Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1898-05-05
A WISCONSIN WONDER.
Gigantic Natural Bridge Hidden In tho
Wilderness of the State.


Wilderness of the State.
Few people know that Wisconsin
possesses a natural bridge, with
nearly if not quite as much attract
iveness as the one in Virginia made
famous by the visits of George
Washington. The Badger bridge is
located in the town of Honey Creek,
about 20 miles from this city and
miles east of Prairie du Sac. The
bridge is, in fact, only a gigantic
archway detached from the face of
a rocky bluff facing the Wisconsin
river by the action Of the elements,
but as natural curiosity has only
local reputation so far. Few visitors
except from the immediate vicinity
have ever taken the trouble to make
a trip in this direction, probably be-
cause this part of Sank county was,
until recent years, cut off from rail-
roads and not easy of access. Even
now it requires considerable pluck
to endure the long ride through the
sands of the Wisconsin river bottoms
which lie between the old prairie of
the Sac Indians and the bluff. One
is amply repaid for visit by the at
Effectiveness of the place.
A devious route through farmers
plowed field is trodden by guide
in reaching the face of the cliff
where is found the bridge. 1t is not
until within short distance of tho
bluff that the archway can be seen
because of the timber and under
brush partially conoealing it.
Upon stepping between the bluff
and the arch the immenseness of the
task which nature has accomplished
is apparent. The under part of the
arch is about SO feet above the floor
in the highest part and varies from
that down to about 30 feet where it
joins the supporting rocks. The span
is from 10 to 25 feet thick and about
15feet wide. The pathway across the
top is tritle over three feet wide in
its narrowest place, and cool head
is needed to make the passage over
the span. The person standing upon
the top of the span is probably 1OC
feet above the average level Of the
surrounding country, and the scene
spread before him is one of rural
Wisconsin scenery unsurpassed. AL
though the country has been settled
for many years, yet the ruggedness
of the scene seems hardly diminish
ed by the hand of man in his efforts
to conquer the soil and make for
himself home in these romantic
surroundings. Except for the occa.
sional log house, OF, rarely, its frame
successor, the place would seem as
though in its original condition, Sc
completely hidden from view by
tangled underbrush and heavy
woods are the titled lands of the
husbandmen.
About the base of the archway
are signs of human visitations, ant
the visitor learns that here the PEG
pie Of the surrounding country come
to celebrate the Fourth of July, ant
the remains of rustic booths, a bro
ken beer glass OF two and Other
signs of past pleasures are noted
Underneath the floor of the arch il
a huge cavern feet high, 25 fee
deep and from 80 to SO feet long
created by the action of the waite,
rushing down the face of the hill
and under the archway after a heavy
rain. This cavern makes natura
beercellar, which the inha bitants O
, the region, nearly all of whom ar,
Germans, utilize as barroom upol
the occasion of the celebration refer
red to.
The Wisconsin natural bridge il
, certainly worth travelling miles II
see.-Milwaukee Sentinel.