Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-12-11
WONDERFUL DISCOVERY
Montana Adds Another to the
Many Wonders and Mys-
teries of the World.
Within a Few Miles of Butte Is
a Cave Weird and
Marvellous.

Montana when, they were both young, tne
former having only q short time previous
to his meeting with Montana been sep.
Grated from his mama in Missouri because
OF his refusal to Join the Coniederacy, and
the latter having been only q shor time be.
fore her meeting with HLongfellow" been
cut loose from Oregon, because Oregon
already had to many proteges.
Soon after Stanton arrived in the terri
tory he became q rock sharp and spent
most OF his time in prospecting not only in
Montana, but Old Mexico, New Mexico,
Arizona, Utah. Idaho, Nevada, California
and the British Possessions. On all OF
these prospecting trips he has been accom-
panied by a man named Clark Shaw, who
is about. Stanton's age and build. a
Hearing that "Longfellow" was in Butte,
8 few days ago q reporter for TEE AINER
set out to round him up for the purpose OF
cleaning from him some information rela.
ative to cave wbicI it was re-
ported he had discovered in the
mountains near this cit5. He was
found holding down a bale Of hay at the
Oregon stables, and when the reporter APP
preached him and stated his mission the
old fellow drew his legs up until his knees
almost touched his chin, spit a wad of
tobacco at a fly on the wall near him. and
said: .-....
me know something about a cave! well,
~ rfnor 7 ch0rJ1d COW fhof T do Ennu
something about a cave" Then after
studying for a few minutes he continued;
I'm the mountains, about two miles south
OF Alex Morrison's. on the Pipestone road,
eighteen miles in a southeasterly direction
from Butte, me and my partner, Clark
Shaw, discovered a ledge Of pretty fair
looking rock while prospecting there one
day. The ledge cropped out about 200
that we would run a tunnel into
the hill and tap the ledge near the water
Well, we went to work and at the
end of two months we had reached what
supposed to be the ledge. We dug a
little farther and were surprised to find
a da,k hole staring us in the
lace. A warm air seemed to come from
the hole. We both entered the opening
AMI began to examine the geological for.
OF the walls. For a short distance !
lust inside of the hole the floor descended |
1T a pretty good angle, and was quite |
and then it extended off in a direct |
which was apparently level. On
either side were large chambers and cav
opening from the main chamber. |
These chambers and caverns were easily |
ollowed. Indications of beasts of prey |
we're numerous, but none were encoun.
erred. To our surprise the air in the cave
vas good, it being patent to US that the
)lace was being ventilated from some
'ource atithat time unknown to US. We pro-
'eedeG cautiously along, examining the
wallis for mineral Indications as we went.
Not only did we examine the walls, but
Ilso the fragments OF rock under our feet.
Is we followed along the passage way we
marked the walls with our picks, SO that
70 would nave no difficulty in retracing
'ur steps. Alter several hours, which
eemed like minutes in this strange place,
found ourselves On the brink of a tiny
ivulet, the water Of which was as clear
nd bracing as one could imagine. We
at our watches and found that it
as long past noon. We returned to the
,outh OF the tunnel and ate our dinners,
estimated that we had Travelled
early three miles in the cave.
to thoroughly explore
subterranean passage the next
forming we took a supply of grub and
and again started in with the in
'ntion OF reaching the end, if such a thing
ere possible. We madeFapid progress and
.piored for q distance OF about fifteen
lies before we turned back. We crossed
any streams OF water, but we did not see 7
~ stalagmites or stalactites When we
y. ont we rested a dsy and then came
to Butte and purchased g. wagon load oil
candles, etc., and again started q
r the cave. The wagon belonged to Mr., :,
orrison, but the stock was ours. We o
SO had two hurros, and after getting fl
lck to the mouth OF the tunnel we turned Y
If horses in with Morrison's herd AND !.
lcked the provisions on the burros and
am entered the cave, taking along some u
Tor the animals. 1t was our intention fe
follow the opening eveh though it took N
10 D.. We took q compass with us =,
q soon found out that we were travelling :.
a s~outheasterly direction. The burros 81
owded each other and almost trampled y:
r heels In their endeavor to keep up with IL L,
oOoh OCCouC accustomed TO UNDER
'und travel, and made good time. After =.
had passed the point we had reached d.
our previous attempt to y.
olore the cave, the passaeeway al
larger and the walls and floor pa
oother. We encountered only one Ce
cam OF water having any great depth. a.
1 over this We had to carry the bedding 10 Q
! grub to keep it from getting wet, the sn
ter being too deep for the burros to 70
er with the packs OF their backs. On ~
seventh day VT came to what appeared
be al abrupt termination, but inspec. u"s
. disclosed near one corner of the great w
'mber a door.like exit NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. we
'ad and just large enough to permit of
passage OF the almost famished burros
their greatly diminished packs. This
was about twenty feet long. After e.,
ching the farther end we Thought
had passed under the Rocky
lntalns and were about to emerge y
me eastern side at twilight, for before '
a level meadow on which ami. me
9 were grazing. Far ahead q fire was to-
ning, which seemed to be that of a prai. a v
aDlaze. A few rods from where we irst -.
reed rom the opening good grass and a l
or were tound. Camp was Immediately boy
ned and the burros turned out to axe. the
'stlgation soon convinced us that we o;+.
not reached the surface OF the earth
were camping on a large subterranean ure'
e vieV
this point in the narrative the re. nize
OF Ventured to remark something no,