The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-27
THE WIND CAVE.

H. d. swan, OF marguerite, one OF the pest
known mining men of Upper Michigan, was
in town Friday evening, says the Milwaukee
Wisconsin, on his return from the Black
Hills, where he intends to settle. He
tells wonders about large cave he visited
there, and which almost rivals the celebra-
ted Mammoth Cave Of Kentucky.
It is called the Wind Cave, and
Is situated about twelve miles
from Buffalo Gap, ON the Fremont,
Elkhorn and Missouri Valley division Of
the Northwestern railroad. It was dis
covered six years ago by ]. Bingham, and
now belongs to B.. B. Moss and J. D. Mo
Donald, who have greatly improved it and
intend to build summer resort there.
Guides are necessary to any one explor-
ing the cave. ''The entrance" said Mr..
Swain, sis marked by monument of lime
stone about twelve feet high and twelve
series Of steps blasted in the wall
Of the cave, and short ladders, dis
tance of about fifty feet. At this depth
there are Succession of innumerable large
grottoes, called the upper chambers. New
ones are constantly discovered. A peculiar
It does not seem to be controlled or affected
by the changes Of the wind, but the current
changes several times in twenty four hours;
sometimes 1t is drawing or sucking inward
and at other times blowing out. The pres
sure is strong enough to carry ones hat in
or cut, az the case may be.
Proceeding into the cavity saw q num-
Der Of large passages and grotto Q, all dec-
Grated with stalactite formations of snowy
Wilderness. The different chambers have
been given names, like the Oven, the Bridal
Chamber, the Well, which is hole 15O feet
deep; the Prairie Dog Town, where there
are several mounds s With holes in the cen en-,
surrounding prairies; the Church Steeple,
and others. Then comes q long and tortuous
passage, where one has to crawl over
the camel's back into the postofice, large
room, Is feet long. Is feet wide, and Is feet
high. The stalactites here form series of
brown boxes, edged with white, along the
wall. Then comes the cataract room, fully
50 feet high, where the stalactites take
many fantastic shapes. Next is Roses
Misery, narrow assure, where we had to
lie fat on our sides and draw
ourselves through BY the projections
on the rocks. This is called after
q man named Rose. who was stuck here
till he nearly persisted. In one place the
lime water falling from the ceiling has pro-
duCed shapes called the elephant aud the
calf, which the visitor will recognize pro-
vided his imagination is vivid enough. A
narrow passage leads to what is called
sage; this room is forty feet long by fifteen
feet wide, eighteen feet high, beautifully
crystallized in diamond shape and box
work, with several projections forming
natural seats.
"From this room, through the mail pas
sage. we enter Monument hall. This room
is fully 100 feet long and from five to fifteen
feet wide, with many projections from the
floor from two to six feet high and resemb-
ling monuments. The wallis and roof are
crystalized in the forms of boxes and snow
fakes. This hall extends an unknown dis
tance, but it narrows down too much to ad-
been some 200 feet further than I went.
Here ! found strong current of
air, and there is undoubtedly another cur
rent opening to the surface.
From this point We went book to the
oven, near the entrance of the cave, from
which We crawled through long passage
to stalagmitel room. with stalactite and
stalaemite from floors and roof, With crys-
Utilization of frost and box-work. From
here we made half circle through a mar
row passage into small room, whence we
assembled sort of corksorew passage about
sixty feet long, entering beautifully crys-
tallized room about fifteen feet in diameter,
through passage said to be 1000 feet
long, three feet high, four feet wide. This
passage glistens with crystallizations in all
forms. We then entered q large room,
about 30 feet by Is feet, beautifully crys-
tallized. On entering the cave there is a
but after dropping about fifty feet We
passed into the dressing room whore was
left all surplus clothing. Atlast we climbed
up forty feet almost vertically, and were
astonished to find ourselves at the foot of
the hill.''