Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1869-09-09
From the Shermantown Telegraph.
The Great Cave Of Eastern
Nevada.

Eichty.fve miles to the southwest
of White Pine, III one of the lowest
foothills OF the Shell Greek range is
located the great cave OF Eastern Ne
vada. Its direct situation is a singu-
lar freak of nature, for the ridge in
which it is located extends for mile
and a half out into the valley IA branch
OF Steptoe valley, and at no point will
it exceed sixty ieet in height. A story
is current that at the time the follow
ers of Joe Smith were daily expecting
an open rupture with the United States
Government, this cave was known to
the high chief and elders OF the Nor
mon Church, and that they brought
all their plate and treasure and secret
ed them in some of the many chamb-
crs in this cavern. 1t was first discov
cred by white man (Mormans are
not included in this country's intcrprc-
tation of the meaning OF that phrase),
in or about March, '66. Being unprc-
pared with the necessary lights and
sategarl twinc, he did not venture in
tar. Indians hold it in superstltious
horror, and their account OF heap In
juns' going far in and never returning,
and one old Indian, who is styled by
the white settlers, the "Cave Indian
4 great many moons ago, going tar in
with number of his tribe, and that
they travelled long time and finally
came, to gushing stream of water, on
the banks OF which grew evergrcens
and beautiful flower, aud that a great
many Indians lived near by who had
dwarf ponies and beautiful squaws.
According to him, this Indian did not
like to live in the bowels OF mother
earth, but would rather 'chase the an
telopc over the plain" snare the rab
bit and spear the spotted trout; So,
when all were lost in sleep, he stole
away, and, after long time, suffering
much, he finally, more dead than alive,
reached INTO daylight and rejoiced.
This is firmly believed by the Indians,
and even now, it is only when the
storm is most severe that one will
drag his limbs just inside the protec-
ton Of the hanging wall, and while
there will fairly shake with tear. The
entrance would hardly be noticed by
travellers, 1t being very low and con-
.tinuing some twenty feet; then it grad
ually grows higher and broader. Many
OF the chambers are Of great sizs, the
most interesting one being styled
dancing hall" This apartment is at
least sixty by eighty feet, and forty in
height; the floor IS of fine sandstone,
and very even; convenient to it are
smaller apartments, styled the ladies'
drcssingroom, and retreshment sa-
loon, and near by the most singular
spring, with nice tasting water, gushes
up through crevlces in the rock. Fur
ther in the darkness increases, and the
ceilings OF many OF the chambers are
literally covered with stalactites OF
various shapes and forms. Stalagmites
also are thick upon the floors. 1t is
not known what distance this subter-
raneous passage extends, but parties
have been in about four thousand feet,
without coming to the end OF the
main passage, a deep cut or jump there
prevents one going further. 1t is pro-
posed by persons living near the cave,
to go in fully prepared and cross any
and everything. or find its close.