Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-02-16

A WONDERFUL CAVE IN ARIzoNA.-For
several years the existence of curious
cave near Greatervile has been known to
the miners of the region, but the difficulty
of thorough exploration has deferred many
from visiting it, and half its wonderful ex-
tent is as yet unknown. From p. j,
Coyne, Il well known prospector, who is in
the city, in company with Mr.. johnson, a
Citizen reporter, we gathered some inter-
osting regarding the cave, the result Of
IL partial exploration. The cave, which is
known by the miners as the Aztcc,is about
four miles south OF the Greaterville placers,
in Il limestone ridge. Recently party of
miners, numbering eight or ten. including
Mr.. Coyne, determined to discover if pos
sible the extent and resources of the cave,
and provided themselves with ropes,
candles and other necessities. They ex-
plored seventeen rooms in all. the corridors
and approaches TO which extended for
nearly mile from the entrance. They
experienced great difficulty, as their pro-
gress was frequently interrupted by abrupt
breaks in the plane of the cave, at which
breaks they rapidly used up their available
supply of ropes. The cave has two en-
frances which lead into an oval cavity,
thence Il corridor leads into large room,
and thence into one still larger In form
the latter are two smaller cavities, and
these comprise the extent of former explo-
rations. In them have been found at
various times in the past, relics of Indian
occupation, including arrows and skeIe-
tons. In one place several Indian skele-
tons were found in depression in the
floor Of the cave, evidently fashioned by
human hands. This latter room is de-
scribed as being of marvellous beauty. 1t
is irregular in shape, and is full of all the
various forms which the action of time has
the power 10 create. In one of these rooms
is II group of almost perfect statuary. 1t
consists of a large block of limestone in
the shape of q man, woman, and child, the
man being in the centre, and also having
the closest resemblance to humanity. The
head is especially like that of man, hav-
ing the features almost distinct, and sur
rounded by hat. A short distance away
from the group in the Pickering candle
light the illusion is said to be absolutely
perfect AT this point the cave discloses
the strange feature of being two storied, to
reach the lower rooms of which 1t was
necessary to descend by means of ropes.
Here the extent of the odd explorations
ceases, and the adventurers had TO be care
ful lest some new and strange feature of
the cave cause them trouble. In one of
group of three lower rooms was found
huge stalagmite, which was instinctively
called Pompey's Pillar. 1t is three feet in
diameter at the base. and lessons graceful.
ly in size to the roof of the cave. thirty
feet high, This is probably six hundred
feet below the surface. From the rooms
last mentioned corridor leads to very
large and irregular cavity, and from this
small corridors lead to very beautiful
rooms. which were given the names of
different members of the exploring party.
The one named for Mr.. Coyne is the larg-
est in the cave. From what was named
"Hae's ROOM the party followed steeply
Inclined tunnel seventy-tive or eighty feet
long, which terminated in a large abyss
sixty or seventy feet in diameter. After
lowering one OF the party down the per-
pendicuar sides from the mouth of the
tunnel as far as the remaining rope would
permit (about seventy feeD, and failing to
find bottom, the explorers named it the
"Bottomless Pit" and retraced their steps
to the surface, resolving to return at Il
future time and see "what there was in it. "
The exploration of the Pit" will reveal
some strange features, rs there must be
some outlet to the open air at the bottom,
Mr.. Coyne saying that, while the air was
oppressive and stale at number of the
remoter recessess of the cave, the atmos-
phere in the "Pit was fresh and good
Tucson (Ariz0naJ Citizen