The Elk Mountain pilot., 1880-07-15
GRAND DISCOVERY CT A WONDERFUL
AND BEAUTIFUL CAVE
The Finest IN Tie Rocky Msel.aias Yas
lifceat StdaCd.ss.

The first trip Of the Boys Exploring
Association was grand success and a
great surprise to themselye. and every
body else. 1t resulted in the discovery
of the most beautiful cave, SO Ear as
we know in Colorado or the Rocky
Mountains. 1t was discovered in Viii
liams' canon on Saturday, June GOTH
The discovery party was led by Rev.
r. T. Cross, and consisted of the fol-
lowing boys; Geo. Pickett, and Berthe
Peck, assistant leaders, John Pickett,
Harry Johnson, George Neal, Arthur
Tuthill. Bertie Cone and Lashrop Hill.
They set out with the aim Of exploring
the canon as fully as possible. They
took candles, thinking that they might
visit the old cave, but thinking the
charges of the guide to high for their
means they passed on and discovered
cave of their own, one that far
eclipses the old one, that being in the
main only an extended crevice, theirs
being genuine cave with large rooms
and wonderful stalactites.
As they passed up the canon the
leader sent the assistant leaders in
charge Of several boys to explore
creyices and openings up the sides.of
the canon. While one party was doing
this John and George Pickett found
their way up an almost inaccessible
path, and discovered the entrance to
the cave, which in honor of them will
be known as " Plckett's cave"
Coming back and informing the rest
Of the party they all with great dihcul-
ty made the ascent, lighted their can
dies and began to explore. Creeping
through narrow opening they found
themselves in the first chamber, about
ten feet long and four feet high. Then
crawling through a narrow crevice for
twenty or thirty feet they entered
another chamber Of considerable size,
to the right and left Of which were
beautiful grottos, each about twenty
feet long and fifteen high. The one
on the left contained beautiful folds of
stalactite, appearing Ike curtains one
behind the other. Going forward
they entered another room still larger
with some small but beautiful grottos.
Going forward still further they enterd
chamber Of wonderful beauty, very
irregular in shape but about fifty feet
high. To the left were Immense
masses Of sta!actite matter, as though
a river had flowed into the cavern and
suddenly frozen, as it was leaking
down in successive cascades. The pc.
culiar curtain, or drapery like form Of
the stalactites it is impossible to de-
scribe. AS the eye follows this frozen
river of lime up TIE side Of the cavern
it finally rests upon long and large
stalactite just discernable in the gloom
of the uppermost dome. At the right
Of room there is a long high room,
forty feet long, at the end Of which Is
small passage full Of fine sta!actites.
This leads to huge well, forty or fifty
feet deep. To what beautiful rooms
this may lead is not yet known. At
this point very fine double stalactite
wa, obtained for the cabinet Of the
Colorado College.
Retracing their steps they followed
the main course until they came to a
steep descent Of eight feet, climbing
down this they were in smaller room
which at first seemed to be the termi
nus of the cave But they soon found
a narrow passage extending upward at
an angle Of about forty-fve degrees
the bottom of which was completely
covered with smooth stalactite fo.ma
ton. Scran,bling up this passage they
they discovered an upright chimney,
four feet in diameter and some forty
feet or more in height. At the foot Of
the chimney two narrow passage ways
led oT-no one knows where. That
i