The Nevada journal., 1854-08-11
A Cave with Two Ends.

A Mosr ASTONISHING Discovery We find
the following account of most astonishing
discovery in the Mariposa Chronicle The
authors name is not given, nor is its truth
vouched for. But as exhibiting good degree
of Imagination at least, it will be found inter
J esting:
Having heard Mai. s. speak of very
large and long cave that was somewhere near
the head of the Yo-Semity Valley and as the
mammoth caves at Marble Springs. formed
in the immense marble ledge that traverses the
gold region of alfornia, are more or less con-
nected by assures. it occurred to me that there
might be a subterranean pass through the
Sierra. The hostility of the Indians prevented
my acting upon the idea at the time but it was
not forgotten, and as soon as the benhcent
influences of Lieut.. BIS administration
of India affairs had extended to that region,
stimulated by desire to render my name as
illustrious as some of our distinguished Caifor-
MIA travellers and at the same time benefit nv
country, after amply providing for the under
taking, commenced my exploration
| had observed while out against the Indians
in 81, that some Indians we were 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 incidentally. and | at
once concluded that II was the secret haunt of
the Indians. accordingly directed my atten-
6 tion to this point. After having searched for
r three days without the slightest prospect of
success attending our efforts, l resolved to
adopt another plan But accident, or fortune,
accomplished what no plan could have DONE
Clamberng among the mil-dewed and m0ssv
rocks at the base Of the lofty elf ! h.4 he
come SO dusty that it became ntcoesary tor me
so bathe The idea of taking a shower bath
struck my fancy, and at once repaired to the
fall which exceeds in height the celebrated fall
OF the Hlmmalaya ordinarily, one cannot get
, nearer than one hundred yards of the falling
body OF water owing to the spray or mist that
hovers over and around the 'caudron;" but at
this time there was strong breeze blowing ND
the valley, sweeping aside the mist that hither-
to had prevented my nearer approach. | was
about divesting myself of my garments, when
gust OF wind, stronger than any that had pre-
ceded it, exposed to my astonished and joyful
sight the long sought cave Nv abutions
were forgotten--I hurried back to my party
) and made known the wonderful and Formulate
discovery. The rest of the day was devoted to
the preparation of torches and on the follow
ing morning. after hasty breakfast, we com
menced our exploration Of the cave.
We had no difficulty in entering it, although
we were thoroughly drenched by the sheet of
water, back OF which, protected by shelving
rocks, was all open space leading to the cave.
have not language to describe the feeling Of
awe with which was struck apon entering
the portals of this grand and glowing structure,
; made by no mortal hands. All that | had
read of in boyish romance--all that a vivid and
erratlc imagination had conceived of sub
terranean world was tame and commonplace
compared with this submely stupendous works
of nature But to proceed: " th lighted
torches we cautiously commenced our march
admiring the giant stalactites that reflected in
magni6ed rays the light from our torches We
had proceeded but short distance, when we
observed what appeared to be trail, worn in
the rQck. We at once decided to follow it -
We had followed it but short distance. when
+. passing through bed of dust. We discovered
Indian tracks recently formed. We at first
were startled at this discovery. but after little
refec 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 track
, would facilitate our exploration. We were
, correct in our suppostion, for had we OF. fol-
lowed the trail made by the Indians, we would
/, have been left in more than Egyptian darkness
But l nticipate--accordngly we followed on.
cheered by the hope of soon emerging into the
broad glare Uf day. OF one thing we were as
, sured-namely, that there was an inlet as we'll
I as an outlet, for strong current of air was
meeting US, and our torches burned bright aud
rapidly rapidly, for our stock of fat pine
was diminishing very fast. / thought of send
ing Mike" back for a fresh supply. when
turning sharp angle of the passage we met
I face to face two tall and manly looking indians
Language cannot express the astonishment and
: rage that was depicted on their countenances
upon beholding Us. and had it been in their
power, we would have been doomed to inevita.
BILE destruction. But after while, l ascer-
tained that one of them spoke a little Spanish
and with some difficulty, l made them under
r stand that we had been directed through the
J mysterious passage ay the Great Spirit. They
. then told me in broken Spanish, that we were
scarcely half way through the pass-that little
farther on was an immense chasm, but that it
was brldged by logs (which we found petri(iedl
THAT there were other passages that led into
la lakes and rivers but without any known outlet
l hey SAID that the pass was only known to
tilelr trioe and ourselves it had been men-
toned to Maj. S -, but had never been
shown him-that they were the great Medicine
men OF their tribe, and were returning from q
visit to the White tribe at the Eastern end oil
the pass. hey then gave us some of their
t'rches-bid us good bye, and departed. We
congratulated each other on our good for
tune, and continued our march in high spirits
we found the chash a yawnng abyss, into
which had been thrown many victims of savage
cruelty, for at the bottom, by the aid of torch
thrown down, we discovered the bones of many
human frames
We found nothing more to obstruct our
passage except few massive boulders, which
we, however, passed, and on the morning of
the fourth day, we entered the village of the
j White indians