The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-08-15
BLACK, PITCHY BLACK.
A REMARKABLE RIVER BENEATH
THE SURFACE or TEXAS.

That Flows Through a Dark Cave.
Blind Fishes and Shiny Water Dogs.
Keldsll county possesses one OF the won
ders of the world The winding cave with
It's underground river, which was partially
explored short time ago. has been found
a wonder of the first magnitude. This re-
markable suhterranean road and the styg-
Ian stream that runs through its awful
darkness viii offer q fruitful field 70 the
geologiss and fascinating attraction to
the explorer.
The entrance to the cave presents one OF
the most magnificent and awe inspiring
sights ever beheld by mortal man. It opens
on the west side of a lofty mountain,
whose rocky base is deeply SCARED by the
battle of the elements. A stream OF clear,
sparkling w6ter, shaded by rnahy varieties
of beautiful ferns and the overhanSing
branches OF trees, runs along the ravines
at the mountains foot. A mighty bluff OF
limestone projects some thirty odd feet
from the mountain, beneath which there
grows forest OF ulaidenhsir fern and
other luxuriant vegetation A few yards
TO the north of this promontory is the en-
trance to the deep, dark and still mysteri-
Gus underground river.
This entrance is mighty vault thirty
feet high, composed Of an endless numbsr
of crystal 6ones. from which are pendent
hundreds Of white, sparkling stslactites In
every imaginable shape, glittering with
the clear drops of crystalline water that
never fail, but hang and glisten in the etsr-
nal twilight OF the entrance until petrifac-
ton completes the work Of the silent archi-
tect OF the ages.
A cold glitter Of steely light meets the
Observers eyes as he enters mighty vault.
1t is only at eventide, when the setting sun
shoots its rays of light into the great gate,
that these dews OF death and silence are
metamorphosed into & brighter picture,
when they glow as With the FIRE Of the
ruby or sparkle like southern heavens
INSIDE AN uSExPLoEED CAVE.
Further within the varilrsd passage there
are flying arches and arohftrsves Of crystal
liked lime, stretching away at irregular in
tervals far into the remote distance OF the
dark unknown. Ever aud anon there can
be seen large staIactites hanging down
from the domes above on either side of the
wide and lofty passage until their neither
most tops touch the inky surface of the
water that flows black and impenetrahle
through the clear cut channel Of this sub
terranesn river. Az other places stalsg-
mites rise from the rivers bottom and
point with snow white fingers over the wa
ter's surface TO the domes overhead.
For distance Of 200 yards from the great
entrance there is dry ground. except at the
east wall of the cavern, where a stream of
water murmurs and trickles over its rocky
bed. This stream falls into deep assure
and disappears from view before reaching
the mouth Of the cave, only TO reappear
from the mountains base fifty yards below
In deep spring of clear and cool water
The water within the cave is quite cold.
being about IS dogs. Fahrenheit.
After traversing a distance of about 200
yards, and turning a sharp angle that Gus
of the last ray of daylight. the exploring
party reached the edge of the water, where
the entire floor of the cave Is occupied by
the stygian stream. Here the raft was
launched and proved to be almost useless. |
and here the hardy and venturesome ex-
pIorers stripped themselves and whdsd into
the water and chartered their teeth.
EXPLORING THE DARKNESS.
It was a great pity that no boat was
there. The torches and bullseye lanterns
were lighted The darkness was simply .
mass of blackness and utterly impenetrable
beyond a radius Of twenty feet. Only the
flash lights used by the photographers sue
ceeded in clearly showing the beauties and
the wonders that were there, and these
visions lasted but for moment.
The party continued the journey into the
bowels of the earth, sometimes wading and
at other times swimming, r depth Of
ten feet of water was found in several
places. The difficulty Of this undertaking
will be appreciated when il is RENE % bered
that the water was very cold, and the dark
ness was as impenetrable as the cold, hard
rock Of the cavern's sides.
But the party went bravely on, founder !
Ing to and fro and trying TO keep warm by |
exertion and good natured romping and |
jostling Of each other. Ia this way the ex-
plorers followed tbs tortuous windiugs Of /
the cave for distance Of half mile, but |
at last the cold water and the chilly stmos- /
phere conquered and they were forced to !
turn back, and that with much reluctance. /
There was oDe feature especially worthy /.
Of notice and consideration. and that was
that the farther the explorers went into /
the earth and the longer they followed the /
flowing river the deeper became /
the water and the wider the channel and 1
more expansive the black void Of the cave. |
Thousands Of fishes swan through the /
black tide and rubbed their cold. Shiny |
sides against the limbs Of the explorers
REPULsIyE FIsREs.
The fishes were found 70 be blind-totally |
devoid Of eyes-and their flesh was like q |
Jelly, which Immediately decOu posed on 1
exposure TO light and air. Glossy black /
water dogs there were in numbers, wig /
Cling about ia the water or crawling along 1
he crystal walls Of tie channel These. l
however, were equipped with little black, /
Deady eyes.
Owing 20 the lack Of suitable appliances |
Tor following Up the great fad IL was i'm /
possible TO make 3 thorough ard entirely i
examination Of the cave aud 4
Is sunless sea &C this time. Enough was
seen, however, 70 conyiucs TIE explorers I
hat the strange things they saw and heard 4
we're but tee intimsti0n Of the wonders 4
nat lie beyond IN the measureisss regions 4
stretching away into eternal night.
OF course u was impossible even 70 guess
What things might exist 10 The unknown
depths, but there Waz much n cause syssss-
alton and thought For inTtaacs. when 4
he party had reached toe point a. which I.
her turned they we're sStCgishsd 70 God 4
lundreds Of white bats. Ubite a. STOW.
emerging cut Of tie black depths that lar 4
evidsafly startled from. their DARK
-ecesses by tie glare Of ths torches.
Far away there could Be beard a iow,
leep marinHring As % distant thunder.
low Advancing ard then rsCs6tuz. Whlls