The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-07-29
WIscoNsIN's NATURAL BRIDGE.
A Gigantic Archway in the Wilder
ness of the State.
From the Milwaukee Sentinel.

From the Milwaukee Sentinel.
Few people know that wisconsin,
possese a natrual bridge, with nearly,
if not quite as much attractiveness AS
the one in Virginia made famous by
the visits of George Washington, The
Badger bridge IL located in the town
of Honey Creek, about twenty miles
from this city and eight miles east Of
Prairie du Sac. The bridge is in fact
only a gigantic archway detached from
the face Of rock buff facing the Wis.,
consin river by the action Of the ele-
mcnts, but as natural curiosity has
only q local reputation so far. Few Nis-
itors except from the immediate .Vicn-
ity have ever taken the trouble to-
make Il trip in this direction, probably
because this part of Sauk county was,
until recent years, cut off from rall-
roads and not easy of access, Even
now it requires considerable pluck 10
endure the long ride through the sands
of the Wisconsin river bottums which
lie between the old prairies of the sac
Indians and thu bluff. one is amply
repaid for a visit by the attractivenesS
of the place.
A devious route through a farmers
ploughed field is trod by a guide in
reaching the face of the cliff where is
found the bridge. 1t is not until within
a short distance of the bluff that the
archway can be seen because of the
timber and underbrush partially con-
cealing 1t.
Upon stepping between the bluff and
the arch the immenseness of the task
which nature has accomplished is APP
parent. The under part Of the arch
is about fifty feet above the floor In the
highest part and varies from that
down to about thirty feet where it joins
the supporting rocks. The span is from
ten to twenty-five feet thick and about
fifteen feet wide The pathway across
the top is q trife over three feet wide
in it's narrowcst place, and cool head
is needed to to make the passage over
the span. The person standing upon
the top Of the span is probably 100 feet
above the average levi of the surrounds
ing country, and the scene spread be-
fore him is one of rural Wisconsin
scenery unsurpassed. Although the
country has been settled for many
wears. vet the ruggedness of the scene
seems hardly diminished by the hand Of
man i'm his efforts to conquer the soil
and make for himself a heme in these
romantic surroundings. Except for the
| occasional loghouse, or, rarely, its
frame successor, the place would seem
! as though in it's original condition, so
| completely hidden from view by tam
| gled underbrush and heavy woods, are
| the titled lands of theh ushandman.
| About the base of the archway are
signs of human vistations, and the
visitor learns that here the people OF
| the surrounding country come to cele-
brate the Fourth Of July, and the res
| mains of rustic booths, broken beer
| glass or two, and other signs of past
| pleasures are noted. Underneath the
| floor of the arch is a huge cavern seven
| feet high, twenty-five feet deep, and
from thirty to fifty feet long, created
| by the action of the water rushing
| down the face of the hill and under the
| archway after heavy rain. THIS cav
ern makes a natural beer cellar which
| the inhabitants of the region, nearly all
! of whom are Germans, utilize as bar
| room upon the occasion of the celebra-
| tion referred to.
| The Wisconsin natural bridge Is Gers
tainly worth travelling miles to see.