Arizona weekly enterprise., 1890-06-14
MOUNTAIN SPRINGS CAVE.
A Visit to this Wonderland of StaIactites
 and Stalgamites.
Tucson Citizen.

Messrs Osbon and Haynes, visited the Mountain Springs cave six miles north of Pantano on Sunday last. The hill in which the cave is situated is of vol canic formation probably mile long and on an average about 800 feet high. It is apparently but one of many of like origin that mainly constitute the country thereabout. On the east it rises abruptly from deep canyon but on the west it takes its rise in low ridge running at right angles with the main range, and slopes gradually towards the top. The mouth of the cave IS situated on the south side of the hill in the face of low bluff near the west end, and but few hundred yards from the top. The cave en- trance proper, is about four feet wide and six feet high Twenty feet in, it widens in all directions, particularly downwards and presents a most gloomy and forbiddlng appearance. At this point the tunnels proper divide into eastern and western divi- sions which pitch downward six or eight feet at time for possibly 30 feet. when the descent becomes more gradual.
 The cave leading to. the right pos sesses but little interest in comparison with that on the left. Instead of be- ing a cave adorned with stalactites and stalagmites it is nothing so far as the writer could see, but a succession of great rifts in the bowels of the mountain, opening at times into rooms 30 feet wide and 60 feet high. The face of the walls, occasionally broken by immense jutting rocks, are apparently built with studied regular ity, the cleavage being at many times perfect from bottom to top, although broken horizontally, repeatedly. The face of the walls of one tall chimney was but succession of burst blisters or air bubbles that had apparently formed when the mountain was a molten mass and burst into thous- and pieces. The main drift suddenly terminates when but few hundred feet in, but there are so many side paths, back alleys and byways that have no apparent ending and may be followed indefinitely.
 The Assure running west IS Tn like formation to that on the east-huge masses of broken rock piled one above the other, or reft by volcanic agency into yawning chasms that open deep into the mountain, greet the behold CT at every turn. The main Assure that runs parallel with the hill shelves off into nothingness but small hole on the north side through which one must lie down and creep, opens into an underground world of wondrous form. It is narrow and difficult of passage being studded with numerous incrustations of lime wrought by the cunning hand of nature into all man. ner of curious forms, but 1t leads into royal palaces of stalactites and stalag- mites that thousand fold repay a visitor the toll and trouble experienced in reaching them. These cavern chambers are of great beauty, but of a constantly reoccurring character. To see one is practically to see them all. Everywhere throughout these labarynthine maZes the delft hand of the lime God has held full sway. The foaming torrent apparently arrested in it's mad rush, or again broken into a million fragments, its scattered spray congealed like hoar frost on the surface of the rock, while from altar and throne, from floor and roof woven into a myriad of fantastic figures rise and fall the calcarious droppings of many centuries. It would be impossible here to even faintly portray the gran deur of these subterraneos caverns with their columns and drapings of rock through which one man alone dare not go without first making sure of his return.
 This difficulty is easily obviated by placing candles along the line of route, or as was done by the party on Sunday last who used few ba.is of good strong twine. If this method be adopted the explorer on his return. will more than once be astonished al the devious byways into which the guiding twine will lead him. The cave exploration however, has its re pulsive as we'll as its pleasant features The entrance to this wonderland is reached through. .hades-bat droppin gs foot deep through which one must wade and creep for hundred feet and the stench is both nauseating and sufiocating. But once through the bat regions the air is clear and pure At the mouth of the cave quite | & strong current of air rushes 1t, bu lower down there is no perceptible draught.
 A more interesting day cannot bt put in than by visit to this wonder land. The round-trip can be made in day, and four or five hours allow ed for exploration. A good team vii easily make the 9 miles in a few hours of the early morning and thu return drive in the evening is equall, as pleasant.
 Within half mile of the cave i the famous Mountain Springs rancl now owned and occupied, by MT. Will liam Shaw and his good wife and b. whom the kindliest and most hospit able treatment is accorded to all yisi tors. At present but little has beer accomplished in the way of cultivation but in few years the line of improve
 ments as mapped out by MT. Shaw will make it one of the finest place in Arizona.
 It perhaps, is not amiss to her
 state that ladies visiting the cave vii
 be obliged to don the habilimepts O
 the sterner sex as they cannot possi
 ply make even limited exploration
 dressed in feminine garments.
 Mir Osbon the photographer, wh
 formed one of the party visiting tn
 cave on Sunday last, made numbe
 of magnificent views, both inside an
 outside of the cave. These can b
 seen at his place of business on Per
 nington near the corner of ChuFc
 street.
 Antonio Gallardo, the Mexican who jumped his bondsmen at Flo ence one day last week in the sum ( , $500, is reported to have escaped int
 the "Land of la Manyana." Gallard
 has been held to answer the charg ,, of grand larceny committed in ths county. He was seen about the Ba rio Libre the first of last week, an 1 tho off;oars of Elorapno bovin0 hao