Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1893-06-10
A WONDERFUL DISCOVERY.
A SUBTERRANEAN RIVER IN
NYE COUNTY.
Some Explorations by John l..
ObendOrfr.

The Walker Lake Bulletin pub
fishes over the signature of John L.
Obendorff, the following account Of
the discovery of subterranean river
in Nys county:
The Bulletin publishes the follow
ing introduction to the letter:
| Below we publish communica-
ton written by prospector and
miner well known in this State. He
assures US that every statement con-
taired in his letter is the truth Ii
so, it is indeed a most important dis
covery, and one which may revolu-
tionize things in Nevada. ED
One of the most important discov-
cries Of modern times is the finding
of subterranean river or waterway
that probably drains the State and
may prove to be capable of furnish
ing a means of transportation for
her people and products.
1t has long been mystery what
became of our sunken rivers. Now
it is probably explained by the dis
covery of huge subterranean tun-
mol (Which l have named the Mon
arch), which contains running
stream, how wide could not tell, rs
the light was insufficient.
THE DISCOVERY.
The discovery of this tunnel was
purely accidental. While working
in the bottom of the shaft of the
Monarch mine, | put in a shot, and
in descending to see what execution
had been done, l found that l had
broken through INFO what looked like
a cave, with strong current of air
coming up from it. On investigation
| found that the opening continued
down on an incline. Determined to
see what there was below | put III
cross timber and attached a rope to
it. | went down a considerable dis
lance. In some places the opening
was very narrow and at other places
four feet wide. In some places it
was nearly perpendicular, but gener-
ally it was about half pitch. | pro-
ceeded down to the end of my ropes
put in another cross timber, and so |
continued. 1t took three days hard
work before | reached the bottom.
When l got to the bottom, saw a
wonderful thing-a large cavern and
q river flowing through it. At first
l thought it was lake, but on reach
ing the edge of the water | found
that it was flowing stream, and by
throwing in piece of lighted paper
| found that it had a current of about
three miles an hour,
| was on the southeast shore and
the bank sloped down to the water
edge gradually, like sea beach. The
roof was thirty or forty feet high.
the temperature was mild, and a
slight current of air was percepti5le.
flowing in the same direction as the
water. Being without facilities for
further exploration, I returned to
the surface.
AN UNDERGROUND RIVER.
The next morning 1 lowered three
tour-foot planks to the bottom of the
shaft, and supplying myself with
lunch, rope, candles and matches, |
descended to the bottom (Which l
think is about 600 feet below
The surface). l lashed my planks to-
gether and made raft, placed two
j GIFTED candles on it and let her go
20 the end of the rope. In this way
[ learned there were no
.alls in that distance. / continued
n this manner for over two miles.
IN this distance / met with no OBJ
tecle, only here and there where
he tunnel cut through a hard for
nation, there would be rocks pro-
Getting to the waters edge, but. not
preventing me from walking over
hem.
The average width OF the stream
$ about 100 feet, and from bank TO
,ank ia over 900 feet q