Los Angeles herald., 1891-10-27
Puff AND OUT THEY GO.
A Cavern in Colorado That Resents tn,
Intrusion of Strangers.

A Cavern in Colorado That Resents the
Intrusion of Strangers.
There is a cave near lockwood, sta
tion on the Denver and Rio Grande rail
road, which has been visited by many
persons. No particular mention of the
cave has been made, as it seemed to be
little worthy of notice. On Sunday last
a number of pleasure seekers left this
city to join party at lockwood who
had planned to visit the cave. About 4
o'clock in the afternoon the members of
the party, having disposed of their din
ner, began to climb the hill near the
top of which the mouth of the cave is
located.
After much exertion the foremost of
the party reached the mouth of the cave,
and being in advance of his companions
they were startled to see him fall back
ward into the low oak brush as if he had
been thrown from a catapult. His COM
panions pushing forward more vigorous
ly, soon came to his rescue and found
him recovering, not much hurt, but
slightly scratched and somewhat dazed
He could give no explanation of his sud-
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 astonishment of the whole number
the instant after stepping into the cave
they found themselves all piled together
in a spot near where the first had landed.
1t took but little while to recover from
the ENHANCEMENT, when they began to
inquire the cause of this sudden excite
ment. They all agreed that they had
seen nothing to cause such q 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 en-
trance, and, thus protected, get an op-
portunity to reconnoiter. So, taking
circuitous route and avoiding position
directly in front of the opening, they
soon found themselves close beside the
entrance. Cautiously putting his head
out beyond the protecting wall, the fore
most peered it, His hat Immediately
took fight down the declivity, but he
was thus made aware of the exact state
of affairs.
The philosophy of the current of air
in caves suddenly dawned upon him.
As is well known the air of a warm day
in summer is much lighter on the out
- l. - &c do
Consequently the cold, heavy air rushes
out with great violence-enough in this
case to cause the trouble spoken Of and
throw the party down the hill.
Later, relating this tale, an old timer
told your correspondent of former ad-
venture of his at the same place. On a
cold day in the early winter he was
tracking deer along this hillside, when
he was astonished to see the cave open
up before him, and he noticed that the
snow seemed to have been disturbed
very recently, as though a body had
been dragged into the entrance.
Without thinking, he stepped forward
to examine into the cause of the dis
turbed condition of the snow, when he
felt himself violently pulled into the
cave, the force pulling him from his
feet. He felt shock, and for awhile
was oblivieus 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
a still closer examination He at last
determined that the force of the current
Of air blowing into the cave had drawn
the deer in, killing it, but that when he
was drawn in the shock was somewhat
obviated by his striking the deer, thus
saving him from death. The explana-
ton is just the reverse of the other, the
air being warmer inside the cave than
out. The current flows into the cave
during the winter, thus accounting for
the strange affair.-Denver Sun.