Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-02-10
AN ARIZONA WONDER.
remarkable Cave In che santa Rite
moantAins-The HattomIeaa Pie.

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The Tucson (Arizona) Citizen says:
For several years the existence Of Gu
rious cave near Greaterville has been
known to the miners ofthe vicinity, but
the difficulty of thorough exploration
has deferred many from visiting 1t, and
half its wonderful extent is yet un-
known. From 7. j. Coyne, a we'll
known and reliable prospector. who is
IN the city. in company with Mr.. john
son, Citizen reporter gathered some
interesting facts regarding the cave, the
result of partial exploration. The
cave which is known by the miners as
the Aztec, is located about four miles
south of the Greatervillle placers, in "A
limestone ridge. Quite recently
party of miners, numbering eight
or ten, including Mr.. Coyne, determined
TO discover. II possible, the extent and
resources of the cave, and provided
themselves with ropes, candles and
other necessities. They explored sew
enteen rooms in all, the corridors and
approaches to which extend nearly "A
mile from the entrance. They ex-
perienced 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 entrances, which lead into
an oval cavity, thence "A corridor leads
into large room, and thence into Il
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 relics OF Indian occupation, in
Guiding arrows and skeletons. In
ore place several Indian skeletons
were found in depression in the
floor of the cave, evidently fash
ioned by human hands. This latter
room ia described as being Of marvellous
beauty. II Is Irregular in shape, and is
full Of all the various forms which the
action Of time has the power TO create
In one Of these rooms is Il group Of al
most perfect statuary. 1t consists Of q
large block Of limestone in the shape Of
man, woman and child, the man being
in the center, and al.o having the closest
resemblance to humanity. The head il
especially like that Of man. having the
features almost distinct, and surmountcd
by hat. a short distance away from
the group, in the flickering candle light,
the Illusion is said 10 be absolute pre-
feet. At this point the cave discloscs
the strange feature Of being two-storicd,
TO rcach the lower rooms OF which Il is
necessary TO descend by means of ropes.
Here the extent Of the old explorations
craze. and the adven;urers had TO be
careful lest some new and strange fea-
ture OF the cave cause them trouble.
In one OF group of three lower
rooms Was found n huge stalagmite,
which was instinctiyely called Pompey's
Pillar. Il is three feet in diameter rs
the base, and lessons gracefully In size
to the roof OF the cave thirty feet high.
This Is probably eco feet below the sur
face. From the rooms last mentioned
a corridor leads to q 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 MIR. Coyne Is the largest
in the cave. From what was named
" Hale's Room the party followed a
steeply inclined tunnel, seventy-fivo or
eighty feet long, which terminated in a
large abyss sixty or seventy feet In
diameter. After lowering one of the
party down the perpendicular sides from
the mouth of the tunnel as far as the re-
naming rope would permit (about
seventy feet), and falling 10 find bot
tom, the explorers named il the " Bot
tomless PITT and returned.
DnAaanoa