Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-12-02
A Rich "Find" by Colorado Miners.

THE Silver Cliff (Colo.) Prospect pub
fishes the following somewhat remsrka-
bic story: 10 ga LEaft E.
On last Sunday, Monday and Tuesday
a severe snow storm ragged in the noun
tains, extending to the valley below.
The prospectors in the range, who were
out of sight of their camp, were forced
to seek shelter'in the canons and under
the large lodges of rock, it being impos-
sible to follow guides to any designated
point, all traces of paths being entirely
-Obliterated. r~s
S. j.. Hartman, E. r. Oliver and III.
A. Melton were prospecting in the San
gre de CristO range, on the San Luis
side, about two miles north of what is
known as Dead Mans Camp, on Sum
day afternoon, when the storm came
upon them in all it's fury, rendering it
dangerous to travel. Being near deep
canyon. they sought shelter from the
wind by entering. Not far from where
they stood, on the same side, they no
ticed an opening, and concluded to
make an examination. Drawing near,
by feeling around they found that there
was quite q long tunnel, though not
very deep. They determined to enter,
aud proceeded to gather dry pine for
torches. After getting sufficient guam
tity they entered on hands and knees, in
single file. In this position they crawled
for ten or twelve feet, when they en-
tered into a large chamber, where they
could easily stand upright. This cham.
Der enlarged for twenty feet, where
they reached what seemed to be D sec
ond passage, when, as before, the walls
closed, and it became necessary for
them to proceed in single file. The
second passage was not over ten feet in
length, when they emerged into q some
what deeper and much larger chamber,
the walls widening to such an extent
that in order to tell the size of the room
it was necessary to follow them up from
either side &C the entrance. About ten
feet to the right Mr.. Oliver, who was in
advance, struck his foot. against some
thing that moved very easily, and,
thinking it strange, lowered his light,
and to his horror found ashurhan skull.
A fire was then kindled. on,th floor out
of extra fuel, in prder TO get better
view of the floor and surroundings. Not
far off lay four other human skulls. Not
being satisfied with this discovery, they
retraced their steps, and, obtaining
fresh fuel; re-entered, determined to
know the secrets of the cave. Returning
to their fire, which was still burning,
they lighted new torches and continued
their exploration. About twenty feet to
the left, and near the western wall, an
other skull and bones were found.
There was no trace of any tool, knife or
gun-nothing but the half-decayed
bones. The cave extended to the, north,
and, as in the previous chamber, con-
tracted somewhat, leaving another mar
row passage. This passage, unlike the
other, however, was much longer, and
by no means as narrow, it leading them
into a smaller chamber, the walls of
which were very irregular, having large
projecting rocks resembling in some
places the shelving in store-room.
On the western side of this chamber,
near the north end, one of these shelves
extended 10 a considerable width from
the wall about fen inches ffomthe floor.
Mr.. Melton. who was Examining this
particular spot outof idle curiosity, low