The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-11
A COLORADO CAVE.
Peculiar Experience Of q Party of
Pleasure-Seekers.

Tho Cavern Swept by n Current of Air
Which Tosses Men About Like Straws
An OId-TImer's Advon-
turc.
There is cave near lockwood, a
station on the Denver & Rio Grande
railroad, which has been visited by
many persons living near, as well as by
parties from Durango. No particular
mention of the cave has been made, as
it seemed to be little worthy of notice
nothing unique or striking.
On n recent Sunday number of
pleasure seekers left this city, says the
Denver Sun, to join q party ut Rock
wood who had planned to visit the cave.
About four o'clock in the afternoon the
members of the party, having disposed
Of their dinner, began to climb the hill,
near the top of which the mouth of the
cave is located.
After much cXcrtion the foremost of
the party reached the mouth of the
cave, and being in advance of his COM
panions they were much startled to see
him fall backward into the low oak
brush rs if he had been thrown from q
catapult. His companions, pushing for
ward more vigorously, soon came to his
rescue and found him recovering from
his tumble, not much hurt, but slightly
scratched and somewhat dazcd. He
could give no explanation of his sudden
removal from the opening of the cavern.
Curious to know what the cause was,
the entire company in body pushed
up the hill, which has particularly
steep descent near the mouth of the
cave. To the establishment of the
whole number, the instant after step
ping into the cave they found them
selves all piled together in spot near
where the first had landed.
1t took but Il little while to recover
from the ENHANCEMENT, when they be-
gan to inquire the cause of this sudden
excitement. They all agreed that they
had seen nothing to cause such n thing,
and they were curious to know the
reason for the phenomenon. But how
to find out what they wished was the
thing to decide.
At last it was determined that the
strongest gentleman of the party
should gain position at the side of the
entrance, and, thus protected, get an
opportunity to rcconnotcr. So, taking
circuitous route and avoiding posi-
ton directly in front of the opening,
they soon found themselves close be-
side the entrance. Cautiously putting
his head out beyond the protecting
wall the foremost pccrcd in. His hat
Immediately took flight down the de-
clivity, but he was thus made aware of
the exact state of affairs
The philosophy of the current of air
in, .-,,I<
as is we'll known, the air on IL warm
day in summer is much lighter on the
outside of Il cave or cellar than it is in
side. Consequently, the cold, heavy air
rushcs out with great violencc-cnough
in this case to cause the trouble spoken
of and throw the party down the hill
Later, relating this tale, an old timer
told OF IL former adventure of his ut the
same place. On Il cold day in the carly
winter he was tracking deer along
this hillside, when he was astonishcd to
sec the cave open up before him. and he
noticed that the snow seemed to have
been disturbed very recently, as though
u body had been dragged into the en-
trance.
Without thinking he stepped forward
to examine into the cause of the dis
turbcd condition of the snow, when he
felt himself violently pulled into the
cave, the force pulling him from his feet
He felt q shock and for awhile was OBJ
livious to all around him. When his
senses returned he found he was lying
by and partially upon the body of
deer Upon examination he found the
body of the deer yet warm.
This led to closer examination still
He ut last determined that the force OF
the current of air blowing into the cave
had drawn the deer in, killing it, but
chat when he was drawn in the shock
was somewhat obviatcd by his striking
the deer, thus saving him from death.
The explanation is just the reverse of
the other, the air being warmer inside
of the cave than out. The current flows
into the cave during the winter, thus ac-
counting for the strange affair.