The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1888-05-10
LOST In A CAVERN.
Rash Expedition Into the
Bowels of the Earth.
pluuge Into Total Darkness-Wandcri 6
About In Mortal Terror for Thirty
Six Hours Before Making an
Escape.

Along the RlO Grande, In the SOUTH
|estern portion of Texas, the country
resents series of hills. mountains,
wines and canyons. Huge masses of
eks, mammoth in their proportions.
out over dizzy precipices, as if
rown up by some mighty convulsion
nature. 1t has a vast territorial
a Of unfenced, sparsely populated
antry, owing to its unproductive
III It's to-day what it will be half
mtury hence-nothing but vast and
different pasture land, for its impov-
rshed soil scarcely supports the
ssnty tufts of grass that have con-
anptive hue, and seem to gather SUBJ
itence by stretching from Granny to
nuny. One will find here narrow
sures penetrating deeply into the
sth, and tunneled caves connected
nib one another by series of pas
ages varying in extent. Riding over a
Fsieau one will come suddenly upon
Mt holes twenty or thirty feet in cir
amierenee-one which measured be-
ignore than $50 feet deep and having
Mbterranean cavern at the bottom
mich has never been explored.
While riding along one of those deep
nayons characteristic of the country
lss attracted by massive cluster of
hEders that seemed to be literally
HFered with fungus growth of pend
rtyines, bearing blossoms with petals
aMomatic odor. Chapota bushes and
Rnever-fail.ng soto plant stood be-
ads this mass of rock, while Spanish
sser-plant, like a lone and solitary
xnilnel.. seemed to guard the entrance
awhat discovered to be the mouth OF
cave. TWAS one of those sultry days
spring. and the silence of death
saesl 10 brood over hill and canyon.
nc semi-tropical region is blessed
aoagh the sultry days with delightful
sezes, but occasionally there comes a
No quiet that the silence is oppres-
se. Such was the eventful day when
saked my horse in that lonely canyon.
atns nom the side OF my saddle a
nall lantern. l started to the cave.
arough crags and tangle made m,
Y my route being necessarily cir.
alous, owing to the precipitous nature
The canyon.
i@ mouth OF the cavern I reckoned
fully forty feet in circumference.
vas veritable Delphos. quaint and
oa-ilke with its caverns, seemingl,
0f the seven sleepers of legendar,
/ Y, or the great Boabdil and his sleep
Y aost who will some day awake t.
sure the glory of the Moors. Will
I saefl in hand I entered this vaultet
inter | had no desire to 90 far
was lured by some strange in.
aa''on. My course at first led m,
~ rather steep incline; my direc
i was then changed to an almos,
as angle. New beauties met me al
| y point, which l stopped to admire
L nearly appreciation. Masses o
! a'laiiy hanging stalactites lik,
4 - nung in pendant masses, spark
T hse myriads of stars through tn,
/ gieam Of my lantern. Stalagmite,
g1smldal shape in many place.
eo the sparkling mass above
ang one solid pillar that glistenet
4 ssns Of the Orient. ! reached on,
aeef OF remarkable beauty which
4 a' several passages leading in differ
= . as'ectlons. Hooked around me (.
f ~ iamiliar objects, for the awfu
q ,..s ae and loneliness Of the plac,
q sua me | had been walking stead
1 - iuily half an hour. To max,
s aace doubly sure, / took from m,
- - IN old letter. and tearing it il
s,rewed it along the passag
\ .oald give me exit. / then chos,
4 81. a. ne passages. and moved slowl,
n = my lantern slightly raised. an,
3 aaaa on my revolver. peerin!
Il ~. ssiy around at every object dark
aned BY the fliekering light.
+ a'laosphere was oppressive. an,
q sss rugged and laborious.
% consider whether or not t
What had l to gainp Trul
= 'O0nd . wonderful cavern, bu