Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-11-30

northeast of Guthrie, !. T., on land
HON esteaded by Mr.. Couch of Sa-
line county, Missouri. The falls are
on deep-banked creek of the same
name, whose banks are so steep and
precipitous that no vehicle has ever
crossed it, or, indeed, for that mat
| ter, animals either. except the wild
and ferocious beast who alone inhab-
it the mountain regions, and until
last week the cayernous curiosities
that are hidden ia the depths of the
earth at White Horse falls were to-
tally unknown to civilized man. and,
indeed, to but five of the wild Otoes,
who lead rowing life of idleness ON
this reservation, short distance to
the northeast of the falls. When
these cayerns, or rather chambers,
for there are thirteen oil them, open
ing one into the other, were accident
ally discovered, the Indians plea
total ignorance of them, until by ac-
cident Col. John Onstott ques-
toned one of their chiefs.
who, upon being pressed
closely, reluctantly admitted that
he and four, other sub-chiefs were ac-
qnainted with the Falcit-Regnal--
hell chambers-but declared that
none other of this almost extinct
tribe knew of their existence. Alter
much persuasion his tongue was zoos
ened little, SAYS Globe Democrat
correspondent. and Col. John 0ns-
tott, who even talks 0toe with the
! fiuency of full blood, elected some
very interesting information concern
ing the caverns and incidents connect
ed with them.
Mr.. Couch was in total ignorance
of the existence of the caverns, but
/ SAYS that on three occasions an aged.
but erect, Indian has been seen loaf
ing around the falls, with some other
/ Indian, but no notice was taken ofthe
/ men. Col. Onstott, who is well ae-
quainted with the nomadic habits of
the Otoes, is of the opinion that there
is a sacred chamber not yet found by
the party of explorers, into which the
relics and valuable treasures of these
Indians are deposited; he is of the
opinion something startling will be
discovered on further exploring. The
4 colonel is also endeayoring to
( organize a stock company to
4 purchase the homestead on which
wild Horse falls are situated. but
\ it is extremely questionable wheth-
er Mr. Couch will sell at any price
Tor the present. though he has agreed
to allow additional exploratiotions.
Among those who will accompany
/ Col. Onstott and party on the next
I exploration of this world-beating
cavern will be Mayor d. b. Dyer, Col.
ID. NJ. Ross, the eatire city council of
Guthrie, and other territorial digni-
taries.
On entering the cavQrns it is neces-
sarv to crawl and drag oneself along
for over ten feet. Then, for about
twelve feet, it is possible to advance
on hands and knees, an6 the explor-
er finds himself in comparatively
high chamber. Ten feet further this
opens into a moderately sized cham
Der. about 10 by IL. With lighted
improvised torches, made of oak
boughs, which had to be relighted
every few minutes, the search was
continued until thirteen OF these
chambers, varying in sizes from 10
/ by 15 to 2Tk by 62k feet were found
and partially examined. In the larg-
est chamber rhe side walls were 12h
feet high. Six of them were as dry
and smooth as if an iron plane had
been used upon them, while in three
the atmosphere was damp and chilly.
and through four of them on the
eastern side ripping stream of wa
ter, two inches in depth, runs along
the floor at the eastern wall, and dis
appeared beneath the partition wall
in the second chamber from the en-
trance of the cavern.
The floors in all the chambers.
though not exactly smooth, were re-
markably even and level. while the
ceiling in all the departments visited
presented solid and smoothappear-
ance. With theimperfect means of
examination, and in the absence of
proper lights, it is impossible to give
anything bordering upon a correct
impression of this remarkable discov-
cry. and time and future examina.
tions alone must tell the wonders con-
tanned in these caves orsubterranean
dwellings,, if dwellings, they once were.
The party of explorers, though light
IL clad, knowing nothing of these
caverns when they got to the falls,
experienced very little Inconvenience
from dampness, and when Col. 0ns-
tott returns the party viii go pre-
pared to visit every part of this
wonder, If it takes weeks to do it.
The colonel informed thecorrespond-
ent that it was his purpose to secure
the Otoe chief, Tail of the Wolf"
and compel him to go into the cav
ern with the party, and if there be a
secret chamber known only TO him
and his sub-chiefs, he will find it and
the relics and treasures it contains,
il there be such. In the meantime,
the colonel had arranged to see that
no one enters the cavern until he
gives the word to do so.
Where Enemies Are Beneficial.