The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1885-12-26


aud then a network of cham 5ers and
corridors is reached, all decorated with
stalactites and stalagmites of q variety
of colors and of an infinity of shapes.
la one room, for instance, which has
been called the Furniture Room, are
hour glasses, tables, chairs, desks and
pulpits, almost perfect in shape.
Another gallery contains folds of
stalactitss, like shawls hanging from
the walls. One peculiar fact about
the cave is that the farther one psns-
trates, the winter and more beautiful
grows the limewerk. stalactitss Of
transparent whitensss, and looking
exactly like sails, hang from the sides
and ceilings. Table-like projections,
covered with limestone formations of
an opal tint. mingled with others of
snewy whiteness, are noticeable for
their remarkable beauty aud rssem-
blance to punches of half-ripened
grapes. On all sides is an intricacy
of cavsrns, corridors and chambers,
branching off into the obscure depths
of the mountain, while huge masses of
stalactitic formation loom up far above
the visitors head, looking, in the dusky
light, like enormous gray and white
spectsrs.
REEFS AND TUNNKLs..
In passing through enc spacious
apartment there is seen suspende in
mid air . huge bowlder with mo
visible means Of support" looking in
such dangerous imminence of falling
that the explorers first impulse Is to
start away that he may not be crushed
t. death, second thoughts only sug-
gssting the idea that it had been so
suspended for ages, aud would prob
ably so continue for as many more.
Ons Of the features of this section Of
the cave is what has been called the
Cypress Swamp. Smell pools or
springs of crystal water are mingled
with lime formations of snowy white
in the form of twigs, dead grasses and
reeds, giving it q spongy, marshlike
losk. After leaving this collection Of
wonders and traversing the length of
another gallery. the Shoshone Falls are
seen, locking like al immense cascade
rolling and tumbling over a bank
twenty-five feet in height. As ifto
give the falls still greater verisimii-
tude, water drips from above upon
them. After travelling through still
moro corridors Coral Reef is reached.
This 10 a projection of about six feet
square, covered with . profusion of
"cave Iearls,' sparkling and translu-
cent, and in shape very much like
coral. Passing on the visitor arrives
next at The Oven, a long, low pass or
tunnsl, of about ssventy-tive feet long,
through which one has to creep on
"all fours." The tunnel rises for the
next 80 feet sufficiently to allow of
stopping posture. Next comes steep
and rocky pass, and then the grand
museum. This great gallery presents
. panorama of beautiful scenery, and
is the finest room, yet discovered In
the cave. 1t Is nearly scventy-five feet
in length, is sixty feet in width, and
rises to IS many feet in height. To
the left, as one enters, IL the Grand
Cathedral, an enormous pile of white
stalagmitss, eighty-6ve feet in circum-
ference, twenty five feet in height, and
surmountsd with dome of coed pro-
portions. To the right is Solomont
Temple, . magnificent stalagmite
column, standing out in bold relief
against q shadowy background. To
the right Of this, and resting upon
snowy bank or psdimsnt, Of five feet
in height, 10 Cleopatra's Needle. q
slender shaft Of alabastsr whitsnsss
and beautifully fiuted. Extending
downward for foot and covering its
top is . glistsning covering of FROST
work. At the foot of the monolith 10
what locks like . huge SNOWFALL, but
which on closer inspection proves to
be delicate fsrnlike ealcits crystal,
covered with q frostiag that sparkles
like thousand diamonds. Words are
inadequate to express tho beauty OF
this object.
LAKES AND GRoTT0Es.
Still further to the right 10 retreat
ing wall or high bank covered
with flowers. trees and shrubbsrry of
miniature size and most delicate trac-
cry. In the center of the room is
Lake Como, q tiny lakelst of very cold
and clear water. To the left Of the
Grand Cathedral is another seeming
waterfall which has been christened