Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1902-01-17
SOURCE OF ROARING RIVER.
Strange Missouri Stream Tint Takes
Its Rise from u Spring in the
Ozark Mountains.

To one who has investigated the
heads of different rivers and noted
the law laid down by nature, regulat-
ing their origin TO be, that they re-
ceive their supply of water from
tributaries which in turn are fed
from insignificant branches, trip to
the source of the Roaring river in
southwestern Missouri would be
revelation. This river makes its first
appearance in the form of a tremen-
dous spring which boils up immedi-
ately at the mouth of cave, whose
chambers extend far into the Ozark
mountains. From the mouth of the
cave the water dashes down the
gorge with roar of thunder for
distance of about 1000 feet, where
it turns at right angles around a
palisade known as "Deers Leap"
thence it takes on. zig-zag course
until it joins the White river few
miles beyond, crossing the wagon
road seventeen times in seven miles.
It's fords are dangerous, owing to
quicksand, and not being navigable
at any point it is of no Importance
except for it's picturesqueness; but as
to that feature il has no rival for one
of its length and is supposed to have
served as bullseye for more camera
enthusiasts and as subject for more
genuine and wouldbe artists of the
brush than has any other place of in
terest within radius of many miles,
says the New York Sun.
Its water. coming as it does from
the spring, is clear as crystal and of
green tint. Fish can be plainly seen
as they play among the rocks and
watersoaked logs that lie at the bot
tom of the river few feet from the
spring. At the edge of the huge
spring is what is known as the dead
line which is simply a fallen tree of
small diameter that rests upon a
couple of rocks. On the outside of
this separating line the water is knee
deep, but inside of the same lies the
boiling spring. thus far found to be
unfa thomable. A neighboring black
smith known as the prophet because
of his sage remarks and eccentrici-
ties, attempted to find sounding by
lowering into the spring heavy an
vii suspended at the end of n rope
332 feet in length. Upon failing to
find what he Went after at that
depth some one asked him why he
did not tie on more rope and let the
weight down still farther. He replied
that he was afraid ii would fall into
the hands of the Chinese and then he
would have to go to the other side of
the world to recover it; which re-
mark this uch-bewhiskered sage
made without any apparent effort
or bad after effect upon his constitu-
ton.
The cave oyerhanging the spring
| extends back rs feet, and, along with
its connecting chambers, forms an
ample playroom for the myriads of
bats which dart about the dismal
| vaults.
y young man attempted to dive
down in the big spring and bring up
some important news to the world
concerning its origin. He dived and
swan downward as far as he was
abe-which was not great distance
owing 10 the strength of the spring
| Dul uu IlSlHS 10 tne surface he lOunu
himself cut off from the outside
world by P.rtition OF solid rock
and in total darkness. He had come
up through another channel and
found himself in a dungeon filled
with bats without number. Failing
to fird an aperture through which to
escape and finding himself rapidly be-
coming unnerved by the situation, he
taxed his remaining strength to the
utmost, repeated his dive and for
tunately came up to the opposite side
of the division which had imprisoned
him. landing in an exhausted condi
tion from which he never recovered
The pines in the vicinity grow tt
huge proportions. and in the NOR,
th:.,;y covered sections exists a,
illicit distllery element, which it il
well to shun, unless one has the pass
word. Owing to the wildness OF tn,
locality the sportsman need not g,
home with an empty bag, for game i
| nj