Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1884-09-05
"A SECRET OF THE MOUNTAINS
Discovery OF n MastOdOn's Refuge
Near Mt. E1OOd.
East Portland indicator

a party left East Portland recently
for the Cascade mountains near Mt.
Hood and were the lucky finders OF a
second mammoth cave. They were
encamped close to the base OF Mt.
Hood and were just going out for a
hunt when one of the party stumbled
over a rock that gave way beneath
his weight. In an instant he was
pitched headlong and fell face down
ward on ledge that was partly over
grown with moss and fern. When he
fell he instinctively made grab for
the nearest support which proved to
be root from mountain willow, and
this held him. Looking beyond he
saw only deep, dark hole which not
only frightened him somewhat but
caused him to think it might mean
something portentous. He called for
aid and was helped to his feet, when
with much caution the party began to
make explorations. In the fisure no.
thing was to be seen except darkness
and some projecting rubbish. The
hunt for game was given up and a
thorough exploration determined up
on Of the new discovery. There were
four men in the party and they secur-
ed ropes and axes from camp which
they used so effectively that rude
stairway or ladder was made and low
cred down over forty feet. With a
rope around his waist, secured above,
one Of the men tried the descent and
was astonished to find that he was
going down into a well-lighted vault
with sloping walls on two sides and
receding walls on the other. The
light seemed to come from something
below that reflected, but was not
brilliant. At the lower end of the
ladder was a small projection on
which the daring intruder stood for a
few moments and then began the as
cent. He reported to the others what
he saw and they determined upon a
further exploration. In a few hours
they had made rough ladder of poles
and lowered it down to the ledge be-
low where rope was fastened and a
sort of railing built of more poles
On going down the four men were
able to stand together and agree upon
plan for further operations. 1t was
decided to lower one of them agar
to see what could be done. One went
down and at forty eight feet got sole
footing where he surveyed the scene
and went back to his companions
Another ladder was built and lowered
snd all four went down to the lower
level armed with torches of pitch
wood. Once on the bottom they be-
gan general exploration and traver
sed over several hundred square yard.
OF granite and sandstone, in some
places smooth, in others rough. Ii
one corner of a small recess was founC
several bones of animals and furthe
on was found the skeleton of a mas
todon which had died there. 1t be
ing a mystery how such huge ami
NAL could get there the party deter
mined to make thorough search 70
some other entrances than by which
they had come. One man had bal
of Irvine with him which he unwount
as he went, so as to not get lost, ant
in that manner they travelled hundred
Of yards. After that was gone the,
made marks on the floor with ham
mer and proceeded for over half
mile when they found themselves a
the surface on a sloping hill. On 60
ing out they saw they had travele,