The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-04-14
LOST IN A CAVERN.
A Rash Expedition Into the
Bowels of the Earth.
A Plunge Into Total Observation-Disclosures
About in Mortal Terror for Thirty
Six Hours Before Making an
Escape.

Along the Rio Grande, in the south
western portion of Texas, the country
presents a series of hills, mountains.
ravines and canyons. Huge masses of
rocks, mammoth in their proportions,
Jut out over dizzy precipices, as if
thrown up by some mighty convulsion
of nature. 1t has a vast territorial
area of unfenced, sparsely populated
country, owing to its unproductive
soil. 1t is to-day what it will be half
century hence-nothing but vast and
indifferent pasture land, for its impov-
erished soil scarcely supports the
scanty tufts of grass that have a con-
sumptive hue, and seem to gather sub
sistence by stretching from Granny to
Granny. One will find here narrow
assures penetrating deeply into the
earth, and tunneled caves connected
with one another by series of pas
sages varying in extent. Riding over
plateau one will come suddenly upon
vast holes twenty or thirty feet in cir
cumference-one which | measured be-
ing more than $50 feet deep and having
n subterranean cavern at the bottom
which has never been explored.
While riding along one of those deep
canyons characteristic of the country
was attracted by massive cluster of
powders that seemed to be literally
covered with fungus growth of pend
ent vines, bearing blossoms with petals
of aromatic odor. Chapota bushes and
the never-failing soto plant stood be-
side this mass of rock, while Spanish
dagger-plant, like lone and solitary
sentinel, seemed to guard the entrance
of what l discovered to be the mouth of
a cave. 1t was one of those sultry days
in spring, and the silence of death
seemed to brood over hill and canyon.
The semi-tropical region is blessed
through the sultry days with delightful
breezes, but occasionally there comes a
day so quiet that the silence is oppres-
sive. Such was the eventful day when
Istaked my horse in that lonely canyon.
Taking from the side of my saddle a
small lantern, | started to the cave.
Through crags and tangle l made my
way, my route being necessarily cir
cuitous, owing to the precipitous nature
of the canyon.
The mouth of the cavern | reckoned
to be fully forty feet in circumference.
1t was veritable Delphos, quaint and
ghost-like with its caverns. seemingly
fit for the seven sleepers of Legendary
lore, or the great Boabdil and his sleep
ing host, who will some day awake to
restore the glory of the Moors With
lantern in hand entered this vaulted
chamber. | had no desire to 90 far
but l was lured by some strange in
fatuation. Ny course at first led me
down a rather steep incline; my direc-
ton was then changed to an almost
right angle. New beauties met me at
every point, which stopped to admire
with hearty appreciation. Masses of
beautifully hanging stalactites like
icicles hung in pendant masses, spark
ling like myriads of stars through the
faint CLEAN of my lantern. Stalagmites
of pyramidal shape in many places
touched the sparkling mass above,
forming one solid pillar that glistened
like gems of the Orient. reached one
chamber of remarkable beauty which
had several passages leading in differ
ent directions. l looked around me to
mark familiar objects, for the awful
solitude and loneliness of tho nIaca
startled me. l had been walking stead
lily for fully half an hour. To make
assurance doubly sure, took from nv
pocket an old letter. and tearing it in
pieces, strewed it along the passage
that would give me exit l then chose
one of the passages, and moved slowly
on with my lantern slightly raised, and
my hand on my revolver, peering
cautiously around at every object dark
ly outlined by the pickering light
The atmosphere was oppressive, and
the passage rugged and laborious. l
stopped to consider whether or not to
proceed. What had to gainP Truly
/ had found a wonderful cavern, but
why not wait for more opportune time
TO explore it? | was alone, and if |
should lose my way! But such thoughts
were idle. How could lose my way
i would go but short distance and
then retrace my steps and seek the
bright sunshine again. ! started once
more, my route leading deeper into the