New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-28
A WONDERFUL HOLE IN THE GROUND.
TORRENTS OF SEA WATER HAVE GONE INTO II
~ YEARS PAST.

TORRENTS OF SEA WATER HAVE GONE INTO 1T
~ YEARS PAST.
One is reminded Of the pretty fable about
Arethusa and Apheus by curious story in the
current number of "Casser's Magazine" But in
the ancient narrative it fresh-water river
into which the pursuing lover changed, and
the fountain which represents the metamorphosed
nymph has been identified while in the less ro-
, mantle tale now told a saltwater stream disap-
, pears into a mole in the ground and all the rest is
, a profound mystery.
on the coas, of the Greek island OF Ccphalonia.
near the town of Argosio, there two little
fumes canals leading inland from the sea TO
the distance Of about hundred feet. and then
discharging their contents mo rudey cxcavated
pits through whose badly fssured. rocky bottoms
the waite: Immediately loses itself At least
long ago as 1888 mill was run 10y power from one
OF tines. fumes, and a second mill was built be-
side and operated by tho other little while after
ward Tho mills themselves are now in ruins. but
the flow continues. This remarkable state Of things
has existed Tor over sixty years. and very likely
for a century
One cannot help asking IN amaZement where all
that water goes to- The Messrs. Crosby. who fur
nish the account which "Cassicrs" prints estl-
mate that the flow in each channel amounts TO 1000
cubic feet per minute. 100000 cubic feet per day
in both. Two smaller passages OF n similar char
acter have been observed in the same n,ighbor-
hood; and 1t is added that along the shore. "at
all points between tho TWO mills and Tor
known distance beyond each. The water IS every
where pcrcolating through cracks and assures Of
tho limestone and sinking into the earth. The
openings in the bottom are, doubt, mainly
closed by weeds and gravel; yet inconslderable
amount Of water must find its way these mys-
FERROUS depths through such extent of beach.
lying on a rock that is practically porous
SIEVE. 1t II dlftcut 10 decide which Is the
greater marvel the Sea Mills themselves or the
fact thar they have remained practically unknown
to the scientific world up 10 the present day, al
though described 10y several authors, mentioned in
bishops ana distinguished civilians.
Almost the only explanation hitherto offered
sumeS that evaporation goes on rapidly In some
subterranean cavern. and thus dsposcs of the
water. But ii il admitted that the remaining
salt from the two mill streams alone would
amount 4h.Gfi cubic feet a year. II Is hard TO
understand why the subtorrancin cavern Gf there
be Onc) does not I'll up. The Messrs. Crosby offer
aginc two great assures descending into The earth
ana meeting below. like the sides Of a letter or
t. Then thcy suggest that perhaps one arm IL
shorter than the other and that there Is Il long,
very gently rising passage leading from the bot
tom Of one 10 The bottom of the other. that The
subtcrranean heat can get good chance TO Oh
any stream passing through IL. II then becomes
easy TO suppose that cold current Of
and IS forced upward through the other by thermal
influences.
The rocky island Of Cephalonia like some of its
ncignbors betTays the effect Of earthquakes in
and faults caVcrns and subterrancan rivers. None
Of the springs on CcphalOnia contain any large
quantity of salt, however. and ii is difficult to
gard any Of them as the outflow of the Hood which
disappcars Argostoli. But IL Is possible that
Alpheus is said nave done ii takes dive be-
meath the sea and comes up on some far-on island.