The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-10
SUBTERRANEAN NIAGARA.
discovered in a Cavern in Tennessee
by Hunters Chasing
Reynard.
The Cave and Waterfall Thought
tn Rival the Mammoth in
Wonders.
An Unknown Sort of Lizard - human
raoues Discovered-A New Crystal
Palace Found.

Jr,r,co. Dec. o.-Last Friday morning.
vhile Mr.. Richard Perkins, IN company
with two BOYS, was hunting foxes on the
east side Of Indian peak, the hounds chased
one in hole in the ground. When the
hnn+ers arrived at the hole they decided to
dig Mr.. Reynard from his den. The hunt
ers procured pick and shovel from far
mer and went to work manfully. In about
two hours their effort were rewarded by
discovering that they had dug their way
into large cavern in the mountain side.
They secured several pine knots for
+orcbes and started on an exploring expedi-
tion. After entering the cave few yards
thew came to running stream of water,
clear and cold, about ten inches deep and
two feet across. This stream ran across the
stone floor and sank in hole near
the side. The room is about TWEEN
ty-fye feet long and fifteen feet
wide. and man while standing can
touch the ceiling With his hands. They
proceeded on their way through long. mar
row channel for twenty feet, where they
EMERGED into large chamber, oval-shaped,
with crystallized stalactites extending from
the ceiling about twenty five feet above
them. The walls resembled solid crystal,
and in this they found bones OF various
kinds. Near big stone III the center they
found human bones, pronounced to be the
arm and shoulder of very large man. They
also captured alive very strange reptile
resembling a lizard Of a greenish hue. 1t
is eight inches long from tip of tail to head:
its head is three-fourths of an inch long,
yery fat. oyal-shaped, large mouth, small,
bright eyes; its neck is four and one-half
inches long, body three inches. tail one
inch, short and very blunt. 1t has four
short legs, and five toes on each loot. Its
neck is very slender and when moving its
head is erect and sways from side to side.
Its movements are slow and somewhat
lnbo.ed. It is vinoictive little
creature sud shows fight when
approached II will strike its head against
the side of the box in which 1t is confined
with considerable force. and when 1t makes
an attack it's mouth is wide open. SO far it
has not eaten anything Persons who have
seen it have failed to find a name for the
curiosity.
The explorerc also saw frogs and bats in
this chamber. They found two outlets to
this crystal palace, and from one of these
openings could be heard the roaring Of
waters in the distance. They followed this
hallway some distance to au abrupt turn:
then the rearing sound was very distinc.
and seemed close at hand. From this point
they proceeded very cautiously, fearing
they would meet with some disaster. They
had Travelled but short distance. when
Mr.. Perkins exclaimed to his youthful COM
panions, who were in the rear, Look out
for water He had found water in thcil
pathway nearly boot-top deep. One of the
boys proposed going back, but he said
II am going to find that WATERFALL" sc
the party stayed together, feeling thei,
f,,tl,.
could feel drops Of water striking
them, and as they proceeded the more
rapidly did the drops strike them. Final
~ they came to an opening, very high and
narrow. with deep chasm, and from the
top of this opening flowed n stream of wa
ter about the size of a mans body. This
water fell upon large, fiat. stone shelf
that extended over the chasm. From this
shelf the water splead its spray in the ras
sage by which the explorers had come.
From the shelf the water ran over the
edges and dropped into the pit or chasn.
They returned to the crystal palace and
tried another opening, but it proved only a
to daylight and found that they had spent
several hours in the cavern and had failed
to find Mr.. Fox; SO they returned home,
bringing with them specimens Of their dis
covery to Prove their assertions. 1t is Mr..
Perkins intention to purchase the land,
if possible. He will also make mp party
and spend the day exploring the cavern
He thinks he has found wonder, and if il
comes up to his expectations he will Eav
it opened as one OF the attractions of tn
south. He brought with him fine speci
mems of coral and quartz, and iron ant
zinc ores.