The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1883-02-17

We followed very narrow cave, 60
ing right into the mountain. This
varied in width from two to perhaps
ten feet, while the roof sometimes
came down TO about three feet from
the floor, again rising SO that we could
walk erect very comfortably the bot
torn being perfectly dry, though show
ing evidence Of at some former period
being the outlet for large stream of
water. The sides we e washed SIN Goth
over a foot high with the current.
We had thus proceeded about half a
mile, and finding our candles burn
in short, we decided 10 retrace our
steps and 90 lack 10 McGurdy's in the
morning, keep the secret 10 ourselves,
but get a fresh supply OF provisions
and candles aud continue our re-
search. Next day we started oil
again, amply supplied, and continu-
ing the same course as OH our preNi-
ons visit, we had not proceeded but
few steps beyond that reached on our
late reconnoitre. when Tom, who was
In advance, and earelessly sauntering
along, suddenly fell into Il hole, but
fortunately caught himself by inyo!-
UNFAIRLY spreading his arms, and so
hung suspended, ill l relieved him
from his predicainent, suffering no
further inconvenience than II thor.
oagh soaking 10 his waist, for this
proved To be the sink for "A stream OF
water which flowed from the moui
tain. We soon regained courage, and
Notwithstanding Toms aneoafor-
a. haI "
a few inches of water 10 wade through.
Supposlng the water 10 be sweet, we
took drink, but found il highly I'M
pregnated with copper, which discov-
cry further excited our curiosity, and
after this proceeding very carefully,
for fear OF another baptism by inn
nersion, | suppose at least one-third
of mile, we found We were getting
into another formation. I'VE had
been proceeding through lime, with
slaldctites OF various sizes suspended
from the roof, frequently having 10
break them OIL with "A prospecting
pick which we carried.) But now we
suddenly reached a large chamber,
the darkness OF which the light from
our candles could not penetrate, with
water issuing from some point above
It's, striking against the walls, and
then scattering in heavy spray, pre-
vented further exploration or adYen-
ture, and We retraced our steps, very
careful not 10 be rebaptized, but de
termined To get another partner we
had l,ft at McGuIdy's, ana with bet
ter appliance continue our eXplora-
H..
So after setting our partner, Hans,
and some tar from the sheep camp,
we vent back 10 the cave. Has
Was very superstltlous, and Walking
behind Kept very close 10 my III els,
Ton, as before, taking The lead. Alter
mucn ueldy IN persaading Hans 10
follow Is (he Was afraid 10 20 back,
we arrived at the ore cham Der preVi-
ously visited, and lighting our torches
our surprise knew no bounds. Here
was vast room or cnainber, ap-
parentlY 100 high, the length We
could not see at FIRST, and about - feet
wide. On one side stalactises, repre-
scnung all kinds OF fantastic figures,
one OF which Hans sWore Vas a ghost
hiding from us. Walking on about
10 feel iurtner, ne escat ed the spray
OF water which had been falling OH
US, and here, "nien Cot und HIM
nell - exclaimed Hans, we had sucn
"A view rs to excite admiration. Ram
bows, with some extra tints and
touches, and still higher the vapor
rising from the water, which was
warm. assuming all kind of forms,
gnomes, hobgoDlins, snakes, etc.,
such as IL rs said existed in the
llarty mountains in Fatherland. On
one side was a continuation OF tue
stalactites, while on the other hand
we discovered mass OF ledge mat
ter, which after breaking oil "A caslug OF
lime thar mad formed on the face, We
found 10 be mass OF copper ore,
mixed with iron pyfltes, which, on
being struck with tne pick, smelled
50 strongly OF sulphur as TO remind
one OF the lower regions. My aulbi-
tlon was grautied, but Tom wanted to
20 still further, willie Hans wanted 10
see sunlight; but on we went ill we
found ourselves on the edge of II lake
as clear as crystal, and while looking
into It's depth and admiring its beauty,
we saw nuge animal, somewhat re-
semDlng an alligator, built had AN
extra long Iail, which appeared 10 Us
as IA feeler, aud its eyes we're extra
large. Foe light from our torches, or
perhaps ourselves, attracted its atten-
llon, and 1t plunged out Of sight.