns and graceful trees,
and we followed our guide 100 yards to
the south and descended into deep, pre-
cipitous canyon before we were made
aware of the huge tunnel that nature had
bored through the solid rock beneath our
feet.
With the aid of a long fish line we as
certained the next day that the crown of
the bridge at its southern spring is 262
feet i'll hight, with span of so feet and
a total width up and down stream of $50
yards About feet from the southern
or down stream edge of the arch
there is natural hole through
the rocks, at this place 10 feet
in thickness, where one may lie on his
face and obtain a bird s-eye Of the in
terror, with the channel Of Pine creek
winding among the huge powders that
strew floor 1862 feet beneath him But
full idea of the Grandeur of this beautiful
arch is not obtained until one stands be-
meath it and looks aloft. Here in the semi
darkness the lofty roof is barely visible
and the huge pillars and groins of solid
rock vanishing in the upper obscuritY
make one imagine himself in an immense
cathedral. The underground trail to the
other side is difficult, though not imprac-
ticable, and winds between immense
masses of slippery limestone and dark
pools of unknown depth, whore ray of
sunlight never intrudes.
The perpendicular walls of this cavern
are pierced by scores of caves and grottoes,
whose numerous chambers and alleYwaYs
lead one far into the bowels of the super
incumbent mountains. Some of these we
explored and many others, whose en-
frances cannot be reached without lad
ders, have never been trodden by the foot
of the white man. They are beautifully
ornamented by nature with stalactites
and stalagmites of every imaginable form.
and any article, whether Of wood or of
any other soft substance, if placed be-
meath the streams of lime water that
constantly trickle from above, will in
short time become petrified. We gathered
several pine cones, sprigs of fern and
branches of trees, which were perfect in
form and outline yet apparently composed
of solid rock. We also found many flag-
ments of pottery and arrowhoads, burned
bones etc. showing that these caves had
in former times been occupied by Indians
as well as by the prehistoric race that
preceded them.
Owing to the impassability of the can
yon both above and below this grand and
beautiful structure, it was impossible to
obtain a view which wonld give any idea
of it to one who had never visited it,
With an open country below, from which
one could view it at little distance, it
would be an imposing structure indeed
1t was discovered in 1880 by Dave Gowan,
prospector who has since taken up the
land over the bridge and raises fruit and
vegetables, for which he finds market
in the neighboring mining and cattle
camps.