The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-05-20

was n rustlBg OF displaced gravel, a
scraping sound. and down went the fat
reporter to the bottom OF the hole.
N TIE CAVERN.
Three Nouiny Rooms vtsIted-A Thrilling
E Escape.
"rm all right" was the cheering as.
surance shouted out from the bowels Of
the earth by the fat reporter. The Ian.
tern and the matches were passed in,
and flood Of light thrown on the walls
aud dome.llke ceiling OF the cave. The
end OF the twine was made iast to d
rock outside, and the second reporter
dotted his coat and vest and made the
tortuous descent. If
After leaving the "landing' visible
from above, the opening broadened to
left and right and the floor sloped down
rather abraptly, SO that by the time the
explorers feet were on terra trina again,
there was room for very tall man to
stand upright. From height OF posi-.
bly, Elk and half feet here, the roof
rises TO a height Of maybe eight feet.
The floor slopes gently to where the de.
scending arch again closes down upon
1t. This ceiling is OF a shale or soap.
stone, and did not look very secure 10
the inexperienced eyes OF the explorers.
A SECOND CHAMBER.
The first room Is somewhat in the
form OF an old fashioned bake.oven, ex.
cept that the sides slope less steeply and
the crown is not so high. The space Is
irregularly circular, aud though 1t was
not carefully measured, about twelve
feet in diameter-posgibly fourteen by
floor measurement. The opening cx.
tends back On all sides TO very acute
angle.
At one point is a hole in the shape oil
an arch, and not over two feet high IL,
the middle. sgE +
This was evidently the doorway to the
second chamber, and into 1t the two
bold investigators crawled, the big man
again leading, and pushing the lantern
ahead.
Here was revealed more commodi
ous space, and the vaulted ceiling rost
much higher. The sides, where the,
were within reach. were smooth, glist
ening limestone, with raised little bump.
over it-possibly.the beginnings OF stall
actltes. Above, the rays OF the bulls
eye showed clineiug mass OF earth
which made the visitors almost hole
their breath, lest the reverberations o
their voices might bring down the bill
upon their hcads.
A THIRD AND LARGER.
Another small opening was revealed
by the searching light OF the hull's.eye
but it was merely, like the outer en-
trance, a hole in the soft earth, and hat
the appearance OF having recently hat
its shape changed by crumbling Of tn.
sides and top.
The daring OF the big reporter was still
undaunted. He worked Ills way through
Il hole scarcely large enough for hi
glrth. but declared it was "just hi
size." Occasional "plunks"' OF iallin;
particles, however, made the visit seen
risky, and he made hasty tour out int,
the darkness, drawing the string along
while his companion directed the high
through the opening. There were lit,l,
pools OF water on the floor OF the thirt
room, and it seemed much vaster thar
the others. 1t could not be explored
very satisfactorily in this way, and curl
osity began to get the better OF discre
ton, when there was diversion.
! 4 roaring, rumbling noise, as il ava,
OF in the earth somewhere had occurred
a convnslon OF nature, was followed b,
Il shaking like that Of an earthquake.
THRILLING ESCAPE.
Louder, louder, grew the noise, NOR,
pronounced the vibrations Of tn,
ground. Then there was rush OF air
and both recognized the cause OF tn,
commotion; it was tho passing Elm
Grove train.
Scarcely had this discovery relieved
the pair until there was p!emon;tor,
dropping OF ANAL stones and atoms o
earth near the opening which separated
the two. a-G
'Come out OF that, quick!" shouted
the man in the outer space. Ism.
i 1t was too late A mass OF earth aut
bits OF stone that would fill cart cave,
in right in that narrow passage.
For a moment both were poYerlesE
with dismay; but there was but on,
thing to do-dig the earth away as rap
idly as possible. With opy the nipple
ments furnished by nature, their hand.
and feet, both worked more effectively
than anybody would Delieyc possible
until he had tried.
QUITE ENOUGH FOR ONE DAY.
This little experience satisfied the
curiosity OF both. There was a usani.
nous agreement, without vote, that
the next thing to do was to get out. and
the way to do it wac to Go it quickly.
A good many COMMISSIONS were receiy.
cd, even by the thin man, in getting
from the second into the first room, and
the ascent out OF that pit into the light
OF day was difficult and painful
scramble. ~ -.
The expedition returned 10 town on
the o'clock motor, covered with glory
and yellow mud. If the glory sticks
like the yellow mud, both will be salts.
fed. gai-I ~, III : ' 80
The cave is not a safe nor a pleasan,
place to go. The Irvine string carried in
was broken at the poist where tho far.
thest man in had reached, and the piece
measures SIS! feet. How much farther
the caves may extend can only be
guesIed. lsif iE9&.1 I'll 3 ll5
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