The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-09
OF STRANGE INTEREST.
To Visitors are the Numerous Sinks OF
Florida.

From the Gainesville (F1a) Sun.
The sinks Of Florida are numerous, and
one of the states most attractive feat-
ures TO strangers visiting this part or the
country. Around Aiachua lake, three
miles south OF Gainesville, there are nun
dred of slnkholes of various sizes ana
depths II IS apparent from the existence
OF so many sinks that the whole country
is honeycombed with subterranean pass
ages. Portions OF the lands In that re-
gion have been sinking for ages.
Only few years ago the ground under
tho track OF the Florida Southern Rail-
road near Alachua lake gave way and In
the darkness of night train ran into
hole seventy or eighty feet deep. The
train was completely wrecked, but fortu-
nately all aboard escaped an unumely
death.
There are sinks in various parts or Ala
chua county, but they are more numer-
Gus I'm the vicinity of what the Indians
called big Jim," or Alachua, meaning
the deep sinkholes through which the
water In the lake at different periods has
ran out, leaving an immense savanna Tor
many thousands OF acres of prairie land.
Many years ago several acres or ground
on the public road leading from TINS city
10 Newnansville sank and formed lake'
in which the tops of tall trees could De
seen beneath the surface. OF tne wafer
This spot is known as the Blue sink.
Seven miles northwest of Gainesville Is a
mammoth sink known as the Devil
MIL Hopper IL is a great natural curl
osity. and is "A popular resort FOR picnic
parties. as we'll as for pleasure seekers
who during the winter season visit THIS
part of Florida. one mile west or Gaines
Vile is To- Green hSink, containing con-
cradle volume OF water. In which It mas
been the custom for many years or col
ored people 10 battle. and many untlmeiy
deaths have occurred In this sink by
drowning. notable sink IL that In
which Hogtown creek empties About
1--we miles southwest OF this city the
stream runs into this sinkhole and gradu-
allv disappears through subterranean
outlet. AT this point quite lake Is form
ed which is we'll filled with all species OF
dsh known 10 inland Florida waters
The natural wells which are numerous
in the western part OF Alachua county
are but sinkholes reaching to large I'M
derground passages, through which hun
dreds of thousands Of acres or land are
drained.
The natural bridge over the santa re
river. in the northeastern part OF Ala
chua county, Is one Oh rior4uaS uI,tuo
and most interesting scenes presenting
tho snectacle OF a large stream sinking
from view for distance OF several miles
All the streams in the San Felaska hum
mock. a large body OF land few miles
west OF Gainesville. disappear into under
ground messages Most ,of the sinks are
dry but hundreds OF them are well hlled
with water, flowing from springs. Ths
depth OF the sinkholes varies all the way
from twenty-five feet down to where no
bottom can be found.
The water in sinkholc three miles
west OF Winter Park was measured
short time since. and II was found 10 DE
$50 feet deep. The nole Is rs to $50 yards
from side to side, and about forty feet
in depth 10 the surface OF the water at
the bottom. From the top OF the bank
The water has the deep blue tint OF tho
ocean. The banks are so steep as TO rem
der decent and ascent somewhat difficult
Gainesville (F'la.) Sun.