Arizona silver belt., 1891-07-04
The Grcnt Cave In the Copper queen Mine
fCortespondenee El paso Bnllion

ltMIesIHlnubnce El fhsD buliiDn.l
 The cave which was discovered last month is probably the most extensive of any cavity of the kind over discov- cred in the southwest Tho entrance to this vast cavern is in the 200 foot level of Holbrook shaft. It consists of four principal chambers each having its own peculiar habit of crystal form. Number one is sixty feet wide, thirty feet in heighth, the fornss in this cham. Der being acicular crystals of aragonite in stalactitic growth. Chamber num- Der two is 150 feet across and fifty feet high. Here the crystals are aborescent, in shape being what IS commonly called fos fsrfi. Number three IS reached by rope hand over hand This chamber Is over 200 feet wide and about seventy high. Here the forms are regular sta lactites and stalagmites beautifully translucent, highly charged with cop per, which gives the crystals the follow ing colors: Blue, green, orange, white and turqnois. Hanging from the cen ter of this grand natural cathedral is group of highly colored stalactites resembling an immense chan dsiier. Looking to the right the vis-
 
 itor Is impressed with the resemblance that the agglomeration of crystals bear to an organ. Stalagmitss and stalac- tites meeting halt way forming grand columns, support the roof of this dag zling subiorranean edifice. On the left great ghost-like stalagInites are grouped npon the floor like silent worshippers in this vast subterranean cathedral of Gods own structure Numjer four cannot be far from the surface, judg- ing from the amount of alluyinm that has been introduced into its recesses by the rodents who habitually find retreat in such places. Here the crys- tai forms occur in layers and sheets of red, white and blue aragonite resem- bling flags and banners the alternate layers being parallel one 10 the other in waves reaemhling the folds of flags. One of these naia-al banners, .x3 feet. after tFree J'6@s later Of five men. ve5 taken froIa the Wall ani slipped io Chicago to be exhibited ut the Worlds Exposition This work of nature Is Q startling representation of the Ameri- can colors, the red. white and blue. Another extraordinary masterpiece of nature is an immense Irish harp con sisting of two sheets of aragonite, deep greet fn color. T. vas also secured in- tact and will also be dispatched to Chicago where it will be one of the leading features of the Arizona exhibit Photographs of numbers one and three chambers were made by 200 candle light giving two hours exposure and n flash light made of the candle light af- terwards. To give ah idea of the pro- portions of tllis great cavity it is sui. ficient to say that ii requires one half hour to pass from the entrance to the extremity of the cavern. From cham Der number two there is corridor descending for l50 feet on n slight in- cline, where another chamber is found which contains lake of pure water. Upon all sides of these immense c9vi- ties evidences of the ore bodies of the Copper Queen mine are plainly discern able. Of course the extraction of this l.siperal will occur sooner or later, which will occasion the obliteration of this beautiful and wonderous work of nature.