Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-05

OF missouri TcaCntu DriOEe my Ni''N
search for the cave began. The way;
bill" given me by the, old spaniard
was Of course very general in It's descrip-
ton of the country. IL could have been
useful ~ n guide only TO one already ac-
quainted with the general topography OF
the region. The immediate vicinity OF the
cave was more closely and accurately de-
fined on the guide, but finding this prox-
unity TO the object of my search was the
difficult matter Others had given me
some general directions for getting into the
locality sought aside from the way-bill,"
but still had big territory TO hunt over
and many chances 70 miss my mark.
LONG AND WEARY SEARCH.
II is not necessary TO detail my long and
laborious search for the definite land
marks indicated on the 'way-bill" as be-
inc near the cave. | did not find these
eagerly-soupht landmarks in day. was
determined not 10 give up the hunt tlll
had made thorough exploration of the
whole country, however, and continued
nv search from day to day. At last i
fonnd some significant landmarks. The
'wav-bill" was not so accurate as ! had
hoped. owing, probably, TO the change
Of the country since il was made.
but / could finally discover that
had struck the right track at last;
] now knew that the cave could
not be far away. When | made this
exciting discovery I began a more sys--
tematic and thorough search. | explored
every ravine carefully--examined each
bluff and mountain slope 50 closely that
not even a fox-hole would have escaped my
eve. The country where / struck the hrst
unmistakablc landmarks LAID down on
the wav-bill" was indeed rough, the
widest region in the Ozark mountains:
The axe of the pioneer had hardly touched
the native forest of oak, and CIVILIZATION
seemed here more "A dream than "a realty.
The primitive forms of nature stood out IN
lonely grandeur. and was surprised 20 find
place IN Missouri apparently so far beyond
the dominion of man. There |as no heId,
cabin. or path in sight 70 Indicate the ex-
istence Of human being in this mountain
solitude save myself. Yet l was CONN
dent the place had been visited by
the Spanish adventurer long before
the Territory of Louisiana had passed under
the dominion Of the Stars and Stripes Ny
search for the Spaniatds cave was now
very slow. TO insure a thorough explora-
ton Of the section which felt 20 be in
such exciting proximity to the subterra-
mean treasure | adopted system OF tree
marks TO indicate the path of my search.
By means of these marks / prevented the
mistake of hunting over the same ground
twice. as one would have been apt to do IN
so wild a country. had begun TO feel dis
couraged and TO half doubt the Spaniard's
story and the faithfulness Of the way
bill. when / saw some distance ahead OF
me deep, narrow opening IN the side OF
the mountain.
FINDING THE CAVE.
| fastened on to this attractive spot and
found a short gulch penetrating the noun
tain at a right angle from the ravine had
been ascending. The gulch WAS not more
than twenty feet wide and the walls rose
almost perpendicularly TO the height Oh
forty feet Following this gulch about
eighty wards. il terminated i'll u rugged
wall of limestone, at the base of which 1
found a small opening large enough tor
man to enter by STOPPING little. Another
reference to the way-bill " now convinced
me that had found the cave described by
the Spaniard. and that the remainder Of
his story would likewise be verified.
Lighting nv miners lamp, ell
tered the mouth of the cave with intense
eagerness, and went a few yards, when the
passage became much larger. As ! pro-
ceeded the cavern grew more spacious I'M
til nv dim light was insufficient TO lllunl-
nate its entire breadth Overhead rose the
rocky roof, far above the reach of my Int
tie lamp. | could tell. though. by the re-
verberation of the sounds of my feet that
me. | was. in fact, already in a cavern Of
wonderful size, with only light enough to
see the vague outlines of its lower dimcn-
sons. Soon | heard the sound of water
ahead Of me- The noise of the under
ground current grew more distinct as ! ad-
yanced. now with much caution, till reach
ed the bank of swift river, flowing d.
rectly across the avenue Of the cave. The
width OF the stream / could not determine,
on account of the fceblencss of my light.
but it seemed TO be quite a broad river.
had no means of measuring the depth of
the water, as my pick-handle failed TO
touch bottom a few inches from the bank.
Then / BEGAN to look for the Spaniard's
sk!f Lowering my light near the rocky
floor Of the cave close TO the bank OF the
river, ] soon discovered an old rusty chain.
attached ID which WAS half-rotted piece
of plank. Raising the chain, / found 1T
fastened to a staple secured 10 the rock,
having been driven into two drilled holes.
The other fragments OF the sklH had been
washed away, the decaying headpin held
10y the chain being the only part of the an
Gent craft that now remained TO confirm
the old Spaniard's story.