The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1890-10-10
OFFICIAL PAPER.
IN TOTAL DARKNESS.

IN TOTAL DARKNESS.
Lost for Thrco Days in an CndcrSr0und
Labyrinth in Africa.
The city of Pretoria, capital Of the Trans
vaal, South Africa, is located in most
beautiful spot. II 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 aud pomegranates forming blaze Of
bloom amidst the food Of sunshine SHIN
mering like golden water. Under these
mountain ranges are vast caverns, only
few Of which have been entered, and these
only partly explored.
These caves are the original Haggafd'S
caves OF the Amahaaga, in which the Won
derful "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
nishes the water supply for this city, has
never been discovered. A curious fact u
that its waters are highest during the dry
season. This points to the theory that it 10
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 .
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 struot-
urc.
Some friends of mine, two ladies sand
three gentlemen, went on an exploring ex-
pedition through this cavern, go.lost In its
| ,:,;,ze and were three days before they found
| :l,cir way back to the outer world, writes q
,ol respondent Of the Omaha Bee. Mr..
Saunders, of the American Consulate ut
Cape Nay, thus relates their experiences
| while in th;. bowels Of the earth:
"Mr. j. II. Leroy, CT the Northern Pacific
| railway of the United States of America:
Mr. John Sidney and two Indies, Miss Web
! 'ter and Miss Gootch, and myself started to
EXPLORE the Fountain Cave Armed with
two lamps and provisions enough for two
meals, we started We got through the
entrance. which is very narrow, with diff
Guilty. Going u few yards VIC found it nec-
found on each side of the main passage
numerous sideways and alleys apparently
l,ewn out of the solid rock.
| ".A!l around there were evidences of the
caves being inhabited by swnrns OF bats
which constantly kept flying in our faces.
Pursuing our way for u considerable time,
we came to q spot where the roof of the
concern, hitherto lofty, slanted down, grad
! ual!y becoming lower and lower until we
were unable &c walk erect. Finally we
came to where the floor was on an inclined
p.ine and got more head-room. We tlier;
descended a steep hill, at the foot OF which.s
was Il dead wall which completely bnrrca.
further progress ia that direction. On thG5
right hand u narrc.v passage presented it,
self Just vide enough to permit ofs0AEs
walking Indian file. The air, hitherto 166F
ami bracing, became damp and cold,.s
c!ammy dew settled on our faces. To thas
sides of the passage clung pale, slimys
suake-liaa substance which to the touchFs
produced shivery sense of abhorrence.
We began to wish ourselves well out of the
undertaking. However,, beng in, theee
was nothlng for it hut to go on e
sWs;wa,ked up this passage distance,
shoMA Judge, of three hundred yards, wnem
we hSSiVcd Mt en- octagonal court, from
which ;.fan eight different passages, tho
four main ones being about q width of fifty
feet, and the four narrow ones about four
feet each. Under our fest could he heard n
sound as Of the running of 2 river and tho
violent Dreaming OF water upon rocks. We
could perceive no mode of descent, and the
ground under our feet seemed solid.
Being weary, and tho ladies somewhat
fatnt, we resolved to go back, altogether
8 alpsinted with the result of our explora-
.sEtsssiISs However, before starting again we
ssttSfSeEbed ourselves with the victuals we
8 hAd brought, and, fortified by q few
Flraughts of cape sherry, felt our spirits
rise, and. curiosity us to the cause of the
sonnd under our feet getting the better of
aar judgment, we began searching for q
way to descend, and finally found place
where there were stone steps at irregular
intervals. !,
"ssldney and descended, leaving Leroy
and. the ladies above. We followed these
stops Tor asout fifty feet. The descent was
very difficult. The light of the lantern
! grow feeble. However, we arrived on q
{ broad platform of level ground
.The sound of the water had by this time
, increased to that of o roaring torrent, and
on our left we saw the black, inky stream
, rushing past. We sounded, ard found the
river very deep and cold. Passing along
the banks the air became heavier still, and
, the lamp, which had been burning moro
feebly, went out altogether. Breathing
Deca.ne very difficult, owing to the absence
: of oxygen. In this dreadful place and In
:, total darkness we were stumbling about
: .gy;ng TO end the steps, by which TO return,
G for hours, until, becoming quite weary, we
!. sat down and fell into q torpid, heavy sleep.
How long we remained in this state l do not
I! know.
J. ION awakening, with great effort, VIC
), aroused ourselves, aud finally hit on pas
y sage, Which we followed. AS we went the
y 1oisc CT the waters became less audible,
/, and finally we lost the sound altogether.
y Still, tnore was no ray Of light; nothing
e but thick darkness and o noisome, pestilcn.
tia. air.
.'We CROPPED about for hours from one
5 passage 10 another amidst silence deer
d and dreadful The sound Of our voices ap
/, peared unnaturaly loud, alid echcing
y through tile vaults gave the impression
: that the pace was haunted by countless
j, demons who wero lnoclsag our distress.
s'Qui,e exhausted hy cxcrtlon, anxiety
h and w;intof food, we sank down in despair
y giving ourselves up for lost. After time
however, we determined to make another
= effort for life. We found that the lamI
i would now keep lighted. This gave III
fresh hope and enabled us to see our way
ebout We made better progress alonf
s. tho darksomc passage and soon were over
,f joycd at seeing my faithful Newfoundland
:. deg jumping and bounding toward US. W,
knew we wcrc saved. Following the dog
\ which seemed to have correct view Of th,
Q situation, we soon discovered streak 0
% light ut the entrance to tue cave. Th
t. spirit of enterprise being danped by thre