Amador ledger., 1900-04-20
FAMOUS LOST RIVER.
"A PECULIAR STREAM WHICH SUD-
DENLY DISAPPEARS.


II Sinks Into the Earth Through an
UnfathOmable Hole and Bursts
Forth Again From a Hill Miles
Away and Then Repeats the Trick.
Famous Lost river manifests its
strange disposition through the north
ern and eastern sections of Orange
county, Ind. The river. parent of all
smaller ones, gushes from a bluff in
Washington county, a stream with
strong current which carries every
thing before 1t. 1t runs In well defined
banks for several miles and then sud
denly disappears. Near Orleans it
sinks into a great cavernous hole
which might very readily be taken as
the entrance to the lower regions and
from which the river gained its Sec
ondary name, the river Styx. The
ssink, is black and unfathomable and
even In the drfest season has never
been explored, although it has been as
certained that the descent is gradual
and about 500 feet
Several miles from the first sink the
stream comes forth from the side of a
hill and, after running on the surface
a mile or more, again sinks. By saw
dust and wooden ball tests 1t has
been ascertained that another stream
which rushes from the side of a bluff
eight miles distant in altogether an
other section Of the country Is a con-
tinuation of Lost river. This disap-
pears in another sink, runs through an
underground passage a mile or more
in length and finally empties into
White river.
1t is claimed the sujterranean
streams do not follow a single channel,
but that the entire section Is honey
combed by complex system of mains
and leads.
Lost river was evidently a surface
stream thousands of years ago. There
Is well defined, deep rock bed leading
from sink hole to sink, and in freshet
season, when the volume of water be-
comes too great for the subterranean
passageways to carry, the overflow fol-
lows the old river bed and joins the
subterranean streams at the 'rises."
The old surface course is overgrown
with trees and briers and some Of
these indicate that the surface course
has not been used for at least CEN
turies. Another evidence of it's long
habit Of following underground sinks
is shown by the mound builders earth
works thrown up at various points
where the river sinks away. Some of
these mounds are the finest found
north of the Ohio river.
OF the surface tributaries to Lost riv-
er the most remarkable is known as
Stamper creek, which gushes forth
from the sides of a bluff near Millers-
burg. 1t has a rampant little current
which carries everything with it to
sink hole mile distant. No one knows
exactly where it comes out, but some
claim it makes its appearance at Spring
Mills, six miles south. Here Lick
creek bursts out of the base of hill,
just in the rear of the mill Farther
down stream Lick creek sinks away
from view, and then comes up and
flows to New Prospect, where it emp
ties into Lost river.
There are several other surface feed
ers which are quite as freakish. Near
them are found caverns through which
subterranean streams flow. They are
filed with eyeless fishes and water ami
mails. In some the streams have a
swift current and are evidently part of
the Lost river system. At certain points
in the county the surface has caved in
and shows Lost river running under
ground to the depth of 100 feet. How
the water is again elevated to the sur
face is not known. The passageways
are through white rock, worn smooth
and white by the water.
Those who have made a study of the
subterranean streams of Indiana and
Kentucky have advanced the theory
that away below the surface of In
diana-in at least the southern portion
there is secondary great system of
waterways and subterranean rivers
Some geologists Of note have concur
red in this theory. 1t Is known that
such streams do exist in the extreme
southern section. Wyandotte and 9TH
er caves owe their origin to these
streams. Some years ago a subter-
ranean stream was found running un-
der Rush county, almost 70 miles
northeast. The water can be heard
roaring through the passageways and
at times the course seems to be over
taxed. 1t evidently flows great dis
tance from the northeast and probably
has its source in the st. Lawrence
river system. At English a flood re-
suited in the discovery Of another lost
river. A new cavern was opened by
the water in Crawford county.
The attractiveness of Lost river and
Its tributaries is enhanced greatly by
the weird, wild scenery of Orange
county. There is no section of the
state where the scenery is more strik-
ing and diversified.
Near the mouth Of the river are the
famous West Baden and French Lick
springs, which throw off a water
brackish in taste and green cast in
color, which has become noted over
the entire world.-Indianapolis Press.
o. d