The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-06
THE WYOMING WONDER.
A Marvellous Cavern That Rivals the
Mammoth Cave Of Ken
tuoky.
Forests Of Glittering Crystal
Shafts and Stalactites of
Hugh Proportions.
An Underground River of Unknown Source
or Outlet-M ushroomsT That Grow
Without Sunlight

LARAMIE, Wyo, Feb. 24.-The report
made by Captain bonneville to the war de-
partment. covering his explorations in the
the unknown northwest 1882, is a docu-
ment of the most interesting description to
American people in general and TO residents
of Wyoming in particular. On the twenty
second page of the report, following the &C :
count of a scramble among the w ind river
peaks, ia the following: descending this
rugged slope, it was our good fortune to
make the discovery of a cave which, for ex-
tent and great natural curiosties, is, in my
opinion, unsurpassed by anything of the
kind now known to the world"
Following this is n lengthy description of
his examination of the cave, in which is the
following: 'These are the most gigantic
stalactites l have ever seen, many Of them,
I'D we found by actual measure, exceeding
twenty five feet in length" &
Capt. Bonneville's examination. so says
his report, WAS but a cursory one, owing to
the limited time at his command, and he
expresses the belief that unheard-o OF
wonders are in store for the explorer h
follows him. This portion of his report
closes with the location of the cave as
nstronomioally determined by himself, and
ia as follows: Situated on tho west slope
of Wind river chain, in latitude AZ degrees
46 minutes north, longitude 100 degrees 20
minutes west, with a possible error OF two
minutes in longitude, due to imperfect
rating of my chronometer." &
In company with a companion surveyor,
-- T. - - |AuN rf
the st. Louis Globe Democrat set out a few
days ago to retrace a long line of the gov
ernment surveys along the west slope OF the
Wind river range, and stopping just before
noon for lunch, a chance bit OF conversa-
ton reminded mt that We wero in the near
vicinity of Bonneville's cave. The sun was
traversing 4 cloudless sky, and had not yet
reached the meridian. Hastily adjusting
my solar instrument, now used in all the
government SURVEYS. 1began anobservation
of the sun to determine our latitude.
In a few minutes l found that we were
but a thousand feet south of the parallel
that cuts the cave, and knowing, from the
gitude, l figured that we stood within 600
yards of that mysterious retreat.
With excitement raised to fever heat we
began a most thorough search, and in two
hours were rewarded by the discovery of a
large opening between two giant blocks of
HuDcTluUlVolV WAllc EdAIbsollCS "AlCA VIC
had no doubt formed the entrance to that
mysterious cavern explored by Bonneville
and his men nearly sixty years before. In
less time than it takes to tell it, we had
gathered a score of pitch-pine strips suita-
Bile for torches, and, binding them together
with part of a small coil of rope which Sa-
win habitually carried, we lighted two 9th
crs and stepped in the tunnel-like opening
leading to the cave.
Fifty feet from the entrance we emerged
into what / judged to be q room of great
proportions, the light failing to reveal
either sides or ceiling. The floor was per-
fectly smooth, but seemed to have a gentle
slope. A short distance in we passed a
small lake whose shore line was as perfect
ly circular az the periphery of a silver dol
lar. The water was crystal clear and ice
Geld, but seemed to be entirely devoid of
life. A few feet from the lake the first
mystery presented itself. Rising from the
floor, to which it was securely attached,
stood a hugo vertical shaft of stone, about
seven feet high, and taperinR at the top to
an extremely narrow edge, on which rested
in a horizontal position, a second block of
stone twenty feet long, and weighing per-
haps fifteen tons.
the horizontal stone with the bare tips of
my fingers, it began gently to perform a
series of oscillations like an immense see-
saw.
Since entering the cave We had moved
uniformly eastward, and had not, as yet,
seen ceiling or walls, although We had as
suredly walked 500 yards. At times we i'm
agined we could detect a faint roaring or
rumbling, as OF water rushing madly over
huge powders In the bed OF some mighty
river. The sound seemed muffled and in
distinct. indicating considerable distance.
Ny attention was attracted by a shout from
Sawin. He had walked ahead some fifty
Sand ,,1 T boutn~al IN A0cartuip TIM =,
of the alarm.
for a time to the stone floor. Not in all
my experience have l seen anything COM
parable to it. "A hollow semi-cylindric wall
of stone rising thirty feet to meet the cell
ing stood before me. 1t was studded with
crystals of hues so various that the eye was
dazzled in beholdinR; while from the roof
dependent hung myriads of salactites
formed by the percolation of a crystal fluid
from an unknown stream. The fioor
was pemmcd with s~talaRmites whose
opulence of color bewildered us.
Thousands upon thousands of these
beautiful, sparkling crystals, catching the
light, threw it back in countless rays in
mind can conceive. 10 the right, left and
in front of us stretched a perfect forest of
exquisitely tinted crystals. many of them
twenty or thirty feet in length, and having
II diameter In some instances of two to
three feet.
Nor was this all. for casting our eyes
northward, we beheld the most b%ewitchinp
little fountain that eve of man ever rested
on. Right in the midst of this p~rincely
forest of colors it stood and tossed a tiny
stream upward to kiss the painted
lips of a thousand fairy crystals which sus-
pended themselves from the roof. A short
examination showed it to be nothing more
than a natu al result. A stream of water,
completely hidden from sight, could be
heard foaming and tossing along, ~plunging
down a frightful grade, and a portion of 1t
passing into an almost perfect cylinder of
stone, at one end of which stood an upright
hollow one of rock, pierced at the top. the
fluid was eruptea vertically with great
force.
We now directed our ste DIS nolthward.
through u wilderness of crystals, when that
mufled sound, now grown considerably
louder, reached our ears, and 1t seemed that
not 100 yards lay between us and that mys-
terious stream whence We presumed the
noise to emanate. And now the floor grew
quite damp, due, we supposed, to the spray
which the current in its tossings had thrown
over the banks. Louder anu louder grew
the roar. We rushed forward, and the light
from our torches flashed full upon the sur
face of an underground river. The stream
we found TO flow south, its width being per-
hans 1lO feat From, tho oppnsita b,pE rasa