Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-09-13
!, MOUNTAIN SECRET.
Discovery Of u Mastodon's Refuge Near
Mount Hood.

Discovery OF II MaSt0donS RcIuSe Near
Mount Hood.
A party left East Portland recently for
the Cascade mountains, near Mount Hood,
and were the lucky finders of Il second
mammoth cave. They were encamped
close to the base of Mount Hood, and were
Just going out for 4 hunt when one OF the
party stumbled over rock that gave way
beneath his weight. In an instant he was
pitched headlong and fell face downward
on Il ledge that was partly covered with
moss and fern. When he fell he instinct
lively made a grab for the nearest support,
which proved to he a root from mountain
willow, and this held him. Looking be
yond he saw deep, dark hole, which not
him to think it might be something por-
tentous. He called for aid and was helped
to his feet, when, with much caution, the
party began TO make explorations. In the
fissure nothing was to be seen except
darkness; and some projecting rubbish.
The hunt for game was given up and
q thorough exploration determined
upon Of the new discovery. There were
four men in the party, and they secured
ropes and axes from camp, which they
used 50 effectively that rude stairway or
ladder was made or lowered down over
forty feet. With rope around his waist,
secured above, one of the men tried the
descent, and was astonished to find that he
was going down into wcll-lighted vault,
with sloping walls on two sides and reced-
ing walls ON the other. The light seemed
TO come from something below that re-
Q,..,-l Ill -, !,
end Of the ladder was small projection on
which the daring intruder stood for a few
moments and then began the ascent. He
reported to the others what he saw, and
they determined upon a further explora-
ton. In a few hours they had made a
rough ladder Of poles and lowered it down
t. the ledge below, where a rope was fls-
tened and 4 sort OF railing built of more
poles. On going down the four men were
able to stand together and agree upon q
plan for further operations. 1t was decided
to lower one OF them again 10 see
what could be done One went down
and at ;orty-eight feet got solid foot
ing where he surveyed the scene
and went back to misconceptions. Another
ladder was built and lowered and all four
went down to the lower level armed with
torches Of pitch-vood. Once on the bottom
they began a general exploration and ira
yersed over several hundred square yards of
granite and sandstone, in some places
smooth, in others rough. In one corner of
a small recess was found several bones of
animals, and further on was found the
skeleton of mastodon which had died
there. 1t being mystery how such
huge animal could get there, the party
determined TO make thorough search for
some other entrances than by which they
had come. One man had a bali Of Irvine
with him, which he unwound Us he went
50 as to not get lost, and in that manner
they travelled hundreds of yards After
that was gone, they made marks on the
floor with Il hammer and proceeded for
over half mile, when they found them
selves at the surface on a sloping Hill On
going out they saw they had Travelled east
about mile and at once went to camp to
get dinner They made further explora-
tons, which viii be duly reported as soon
as particulars can be had East Portland
indicator