The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-01-03
A NATURAL ICE-B0X
Ard Other Oddities Of the Earth and
Water.

Ard Other Oddities of the Earth and
Water.
Hidden deep among the hills in north
eastern Iowa there exists one OF the won
der works of nature. The ice cave at
DEBORAH, in Winueshiek county, Ia, while
it presents no particular feature of beauty,
is one OF the two or three ice caves in the
world. Nature has dealt beautifully with
the little town of DEBORAH. 1t nestles in
one of the most beautiful and picturesque
valleys of the state of lowa-''The Land
of the Beautiful View" To the north of
the town half mile extends for a mile
east and west what is called the Palisade.
This is q precipitOus formation, worn by
the action of water, ages and ages ago. The
cliff is $50 feet high, and at its base winds
in ana out, among the trees, the beautiful
Iowa river. A steep ascent of nearly two
hundred feet and the visitor comes to the
mouth of the ice cave. 1t must be visited
in the summer, however, as it is at that
tins that its most remarkable feature is
disclosed in all its glory.
Take the very hottest day in July or
August. and after having clambered up the
! cliff to the mouth of the cave one Is in eX-
! celient condition to appreciate this natural
ice-box. There is a ledge extending out
perhaps forty feet from the entrance, and
|
| feel the icy draft caused by the aircurrents
passing in and out of the cave. The people
| of DEBORAH have placed large frame at
| the entrance to the cave, in order to pre-
vent it being closed by the rocks which
are continually falling from the cliff above.
Entering the cave the air grows colder
and colder There are Two compartments
to the cave. The first extends in and
downward nearly seventy-hve feet, when
sharper slope of fifteen feet is reached,
and f the thermometer registers 100 de-
grees in the shade outside you may be sure
to find here natural toboggan slide. This
is the first Indication of ice end some Wis
itors are allowed to take the lead at this
point owing to the astonishing surprise
awaiting them. step or two on this in
cline and the visitor is precipitated clear tC
the bottom, the slope being glazed with 6
coating of ice about three inches thick
The slide brings uptown rather-to the
ice cave proper
This is cavern 40 feet in length, rang
ing from to IL feet wide and so high il
, places that the top can not be seen. 1t is
formed by a rift in the ROCK, and while
there is an opening above somewhere i
eIudes all search and 30 far as is known
, has never been found. Beneath, above
and at all sides it is one mass of pure ice
two. three and in some places eight inches
thick. The ice is as transparent as pam
of glass, and in the rock beneath the ic
3 the remains of snails, fish and cells may b.
3 seen. If you chip off the ice and break OF
1 piece of the rock 1t will remain damp ant
cool for an hour after having left the cave
4 A few minutes is as long as one dare re
q main in this natural refrigerator. owing t
the high temperature of the blood at thi
time of the year.
The hotter and dryer the atmosphere tn
thicker the ice will be in the cave; and o.
!, the other hand when it is cold enough t
: nip your ears while walking half block