Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1888-02-04
EXPLORING A CAVE,
Edward Vilo and the Little Woman on
Their Mexican Travels.
fCppcinl


Their Mexican Travels.
Especial Correspondence
IN THE WILDs OF MEXICO, Dec. I've
only waited for daylight to begin our ex.
plOratiOn of the cave, where our cook said
we could find bones and water bottles, be.
sides many other things, and as soon as day
was fairly come we were ready, and had
provided ourselves with two lamps which
did duty Mt other times upon our carriage
and with several sticks of wood, which
We found afterward of much service, as
they burned with q clear, steady flame,
though throwing off much smoke.
The servant took lasso, q Ratchet and
some food, and with these we started.
The little woman began to grow nervous
and made several objections, and finally
said that she thought we could get along
without any other water Jar than the one
we now had All there was was to I'LL
this one Oftencr eyes, signora, but we
shall not find water sometimes for two
days. "Wel, then. let him go alone. l
don't think care about seeing all those
horrible things he tells us about; be-
sides, perhaps there are animals in there;
OF course know there are no such things
as ghosts, and | don't want you to sup
pose / am afraid, for I'm not'
suggested that she should remain in
the camp and ! would go with the cook,
but when she found was firm, the little
W man rose to the occasion and said: IA
wifc's duty calls her wherever her hus-
band goes; besides, wouldn't like to
stay In camp alone"
So we started, and after a very bad
quarter of an hours climbing over rocks
We reached the mouth of the cavern,
which did not appear to have an opening
mi wa t-nr Splr TOTO "
long enough to light our sticks, reservinr
our lamps for the last, and followed our
guide. The little woman Kept tight hold
Of my arm, and l am sure l felt her
tremblc u little at first, but soon she as
we'll rs lost ell other sentiments in ad.
miration of the beauty Of the scene.
Though have been in many caverns
never have seen any that could compare
with that for beauty. The walls and
columns of crystal white stalactites an
pcarcd to be studded with u front work of
diamonds which glittcred white in the
light Of our nambeaUy. One, the first
cavern, had tluted columns
Further on was another and larger cave,
surrounded by small lateral openings, and
what struck me as most singular was
that the forms of the stalactites should be
so different. In the large cavern they take
the shape of giant statues, and some of
thcn were really true to nature, par
ticularly one which rescmbled a yelled
woman with an outstretched arm, to n
most remarkable extent. The roof of
this cavern was enc bewltlcring mass of
arches, which had been formed by the
same causes, but the effect was as though
we were i'll great vaulted cathedral, and
to make the illusion still more perfect
there was stalag,nite in the form Of a
font, holding in its basin quantity Of
pure crystal water. While we were i'd
miring this the cook said: Here arc the
water jars. Tho siSuora need not be
afraid And saying this he led the way
to a lateral opening, which we saw had
becl made by the falling of the water,
and there lay upon the ground some
twenty skulls. some Of them hidden I'M
der coating Of the same material ns
the stalactitcs, while the others had
maintained their original bony struc-
turc. being cut Of the reach of the
direct filtration OF the water, Around
and among these were scattered numbers
OF vases aud pottery of pleasing and SYM
metrcal form, AMI As we afterwarl dis
covered Iich and artistic co!Oriug The
Mtlc woman found Il sort Of clay beetle
with place for n whistle, and found a
Clay turtle made for the sane PURPOSE.
We also found several ohsidian arrow
heads and stone knife shaped more like
n meat AK than anything else. | had to
laugh to myself II little TO see her grub
about looking for relies, pushing the grin
hing skulls aside with her foot in her
scarcl.-a search which was rewarded by
finding what had clearly been BONG
shuttle for weaving, and an ugly lttlo
idol about six inches long.
We were reluctant 10 leave, but were
obliged ut last to 20 without having
visited 0no-teuth of the wonders of thi,
cavern, which was doubtless one of the
sacred burial places of the ancient CHIC
hiquinccs, and ave bore away all we
could carry OF ne relics which pleased us
most or secracd most curious. The little
woman had gathered the skirt Of her
hloome. iui., ana the cook carried two
large " iter Jars in triumph, while |
Orons ht up the rear with my pockets and
e - AS iull EUwAHD VILo,