Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-07-22
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Description of = wondrens Cavern
Nomx san Antonio.

Description of Wondrous Cavern
Ncnx san Antonio.
San ANTONIO, Texas, July 6.--Another
chapter in the Robbers Gave romance
was read to-day. II has been the inten-
ton 70 officially explore the cave ever
since the discovery of portions Of a skele-
ton, which was identified rs that of Frank
Harris. Harris was young man living
in the Helotes neighborhood, who was
hand in gloves with the Pitts-Brannon
gang of outlaws. He WAS in love with
Melissa Scott, who subsequently married
Pitts, leader of the gang. There was
much existent jealousy between Harris
and Pitts, and the formers suit was dis
approved by the Scotts-father and son.
On the 10th of September, 1884, Harris
was seen in company of the two Scots
and Pitts. He was never seen again. On
discovery of his bones in the cave, the
SCOTS, who were charged with his muir
der, saw a chain of oircumstantial evil
denoe riveted to them which, il is stated,
| they will have to work hard in breaking.
While officers have been preparing TO
explore Harris tomb, Justice Boerner, of
the Helotes precinct, has been carrying
| on private investigation on his own &C.
count. He has kept his own counsel, and
gone ahead steadily with his work. To
day he Rhowedup at the courthouse look
ing mysteriously important, and carrying
under his arm bulky package done up
in wrapping paper. The officers gathered
around him, and, like q peddler with his
pack, he spread out his CHASTITY wares.
They were bones, and human bones,
comprising portions of a badly fractured
skull, broken ribs, &C., being most Of the
l lts.ly do, he Har,s ~
sonality. Near the skeleton was found a
heavy quirt, or riding whip, with lead
weighted handle. 1t may have been the
property of the dead man, or may have
been used in hammering out his brains
The ribs were doubtless broken in forcing
the body down the narrow shoot, which,
from an unsuspicious hole at the top
bends 20 feet downward into a subter
ranean cavity, which, in addition TO the
CHASTITY interest which the Harris deatf
fastens upon il, and the fact that IL wa
for years the refuge Of the most desperat,
bands OF criminals Texas has ever know
is marvel of natural bGauty. Their,
was no light from above, and all the OK
ploration was done by torches. Justic
Boerner says that he did not see il all
does not know how far it extends o
what other entrances il may have. He
however, went carefully through tire
chambers, lost in the beauties overhead an
around him and splashing in the pools ofic
water at his feet. II is one of the grandes
formations OF nature ever discovered b
man The chambers are connected b
chiselled arches, as though legion G
Workmen had fashioned them. The Gel
ings are of great hight from the hool
and the spaces are tremendous in extern
''In one chamber, says Judge Boernel
'you might stand an army of 10, 900 mel
The most remarkable fact connected wit
it is its utter seclusion. The unpromisin
exterior gives no indication of the ma
q yelous beauty hidden within. hole
the wall, it would be called by any OIL
4. CHANGING at II. One expansion of the pa
IF sage is filled with score or more of ST.
lagmites from to 10 or 10 feet in high
10 grouped in 80 many monuments of Il
i dead the sides and ceiling are OF exqu
Of site workmanship, a fit setting to Il
A. solemn and beautiful scene within, whiC
nj leads one to speak in low tones and tres
softly, as if on sacred ground. Upon Il
H. walls is suspended some drapery In stol
st that would be the admiration and despa
q. Of sculptor. Double and triple folds
III stalactite, quarter Of nm inch in thic
III ness mud yard wide, hang 80 feet wi
D. no support except from above BeyoI
of this is perhaps the most beautiful grot
of all. Ceiling walls, and oven floor, a
M covered with fretwork of dazzlii
ry brightness, which reminds one of I
a. finest work of the silYersmith, or the wi
dow work of the frost king ut his be-
of Here and there ceiling aud floor a
pat united by columns as clear and iraI
parent ms crystal A candle placed MS
il within one Of these groups as the al
nd could aehilluminnted II wonderful fai
,n bower Shining through all the ri
no drRpCry of stone there are tubular pillt
.ws of immense hight and thickness. Sol
iii. are perfectly transparent others are
cloudy white, ,and, under the shift
md torches, lighted up with Thousand fir
Inc In this vicinity also appear quantit
OF limestone, coral formation, great sh,
nj, | formations standing lfsH tuives of n DO
the igtF nlGn upright 'ny steiagmit
stalactites, pillars, pedestais and PIN
is Giles OF all lengths and thieknesses, n
YER becoming more transparent the deel
md you get down. Here, also, are seen
ent several sides arrays of tubular stalact
and stalagmite formations, resembling
on immense church organ. found at
Don distance Of many yards the pinnacl
pedestRls, columns, stalagmites, stall
rl1 tites, more numerous and very brillii
All as our lights were thrown npon them.
this vicinity the scene was beyond
4 IN sCription, ms stalagmites of the most d,
cate and transparent texture were
ion great abundance, and of every oonce
able shape. Even delicate tubes,
the thickness Of lead pencils, and or (
in length, when broken off were full
alkaline water, and cutting of pieces
stalagmit6s with a Ratchet the spa
would fairly fly and on which every I,
'"' and sound could be heard. Many of
lss- larger spaces there seen by me wo1
reach from 60 to so feet in hight, an6
much across, The caverns of Luray
the Virginia, or the Mammoth Gave in X
,ton lucky, are not circumstance in bea
by compared to the Helotes cave"
ana There are also large caverns in
OF vicinity whose range and depth are
upy known. There is no doubt that I
tua- were long used by members of the
y perado's scattered band. They will
len explored, but there is enough materia
for. "Bobbers' Cave" proper to keep Off,
OF busy for some time to come. II there
other victims Of the pistol and knife
an there seems no reason to doubt, lynn
lde. its cavernous recesses they will be brou
y OF to daylight. The interest of this wi
ried section now centres in Robbers Ga
isoh and the developments which may q
from careful survey of its nystel
son, Thorough and careful search will be mi
MIR. Judge Boeruer states that he was detel
from further examination partly fro
fore lack OF facilities and partly from o n
Gus dread which he could not shake
AZ sH 4