The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-04-22
LOST In A CAVE.

The Hannibal, Mo-, Courier says: Some
days ago we mentioned the fact that the
mouth of an extensive cave had been un-
earthed in stone quarry in South Hauni-
bal. Since it's discovery it has been q ia
yorite resort for boys, who have daily made
explorations of the vast subterranean laby-
rinth. Yesterday, however, an expedition
was organized to explore the cave, the adj
ventures of which are destined to give the
newly-discovered cavern local fame and
history that will not soon be forgotten.
Tho lads composing the party were five in
number, from 10 to 13 years old.
The boys entered the cave about 10
o'clock yesterday morning, each provided
with small bit of candle two or three
inches long, all burning at once, and the
little torch light procession marched
through the silent depths very gaily and
happily, looking for curiosities and search
ing for strange scenes. Our heroes had
determined to make thorough exploration
of the unknown cavern, and went on, and
on, through the winding riffs and assures of
the rocks until their candles had nearly
burned out, and when they attempted to
return they found themselves in the con-
dition of the five foolish virgins, and were
left in total darkness to grope and crawl
amid mud and dirt, sharp stones and jagged
rocks,
Nobe of the parents of the boys missed
,4,,A lata in
inquiry of some of their playmates it was
ascertained that they had gone into the
cave at the hour named, since which time
they had not been heard of or seen. About
five o'clock last evening the alarm was
given that five boys were lost in the cave,
and in short time large crowd, estimated
at five hundred to six hundred persons, was
gathered about its mouth, among them
the fathers mothers, brothers. sisters, rela-
tions and friends of the lost children, all in
terrible suspense, and shedding many bit
ter tears, and their feelings during the long
and painful hours of search can be better
imagined than here described.
Searching parties were organized to ex-
plore the cavern, and as they would return
with no tidings OF the lost ones many pa
rents heart wore filed with anguish, and
all manner OF horrid deaths were conjured
upon as having befallen the little fellows
who were thus buried alive. Small persons
were in demand to enter the cave and look
for the lost ones, as, owing to the formation
of the rifes, it is impossible for large
person to squeeze through in many places,
and money was freely offered for volunteers
to prosecute the search, as well as reward
for the one who should bring out the boys.
Several parties returned from the cavern
without gaining any trace of the boys, and
the hours Of suspense seemed like days
midnight was approaching, and still large
and anxious crowd stood around the dread
opening, and among those present were
many ladies. Candles were furnished in
abundance, while balls of twine were pro
vided and led in through the windings OF
the cave to afford guide for those who
entered to return. Charles Mcdaniel also
took in with him, in his first exploration, a
paint pot and brush, with which he marked
arrows on the rocks pointing toward the
mouth of the cave. These precautions en-
abled those who entered to readily find the
way out
Shortly after eleven o'clock last night a
party of five was organized for the next
effort. They entered and followed up the
twine, six balls of which had been used in
tracing the windings of the cave. Here
they discovered the tracks of the lost boys,
who had crawled through very small Gre
vice. Charles Mcdaniel here took the lead,
and after crawling some distance through
rift just large enough TO admit his body,
he called cut, when from the dark, un-
known depths beyond, he heard a faint re-
sponse, which he says sounded like the
squeak of mouse. He crawled on still
further and called again, when nearer
and louder response greeted him; again he
crawled forward, lighting up the darkness;
beyond him with bulls-eye light which
he carried in his hand, when he heard q
voice exclaim: "Oh, see light"
Soon he caught sight of the little fellows
all huddled together in an opening between
two vast rocks, one under them and one
above, with barely room for them to lie
stretched out, but too low for them to even
stand on thei: hands and knees, while in
width in most places it was barely sufficient
to admit of the passage Of one at time
AS he came near them, and the boys caught
sight of his face, Dana Mcdaniel ex-
claimed, 40, thank God, there is my
brother p and the little fellows shed tears