The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1881-01-28
An ARIZONA WONDER.
A REsfARKA CAvE ~ TEE SANTA RITA
NOUSTAINs-TEE BOTTONLEss PIT.

For several years the existence cf curious
cave near Greateryille has been known 70
the Isiners Of the vicinity, but the difficulty
OF thorough exploration has deferred many
from visltingit, and half of its wonderful eE-
tent is yet unknown. From Z. J. Coyue. z
well-known and reliable prospectoT, who is
in the city, in company with Mr. johnson, a
Ci,iziu reporter, gathered some interesting
facts regarding the cave, the result Of q par
tial exploration. The cave, which is known
by the miners as the Aztec, is located about
four miles south Of the GreateTyille placers,
in q limestone ridge. Quite recently party
Of miners, numbering eight or ten, including
Mr.. Coyue, determined TO discover, II posi-
bic, the extent and resources Of the cave, and
provided themselves with ropes, candles and
other necessities. They explored seventeen
rooms in all, the corridors and approaches 10
which extend for nearly mile from the en-
trance. They experienced great difficulty.
as their progress was frequently interrupted
by abrupt breaks in the plane Of the cave, at
which breaks they rapidly used up their avail
able supply Of ropes. The cave has two en-
frances, which lead to an oval cavity thence
a corridor leads into a large room, and thence
into still larger. In from the latter are
two smaller cavities and these comprise the
extent Of former explorations. In them have
been found at various times in the past re-
lies of Indian occupation, including arrows
and skeletons. In one place several Indian
skeletons were found in a depression in the
floor of the cave, evidently fashioned by hu-
man hands This latter room is described as
being Of marvellous beauty, II is irregular
i'm shape, and is full Of various forms which
the action Of lime has the power to create.
In one Of these rooms is a group Of almost
perfect statuary. It consists OF & large block
Of limestone in the shape Of a man, woman
and child, the man being in the centre, aud
also having the closest resemblance to hu-
manity. The head is especially like that OF a
man, having the features almost distinct, and
surmounted by hat. 4 short distance away
from the group. in the fickering candle light,
the illusion is said TO be absolutely perfect
A. this point the cave discloses the strange
feature Of being two -storied, to reach the
lower rooms Of which it is necessary TO des-
cend by means Of ropes Here the extent Of
the Old explorations cease, and then the ad-
venturers had to be careful lest some new
and strange feature Of the cave cause them
trouble. in one Of the group OF three lower
rooms was found a huge stalagmita, which
was instinctivcly called Pompey's Pillar It
. Is three feet in diameter at he base, and les
sens gracefully in size TO the roof Of the cave,
50 feet high. This is probably 600 feet be
low the surface. From the room last men
toned d corridor leads to very beautiful
rooms, which were given the names Of dit
. ferent members OF the explorinEparty. Tie
one named for Mr.. Covue is the largest in
the cave. From what vas named "Hale's
Room" the party followed a steerlv inclined
tunnel, seyenty-fve or eighty feet long,
which terminated i'm q large abyss sixty OF
seventy feet in diameter. After lowering
one of the party down tbg perpendicular
SIDES from the mouth Of the tunuel as far as
the remaining rope would permit (ab0ut
seventy feet and falling TO find bottom. the
explorers named it the Bottonless Pit and
returned. Tucson Cif-in.