River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-06-03
A CRYSTAL CAVE.
GlitteriEg Gems OF Gorgeous Briliancy
Discovered in One Of the Hills Of Colo.
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Discovered in One Of the Hills Of Colo.
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LeadvllIe (Col.) Chronicle
The Dirk mine is located on the
south slope of Long and Derry Hill,
opposite the Belcher and near the Last
Chance, in which rich strike was
recently made.
The Dirk was the property of Mrs. II.
Webher and Mr.. 5. L. Kosttch, but late
last @al they gave an interest to Messrs.
Murphy, Dwyer and McMurray, for
which these parties agreed to find min
eral.
The development upon the mine was
then tunnel seventy-fve feet in length,
and the proposition was to make a sta
ton ut this point and sink a shaft to
mineral. This was done, and body Of
mineral was cut. The owners were rot
satisfied with the grade of this, how
ever, and kept on sinking. At the depth
of about sixty feet shot IN one corner
of tie shaft blew out quantity of
rock and upon going down to hoist 1t
the miners were supremely astonished
by the discovery that the blast had
opened to their bowildered glzs an i'm
meuse cavern or recess in the bowels Of
the earth.
Wild with excitement the men,sought
TO eliter the cave, and with some trouble
succeeded. With candles in their hands
they Proceeded TO explore their dis
ooveIY. The effect of the light upon il
was wonderfully beautiful. and rs the
rays flashed upon the roof and sides,
the sight of myriads of crystal stalac-
tites, Crotasquely formed in Dame Ma
ture'g most fantastic mode, sparkling
and Rsittering like a nest of vertible
Diamonds, greeted the dszzled eyes Of
the explorers.
The discoveries pushed ahead, now
crawling through low narrow passages,
just large enough to admit a man,
again emerging into wide chambers, the
roof being from six to twenty feet in
height. and constantly bewildered by
the fresh and ever changing novelty
Of the wonderous spectscles. In this
manner they passed from end to end of
the cave distance of fully 1876 feet,
their, progress being slow, while their
excla nations of wonder and delight
were tequent. Their prolonged alb
sence and silence alarmed the man at
the wlDdlass, who at last summoned a
friend from an adjoining claim, and was
let dcwn TO hunt his companions.
He, too, became bewildered in the in
vestigation of tine cave and forgot to in
| form the man above about it, 80 that
the latter in turn became alarmed, and
calling another man was likewise low
cred into the shaft.
As soon as those below recovered
their. senses they shouted to the man
abova the news of their startling disCoy-
cry. No more work was done in the
shaft that day. The news spread rap
idly over the hill and men ilocked there
all day and gazed in wonder upon the
marvellous cave.
The Dirk miners gathered a few
specimens Of there stalactites and hur-
RED to the city to convey the news TO
Mrs. Weber and Mr.. Kostitch. Mrs.
Webhar, who is engaged in the dress
making business in rooms above the
Leadville Undertaking Company, has
these specimens ON exhibition here.
At present parties will not be allowed
to VISIT the mine and cave, "a it will in
terfefe with the progress Of work on
the shaft, but Mrs. Weber proposes TO
soon arrange for the accommodation OF
visitors, and will probably devote one
or more days each week TO this pur-
pose, dine announcement Of which will
be made in the Chronicle. The wonder
full cave, which will be named the
Crystal Palace" Will form one Of the
leading attractions during the summer
for our citizens and visitors from other
states.