Kansas weekly herald., 1854-09-22
a Subferrannean Pas, discovered
Through fEae Sierra Nevada.

4 Subferrannean Pass discovered
Through the Sierra Nevada.
We take the following from the Maripo-
sa Chronicle of Saturday. 1t may all be
true, but it has an air of romance:
We publish the annexed extract from a
letter received few days since, written by
an oldIricnd, whose exploraticns In differ
-ent parts OF California have greatly assisted
in developing her immense resources.
Should this subterraneous pass prove as prac-
tlcabie for a railroad route as our correspon-
dent anticipates, the whole subject will re-
ceiye an impetus scarcely dreamed of by the
most ardent imagination: Having heard
Maj. Speak Of very large and long
cave that was somewhere near the head of
the Yo-Semity Valley, and as the mann
moth caves at Marble Springs, formed in
the immense marble ledge that traverses the
gold region Of California, are more or less
connected by fissuTes, it occurred to me that
there might be q subterranean pass through
the Sierra. The hostility of the Indians
prevented my acting upon the idea at the
time, but it was not forgotten, as soon as the
benefcent influence OF Lord BIS ad-
ministration of Indian affairs had extended
to that region, stimulated by desire to rem
der my name as illustrious as some of our
distinguished California travellers, and at
the same time benefit my country, after am
ply providing for the undertaking, COM
menced my exploration.
I had Observed whileout against the In
dians III 1851, that some Indians we We're
pursuing disappeared at or near certain
point at the head OF the valley, and although
we examined every rock and bush in the
vicinity, we were unable to obtain any clue
to their hiding place. On our return from
the expedition the cave was mentioned to
me incidenta ly, AID | at once concluded
that 1t was the secret haunt OF the Indians.
accordingly directed my attention to this
point. Alter having searched for three days
without the slightest prospect of success at
tending our efforts, resolved to adopt
another plan; but accident, or fortune, ac-
cornplished what no plan could have done.
Ciambering among the mill-dewed and
messy rocks at the base Of the lofty cliff, /
had become so dusty that 1t became neces-
sarv for me to bathe. The idea of taking
shower bath struck my fancy, and at
once repaired to the fall, which exceeds in
height the celebrated fall Of the Himalaya; !;
ordinarily, one cannot approach nearer than
100 yards OF the falling body of water, ow
ing to the spray or mist that hovers over
and around ''thc cauldron;" but at this time
there was strong breeze blowing up the
valley, sweeping aside the mist that hither
TO had prevented my nearer approach. l
was about divesting myself of my garments,
when a gust of wind stronger than any that
had preceded it, exposed to my asLonished
and joyful sight the long-sought cave. My
ablutions were forgotten-l hurried back
10 my party, and made known the wonder
full and fortunate discovery. The rest of
the day was devoted to the preparation of
torches; and on the following morning, after
q hearty breakfast, we commenced our ex-
ploration Of the cave.
We lad no difficulty in entering it, al
though we were thoroughly drenched by
the sheet Of water, back of which, protected
by shelving rocks, was an open space. lead
ing to the cave l have not language to
describe the feeling of awe with which
was struck upon entering the portals of this
grand and glowing structure, made by no
mortal hands. Ali that had read of in
toyish romance, all that a vivid and erratic
imagination had conceived of subterran-
ean world was tame and commonplace com
pared with this sublimely stupendous work
of nature. But to proceed: With lighted
torches we cautiously commenced our
march, adnlirirg tie giant stalactites that
reflected IN nagnifiad rays the light from
our torches We Lad proceeded but short
distance, when we observed what appeared
to he q t5ail, worn in the rock. We at once
decided to follow it. We had followed it
hut a short distance, when, passing through
a bed OF dust, we discovered Indian tracks,
recently formed. We at first We're startled
at this discovery, hut after a little rehec-
ton, we decided that in such place tracks
would remain apparently fresh for years
and then, after our fears had subsidized, we
were encouraged with the idea that the
tracks would facilitate our exploration
We've correct IN olr suppositlon, for had
we not followed the trail made by the In
dians, we would have been left in more
than Eevptian darkness. But | anticipate
accordingly, we followed on, cheered by
tie hope OF soon emerging into the broad
glare Of day. Of che thing we were as
sured-nanely, that there was an inlet as
well as an outlet, ior strong current OF
air was meeting US, and cur torches turned
bright and rap1dly-too rapidly, for our
stock of fat pine was dirnin shing very fast.
I thought of sending Mike lack for a fresh
supply, when, turning a sharp angle of the
passage, we met, face to face, two tall and
manly looking Indians. Language can
not express the astonishment and rage that
was depicted on their counteuances upon be
holding us. and had it been in their power,
we would have been doomed TO inevitable
destruction. But after a while, ascer-
tanned that one of them spoke a lite Span