The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1890-04-25
IN TOTAL DARKNESS.
Lost for T,reo Days In an Underground
l.alyrinth I'm Africa.


wal, South Africa, is located in a most
beautiful spot. 1t stands in valley be-
tween two ranges of mountains clothed
with rich, dark verdure all the year round,
vines loaded with ripening grapes, monthly
roses and pomegranatcs forming blaze Of
bloom amidst the food Of sunshine SHIN
mering like golden water. Under these
ranges are vast caverns, only a.
few OF which have been entered, and these
only partly explored.
These caves are the original Haggartl's
caves of the Amahaaga, in which the WON
dcrful "She" dwelt and ruled. Right under
this mountain and through these dark
ravines runs clear sparkling river of wa
ter The source of this river, which fur
nishcs the water supply for this city, has
never been discovered. A curious fact is
that its waters are highest during the dry
season. This points to the theory that it is
fed by rain, and that these rains do not
reach the river until about four or five
months after they fall.
This river is inhabited by fish and q
strange kind of crabs and Holsters, all of
which have no eyes. This species of aquatic
animals having been bred in and inhabited
this dark Stygian stream for thousands of
years, have never had any use for eyes,
and so, after many generations, that organ
had entirely disappeared from their struct-
ure.
Some friends of mine, two ladies and
'hrcc gentlemen, went on an exploring cx-
i'c'ilon through this cavern, got lost i'll its
maze and were three days before they found
heir way back to tho outer world, writes
correspondent of the Omaha Bee. Mr..
sae:ldcrs. of the American Consulate at
Cape May, thus relates their experience
while in tn, bowels of tho earth.
",!r j. IL. Leroy, of the Northern Pacific
railway Of the United States of America:
M:. John Sidney and two ladies, Miss Web
eter ana Miss Gootch, and myself started to
explore the Fountain Cave. Armed with
two]nnlps and provisions enough for two
meals, we started We got through the
entrance, which is very narrow, with difi-
Guilty. Going a few yards we found it nec-
essary to light the lamps. Proceeding we
found on each side of the main passage
numerous sideways and alleys apparently
hcwn out of the solid rock.
''A'l around there were evidences Of the
caves icing inhabited by swar,ns of bats
which constantly kept flying in our faces.
Pursuing our way for a considerable time,
we came to q spot where the roof of the
concern, hitherto lofty, slanted down, grad
nally becoming lower and lower until we
were unable 10 walk erect. Finally we
camc to where the floor was on an inclined
pane and got more head-room. We then
descended u steep hill, ut the foot OF which
was IL dead wall Which completely barred
fnrl!c. progress in that direction. On the
right Eand a narrow passage presented it,
self just wide enough to permit of our
walking Indian file. The air, hitherto cool
and bracing, became damp and q cold,
c'ammy dew settled on our faces. To the
sides Of the passage clung a pale, Shiny,
s',ake-like substance which to tho touch
produced sllivcry sense of abnorrcncc
We began to Wish ourselves we'll out of the
Undertaking. However, beng in, there
was nothing for it but to go on.
We wa .scd up this passage distance, 1
should judge, of three hundred yards, when
VIC arrived ut an octagonal court, from
.shic. ran eight different passages, the
ioGr man ones being ;ibout Il width of fifty
feet, and tine four narrow ones about four
iaes each. Under our feet could be heard a
sound as OF the running of u river and the
Violent nrenliing CT water upon rocks. we
could perceive no mode OF descent, and the
ground under our feet seemed solid.
BEING weary, and the ladies somewhat
e..;n., We resolved to go back altogether
disappointed with the result of our cxplora-
Ion. However, before starting again we
i'efresi.'d ourselves with the victuals we
,ad brought, and, fortified by few
!r,uglts of cape sherry, felt our spirits
use, and. curiosity as to the cause of the
,nu,.,l under our feet getting the better of
,sr Judgment, we began searching for a
.:'l...-- to descend, and finally found q place
where there were stone steps ut irregular
intervals.
..s;.lncy and / descended, leaving Leroy
md ll, .,tr, r,Il. 4
steps fer about fifty feet. The descent was
very difficult. The light of the lantern
..i'eyv Gacilo. However, we arrived OH a
5rcnl platform Of level ground
''.'lc sound of the water had by this time
increased to that of Il roaring torrent, and
on cur left we saw the black, inky ST realn
r:,shng past. We sounded, and found the
river very deep and cold. Passing along
Ike banks the air became heavier still, and
the lamp, which had been burning more
feebt., went out altogether. Breathing
became vcry difficult, owing to the absence
,s oxygen. In this dreadful place and in
c.;a darkness we We're stumbling about
5r.s'ing TO iind the steps, by which to return,
tor hours, until, becoming quite weary, we
sat down and fell into q torpid, heavy sleep.
How long we remained in this state do not
znnw.
ION awakening, with great effort, We
aroused ourselves, and finally hit on pas
SAGE, which VIC followed. AS we went the
lc..c cf the waters became less audible,
AID iaaiy VIC lost the sound altogether
/, Still, there was no ray of light; nothing
| out thick darkness and q noisomc, pestilen.
alal air.
"Wc CROPPED about for hours from ono
passage 10 another amidst q silence deer
and dreadful. The sound of our voices ap
| .,enrci nnnaturally loud, and ccloius
| through The vaults gave the impression
that tho place was haunted by countless
| demons who were ,noclsing our distress.
.,9uite exhausted by exertlon, anxiety
and wantof food, we sank down in despair
giving ourselves up for lost. After q time
however, we determined to make anothe
oifort for life. We found that the LAM
.ould now keep lighted. This gave u.
fresh hope and enabled us to see our wa,
sbout. We made better progress along
tho darl:some passage and soon were over
;ovcd ut seeing NY faithful Newfoundland
log jumping and bounding toward us. W,
incw VIC were saved. Following the dog
Ntiich seemed to have a correct view of th,
situation, we soon discovered q streak O
.,ght at the entrance to the cave. TIL
spirit of enterprise being damped by thrc
lays spent in the tombs, we resolved IN ou
minds not lightly to make another attcmp
of tho kind.''
Fences Made OF Soft Steel.
A new fence is nade of soft steel, Gu
while in the plate and drawn out after tn
fashion of purcr love baskets. It is pre-
posed ;iiso TO maze iron lathing by the sam
1 a.