The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-10-16
The Hefalo Of Freeeoh
sd11a LAWRENCE, X. t.
Saturday Morning, Oct. I6, 1858.
Cave in Southern Kansas.

Cave in Southern KansaA
Lewis M. TAPPAN of this city, visited
the southern portion of Kansas in August
last, and made report of his trip, over
the signature of "Bay State," in the
Philadelphia Bulletin. After mentioning
his arrival at Eldorado, Hunter county,
he states that q party of FIVE left that
place, and went four miles distant to a
point where cave has recently been dis.
covered, but not entirely explored.
"On our arrival, )" says Mr.. TApPAN, 1--WE
found that body of Osages had camped
the night previous.
I'VE found the cave to be under the
highest ridge made by the rolling prairie.
Its entrance is at the head Of a rayine.
the bottom of which is thirty feet below
the surrounding prairie. The ravine is
made quite picturesque by its shrubbery,
and trees, and a ripping stream of ice
water Issuing from the side of the cave.
about ten feet from its entrance, which il
four feet wide and eight feet high, the
top being handsomely arched. This en-
trance forms the centre of a semi circle
measuring about 100 feet, and shelving
forward to the height of thirty feet. The
whole structure is of limestone and bears
the appearance of work of art. Diyest.
ing ourselves of our coats, and each tax
ing candle, we proceeded to explore
this work of nature. A few feet from
the mouth we found right and left wing
which extended but few yards with
these exceptions the avenue continued
uninterrupted and of the size of its mouth
or entrance for a distance of 100 feet.
Wnen we came to a small, oval room,
handsomely arched overhead. A short
distance further on, through smaller av-
enue we found another room about 10 by
10 feet. Near this was still larger one :
Its width being from 10 to IL fes., its
length 20 feet. lis quite high and OF
dome shape. Soon after leaving this. we
were obliged to crawl through a passage
70 feet long and just large enough to ad-
NIT mans body. One of the party
alarmed us little by crying out "rm
stuck, can't go any further" Another
twist of the body set him all right again,
and ne was ready to go ahead, feeling
confident that he could not get into q
place that he could not get out of. Va
nous conjectures existed in reference to
the extent and condition of the cave be-
yond thepoint it had been explored by
others, which was one e-eighth of mile ;
we were therefore determined to solve the
problem, and pushed on. We were soon
informed by the leader, that he had come
to a jumping off place." How deep i,
was ne could not judge, as he could not
reflect his light down. As we had no
rope, we took hold Of each others hands
and slowly lowered the first ones down,
At distance of ten feet he said he could
touch water. A few inches farther let him
on terra tirma. We continued to push
on until we reached the terminus, finding
several rooms, but none larger than those
described. The distance from the mouth
We judged to be upwards of quarter Of
mile. H.ra-li
Many ofthe rooms are magnificent. In
addition to their beautiful form, they are
embellished with stalactites, hanging like
icicles, amid incrustations of carbonated
lime, rejecting the light of our candles
like foldsof sparkling snow. Along the
avenues may frequently be seen whai
appear well formed tunnel shaped venti-
eIators. The air was very cool and pure
and We experienced no i'll effect from ouI
adventure, save being decidedly dirty"