Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1875-08-29
THE CAVE IN CAVE VALLEY.

THE CAVE IN CAVE VALLEY.
In the preliminary report of Lieuten.
ant Wheeler. just published, occurs the
following description of subterranean
cavern that has formed the basis OF con-
siderable speculation among the inhabit-
ants of that section. The Lieutenant
says, "our anticipations had been greatly
aroused by the various reports Of a cave
near the Patterson Mining District, for
the greater part uncxplored, and sup
posed to be of grand magnitude. Ac-
cordingly, upon arriving in its vicinity
and pitching our tents within some three
hundred yards. our next efforts were to-
ward fitting up q party to make thor
ough exploration. We were fortunate in |
securing the services OF an old Indian OF
the Gosiute tribe named Anzip, who pos.
sessed thorough knowledge OF the sub
terranean windings, and to be convers-
ant also with the various Indian tradi-
tons that attribute strange characteris-
tics to the locality. As we gathered
around the campfire dinner, he related
TO our interpreter. in his native tongue,
the various wonders of this underground
world The principal tradition runs,
that far within the cave they came upon
new and grand world where n race OF
white people lived, having fair fields and
flowers. grassy lawns and cool fountains,
with vast profusion Of magnihcence;
that at one time and another the Indians,
who have ventured within their confines
have been taken and made prisoners,
never being allowed to return to theil
tribes. In all, during his remembrance,
six had been 80 taken, and the various
lodges mourned their losss and were de-
sirous that some strong power like our
own should 90 to demand their return.
The intense excitement OF Amps lm-
agination depicted 30 truthfally upon his
swartby features was highly interesting,
connected with his earnest and gesticu'
lating manner. When we would seen
to doubt his reasserted tale he was 80 ter
ribly angry, that being afraid that h
would abandon Ma as guide, wc CAV
tac,t consent to his various variations
Our old guide. Pongo, told us tina
within the memory OF his mother, nov
very aged, two squaws had been taken
upon entering the cave, and after an Alb
sence Of four years. were sent back to
the outer world. clad in the finest o
buckskin, covered with hieroglyphics o
the race who had for that time he'll
them in bondage They protested t
have been well treated and to hav
lived in a pleasant land. Again. tw
more had disappeared in the sam
way aud were never heard from again
These and various other stories served t
while away the twilight hour of the even
ing before our visit to the above locality
Our party numbered twenty. three, we
supplied with all neoessaries, such @
candles. ropes and arrangements 10
measuring and making survey W
made an early start. and were out OF Il
light of day between six and seven hour
Our measurings made the cave no long
than three thousand feet, and for the la
one thousand feet the novelty had great
worn away. when we found ourselv
crawling among the slime OF some of {
worst imaginable clayey sediment. i
seven hundred or eight hundred IL
from the entrance everything was DR.
the walls high, and several compartment
were quite interesting; beyond that I
humidity and mud commenced, and up
our returning to the outer air our p'
sons we're more Of u curiosity than {
cave itself, Our guide got along We
we'll for about two thousand feet; tn
he commenced to get excited and
wildered, constantly threading vario
iabyrinths and returning to the place
departure. This mistake could b
happened to any one, only that We b
left marks here and there easily to
recognized. Every channel was clos
examined, and all were found to exhar
in the solid wall Of the surrounding lin
One deep we'll was found that apparen
extended downward for seventy feet,
which point the lead sinker struck eitl
the bottom or projecting shoulder. ]
subterranean opening extends as far
the buttes. which are situated some tn
or four miles from the high peaks of
adjacent Sehell Greek range. We ca
out and returned to camp. weary, cove
with mud and slime. and with every ,
ticle of romance eliminated from US,
surprised that there ever could be
so imaginative and speculative in ev
thing that is absurd as the Indl'
The cave Is about seventy.five n
north and west of Phoebe. and ha
our knowledge, been the scene OF s
stories almost as extravagant and
landish as Anzip's.
How IT Is DONE From Pitts,