OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Know your Ohio: Tidbits of Ohio -- Part 27 ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgenwebarchives.org ************************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374 March 30, 2005 ************************************************************************** Historical Collections of Ohio And Then They Went West Know Your Ohio by Darlene E. Kelley Tid Bits - part 27 from notes of S. Kelly. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ part 27. Lake Erie's " Lost Atlantis." Strange as it seems and not impossible is the story told by Ignatius Donnelly of a " Lost Atlantis. " It is a question, whether the average dweller of the present gereation realizes that within the ninteeth century a Lake Erie " Atlantis " has disappeared, neck and heels beneath the waves. " Through local reminiscence and scientific record," states Theresa Thorndale in 1898 from Sandusky, Ohio, " we are informed that an island more than a mile long, one half mile wide and from twenty to twenty-five feet high, formally exended across the mouth of Sandusky bay. Fertile meadow was seen and trees measuring two and one-half feet in diameter. But where once flourished the island and its products now roll the billows of Erie. >From this and other circumstances, naturally leading to such a conclusion, Professor Moseley of Sandusky, who has thoroughly studied the lake region, deduces the theory that the lake bed is gradually becoming tilted, or elevated at its eastern extremity, causing a rise in the average level of its head waters and corresponding submergence as indicated. Since, however, old navagators and others are inclined to ascribe this island's disappearance to the wear of strong currents and beat of storms, Prof. Mosley seeks to establish his theory by the results of further investigation, calling attention to the well known fact that in the caves of Put-in-Bay, the subterranean waters of which rise and fall with the lake, stagagmites not only but stalacites are found attached to the floor and roofs of submered caverns; the latter five feet below the present lake level. For these to form in water would be an impossibility and their position as indicated show, according to Prof. Mosley, a rise of the water, though other theorists might ascribe the circumstance to a shifting and settling of the honey combed rocks. Large quantities of submerged timber found in the extensive marshlands bordering the lake shores in the vicinity of the islands likewise indicate a rise of at least eight feet, and the submerged channels of rivers and streams in the same vicinity show a rise of at least thirty-two feet. These facts are given by Prof. Moseley as proofs of a gradual rise of the waters. If the above theory is correct, then instead of wearing away and draining Lake Erie to the compass of a stream, as certain other theorists have predicted, Niagara Falls may become tilted to such a degree as to finally preclude the egress of the lake waters, which in consequece will continue rising and extending, submerging the lowlands along its shores and the islands at its center until, filled to overflowing, they will seek an outlet southward from the lake basin to the valley of the Mississippi. This then seems the fate in store for both island and mainland at the head of Lake Erie, unless averted by a change in the earth's structural program. However, in the event of such a calamity; it is safer to infer that the present inhabitants will not be there to suffer from the consequent drowning out. Concerning the lake archipelago, Prof. G. Frederick Wright, the noted scientist of Oberlin college, refers to the region as " one of the most interesting on the American continent, " forming as it does a most important geological boundary. Prominent among features of interest may be noted the fact that the islands are what remain above the present lake level of a long narrow upheaval known as the " Cincinnati Anti-Clinal," which appeared when all the rest of the United States was still under the ocean. Further concerning this formation, an authority states as follows: " A local and peculiar upheaval in this ridge, of which Put-in-Bay is near the center, brought up a formation of the rocky structure geologically lower than the surrounding portions of the ridge. The portion thus brought up and which constitutes the under rocks of Put-in-Bay island, is known as the water line of the Niagara group, and is literally honeycombed with caves. It is no exaggeration to say that under almost every acre of this island exists one of these cavernous places. The upheaval-formed arches and the settling down of unsupported strata formed rooms with roofs and floors." Since in the past the lake islands have fomed the center of subterranean disturbances of a local character, so they may and probably do form such, as evidenced by a slight, but very perceptible earthquake shock which visited them only a half dozen years ago. On this occassion the disturbance proved local, centering as near as could be asertained at Isle St. George, but extending across the lake and touching the shores on both sides. In view of these condtions, residents of the more nervous and imaginative sort have at times fancied themselves dwelling over Tophet and have lived in fear of an early collapse of the islands and submergence beneath the waters of Erie. The caves of Put-in-Bay are a never ceasing wonder alike to the scientist and lover of adventure, both of whom seek from time to time to explore their mysteries and whole chapters might be written of the thrilling experiences in the Plutonian darkness of chambers and passages leading-- nobody knows whither. All, or nearly all, of these caverns contain minature lakes and channels of cold, clear water, connecting the Lake Erie and are generally conceded to be ancient water courses. The subterranean drainage of the island is remarked in the caverns not only, but in the cellars and wells, the former becoming flooded when the wind is east and then lake level high; the latter regularly rising and falling with the lake. So far as reveled by exploration, Perry's cave is the largest on the island. This cave is nearly forty feet below the surface. It is 200 feet long, 165 feet wide, and has an average height of seven feet. Though spanned by a single arch the interior has standing room upon its floors for 8,000 persons. The roof was formally studded thick with stalactites, but these have nearly been broken off and carried away by specimen collectors and venders, but the stalagmite floor--formed by century droppings of water holding in solution calcium carbonate-- forms a study of interest. At the further extremety, and extending back under cleft and cavened rocks, stretches a lake of crystal clearness and viewed by torchlight the scene at this sight is weirdly beautiful. For a number of years Perry's Cave has been regularly opened each season to summer visitors, thousands of whom annually view it. An annex to this cave in known as " Perry's Bedroom." " Crystal Cave," newly discovered and opened to visitors, is now attracting attention. Though not as large as the former, " Crystal Cave" combines so much of noveltry and interest that even the oldest inhabitant now wonders how it kept so long in the dark. Its discovery in connection with extensive strontia deposits, of which it forms a part, is a matter of especial comment. During the winter of 1897 and 1898 newpapers all over the country recorded an important item the discovery ofstrontia at Put-in-Bay and quite a wave of interest was sent through the country, setting on the "qui vive" mineralogists, chemists, ad scientists generally. As a matter of fact the discovery is now only new to the outside world, as it was originally made in 1859 and the existance of strontia deposits has since been generally known to the islanders. Much interest was manufested by visitors of scientific trend, among whom was State Geologist Newberry, whose attention was attracted thereto while visiting the island. In 1882 a European tourist, Lieut. Emiel Vanador, then on leave of absence from his post in the German army, chanced to visit the archipelago. He was a man of extensive learning and while at Put-in-Bay made the acquaintance of the late Capt. John Brown, Jr., of whom he became an intimate friend. Both being interested in geological research, they together explored the rocks and caves of the island, and in this way the distinquished foreigner soon learned of the strontia deposits. He began prospecting on his own account, ending by leasing for a period of twenty five years grounds near Perry's Cave. A shaft was sunk and mining at once begun. About seventy five tons of the product were dug out, but on learning that the shipment to Germany via Atlantic ports would be heavy, Lieut, Vanador decided to abandon for a time his enterprise, especially as the company which he represented was then working a strontia mine in Italy at less cost for transportation. That at Put-in-Bay was therefore closed, until the Italian deposits should have become exhausted. A rude, but strongly built structure was erected over the mine, the tools enclosed and the door securely barred. A power of attorney was committed by Venador to Captain Brown together with the keys to the mine, and the stranger took his departure leaving the islanders in a state of wonder as to the purpose of his visit, his movements having been somewhat mysterious. Since for a number of years nothing was heard of Venador, and as the lease had not been paid up to time, the present owner of the land finally adoted legal measures to have the contract annulled and in this way gained possession. For the first time since its closing the mine was thrown open to the light, and the shipping away of several tons of strontia formed the agency which spread aboroad the supposed new discovery. The strontia vein struck by Venador in 1882 isof a great thickness, and the mineral is remarkable for its purity. In close connection with the mine is " Crystal Cave." It was at first difficult of access, and little was known on the island concerning it, until fully opened up by new owner, Gustav Heinemann, during the winter and spring of 1898. The cave is 22 feet below the surface, and is now descended by a flight of stairs, and viewed under electric lights by which it is illuminated and the place resembles a " fairy grotto." It has also been referred to as " a jewel casket of the nymphs." The interior comprises of several chambers and the side walls of each are of solid strontia-- dazzling, flashing, in their crystalline whiteness. The ceilings are arched and hung with prismatically formed crystals, emitting all the colors of the rainbow with a fasinating brillancy not unlike that of the clearest cut diamonds. The owner, who up to this present time has earned his bread as a common day laborer, possesses, evidently a fortune in Crystal Cave, and in the mine connecting therein. In the dim past, the islands were alternately submerged or drained according to existing conditions of the earth's formative forces. Says Prof. Newberry: " We have evidence that the country about the islands was once all dry land, and a large river then flowed down the present bed of the lake and emptied near New York City," Prof. Moseley observes as follows: " If there were dwellers on Marblehead at the time of the building of the pyramids, they might have walked to Kelley Island or Put-in-Bay at anytime of the year." At that period the island cave passages were supposed to be a tributary to surface streams entering into the river above mentioned. A period concerning which notable evidences exist on the islands was that of the great ice age, when glaciers 1000 feet high scooped out the bed of Lake Erie and left their ineffaceable grovings upon the lime rock. In very many places at Put-in-Bay, Kelley Island, Middle Bass, Isle St.George, "Starve," and other islands, scoring the flat rocks and extending under the water of the lake, are seen these glacial marks, too indelibly graven to be mistaken. There course runs uniformly from Northeast to Southwest, and the scratched stones and granite boulders left behind are heaped in terminal moraines, or scattered promiscuously over the land. Especially famous are the glacial rocks of Kelley Island, which forming the terminus of a line of bluffs over looking " North Bay," represent on of the island's greatest attractions. " Glacial Rocks " comprise a reservant on rescued from a quarryman's pick and derrick, and set aside a gift of the late Mr. Younglove, of Cleveland, to the Western Reserve Historical Society, for preservation as a scientific marvel. As an example of the stupendous carvings wrought by the " granite chislels " of the drift period, these rocks have probably no parallel in the United States, and the regular outlines and polished smoothness thereof suggest the idea and produce the effect of some gigantic piece of sculpture. To view them, parties representing members of scientific circles, classes from our universities, curio hunters and adventurers make special pilgrimages to the island. The geological formation of Kelley island is distinct from that in Put-in-Bay , being of Corniferious limestone, blue in tint and laying in strata of varied thicknesses. The Kelley Island quarries are productive of many rare fossils, those of extinct fishes being especially numerous. The fossilized jaws of the Onychodus a foot long, and studded with sharp pointed teeth, have there been unearthed with other interesting relics of by-gone ages. An ancient shore line, which angles across the island, forming a zigzag wall of precipitous and waterworn rock, and overlooking wide levels where once rolled the waters of Erie, forms also an interesting geological feature of Kelley island. " Oh the Wonderment of our Ohio " +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Tid bits to be continued in part 28.