Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-04-03
BRIGHAM, THE CAVE-DOG.

BRIGHAM, THE CAVE-DOG.
A common yellow cur is the hero
of this true story. William-a wag,
as well as first-rate guide-explain-
ed to me the odd name given to the
dog: "We call him Brigham
cause he's young, you know"
This creature is remarkable for but
one thing, and that is his fondness
for life below ground. He seems at
home among the elves and gnomes,
and appears to have no fear of dark
ness.
Jack, the old dog, with Brigham,
the new one, will trot, side by side,
as far as the Iron Gate. But there
they part. Juck, as usual, returns
to the hotel; but Brigham advances,
pushing ahead of the guides, choos-
ing his own path, DEPRESSING now and
then, yet always returning in safety
to the light of the lamps.
Brigham and | became fast friends,
during my fortnight's stay at Man,
moth Cave, last summer. The gen
tie dignity with which he sought to
aid my underground researches was
very amusing.
Brigham was great favorite with
the manager of the cave, who par
ticularly warned US not to lose him !;
for it was feared the dog would be
unable to find his way out again.
Other ours that had been left behind
invariably staid in the place where
they had become lost, not daring to
stir, but yelping and howling till
help came.
The dreaded accident happened at
last. We went one day on what is
called the Long Route, to the end of
the cave, said to be nine miles from
the entrance and Brigham went
with us. we IeIJ the mann cave at
the Giants Coffin, by an arched way,
loading among some pits, the most
famous of which has long been known
as the Bottomless Pit. My guide,
however, measured it, and found that
it was exactly one hundred and five
feet deep. There are six pits in all at
this place, two of them lately discov-
cred. We named them Scylla and
Charybdis-because, in trying to
keep out of one, you are in danger
of falling into the other. These we
measured, finding them to be more
than two hundred feet deep.
Brigham did not like the pits very
well. 1t was only by much coaxing
that we led him across the narrow
bridge thrown over the Bottomless
Pit. But, indeed, we all were GLAD
to get away from that dangerous
place.
We went through the ''Fat Mans
Misery" and entered River Hall
where there are several deep lakes
Presently we came to Echo River
about thirty feet deep, from twenty
to two hundred feet wide, and three
fourths of mile long. Getting int
a small boat, we padded our wa.
over the clear, cold water, waking
the echoes from the steep, rock,
walls, Brigham helping with som
lively barking. Presently, we land
ed on a nice sandy beach at the far
ther end.
Poor Brigham became very tired
and cared less for the lovely archie
of flower-like crystals than for som
cozy nook where he might curl dow
for nap. At length, after takin
lunch with US in Washington Hal
he started in chase of a cave-rat, an
probably availed himself of th
chance to take his siesta. At a
: events, he disappeared, and mao
: no answer to our calls.
: "Perhaps he has gone ahead
: Echo River" said /, 'Eand is waitin
for us there"
s'Like enough" said William, tt
7 guide. Il hadn't thought of that.
5 But no bounding form nor joyf
l bark welcomed our approach. I'll
l echoes answered our calls, until
/ seemed as if a thousand voices we
f crying, brigham, Brigham y
1 every conceivable tone, from Il
| softest whisper to the deepest bass
: and our whistling was, in like mai
ner, repeated, until it seemed as
all the spirits of the cave had bee
a let loose for an Kolian concert.
: Plainly the dog was lost. Villa
e thought Brigham might track us {
t far as the river: but that on reac
b ing the water he surely would lo
t the scent, and would not try to swi
h across. Lighting freshly fill'
/ lamp, William set it on a ledge,
r that in case the dog should cor
i thus far he might not feel too lionel
) Sadly we returned to the hot,
t, where our announcement of the 10
;, caused a sensation the ladies {
le pecially declaring it, ''perfect
is dreadful to leave the poor thing alo
in that horrible cave all night, %
a. if it were darker there at midnie
5, than at noon