Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1892-06-03
A Yisit to wind Cave.

A Visit to Wind Cave.
After q drive Of about half an hour
from Hot Springs, the road an for a
considerable distance along q high
ridge, from which we wers able to
view the country for miles around.
In front were the Black Hills, among
which we had no difficulty in recog-
nizing Harvey Peak, rising high above
other eminences. 10 our right. look
ing through Buffalo Gap, we could see
far over into the Bad Lands about 80.
miles distant. To our left the ridges
near Fort Robinson were distinctly
visible. On the whole it was a charm
ing and beautiful view, such as can be
obtained only under the most favor
able conditions. So novel and pictur-
esque our surroundings that we
did not heed how the time passed until
the driver called attention to the new
hotel being built near Wind Cave.
And then it was that we found our
selves close to our journeys end-in
one respect, but in another really at
the beginning Of a long and delights
full tramp. Arriving at the entrance
to the cave we proceeded to don the
regulation costume, which is prescribed
for all visitors. without regard to age,
sex, or previous condition. 1t may be
interesting to add that this costume is
sufficient to meet the brightest dreams
of the most enthusiastic advocates of
a reform in feminine attire. Thus
provided with garments made with a
view to usefulness rather than to
beauty and having lighted our candles
we were ready to enter .. strange land;
and the more so since, after having
emerged into the sunlight, the expert
ences encountered in that maze of pass.
ages and chambers, the labarynth of
windings, the novel and sometimes gro
tesque appearance of the formations,
the strangely blended %colors, the rocks
that ring like highly tempered metal.
all these and many other recollections,
though wildly impressed upon the
mind, have after all, the strange real
ity of a dream. The guides take a
supply of water and candles, and thus
equipped for the journey we descend
by several flights Of stairs far down in
to the earth.
For a long distance the way was
through a narrow, high passage, hewn,
who knows how, through the living
rock. We hurry on and o come to
the "Post Office" a. large room so
named for the peculiar box like forma.
tions which cover the walls on every
side. But way does not lead en-
tirely through spacious rooms and
broad high passages. After wriggling
through "Irish Misery one is the bet.
ter able to appreciate the beauties of
Monte Cristo's palace, and the mag
nlicence Of what is called the old.
counts diamonds. The latter is a clu :
ter containing myriaids Of pure quartz
crystals, but they flash in the candle
light in a n strongly suggestive
Of real diamonds. Then we wend our
way through winding passages to the
Tabernacle" which is a very large
and very high room. Our stay in this
room is prolonged, for we are charmed
by the beauties met on every hand.
Blue box ard lattice work, wrought in
every conceivable manner, cover the
sides, while long strings of crystalized
gypsum hang down from the rocks and
is very appropriately named COTTON
Climbing up a narrow, winding, nat
ural stairway. we rass through AL
pine Scenery and then OH to the
aFair Grounds The latter is the
largest chamber so far discovered in
the cave and while it is not so high as
some of the other rooms, it neyerthe-
less attracted considerable attention.
The roof of this room is covered with
a smooth rock closely resembling plas-
ter. In n end Of the room are found
the beautiful frost work, specimens of
which we had so often seen. The
rocks are entirely covered with them
and many having fallen, lie in heaps
upon the floor. The colors of those
frostworks blend gradually from the
purest white to a lovely pink, and to
be fully appreciated should be seen as
they hang upon the rocks.
We had now been five hours in the
cave and were beginning to feel tired
So after resting a while, reluctantly
we retraced our steps. The guide sale
it was four miles from the mouth Of
the cave to the tartherest point we
went and it certainly seemed so to us
The return was uneventful as it lay
over the same route by which we hal
entered. We traversed only a part o
one Of the thirteen different routes tina
have so far been explored, but yet W,
were tired and had seen wonders o
which we had never dreamed. Tn
whole country seems to be completed,
honey-combed with caverns that vii
require many years yet to fully explore
After partaking Of a hearty meal a
the Wind Cave hotel the party re
turned to Hot Springs fully satisfie'
with the days work and vowing t
again visit Wind Cave at the frs
opportunity.
Cheaper aud Better.
The 81. Paul Pioneer Press ha
sprung q pleasant surprise upon il
large family Of readers by making
great reduction in the prizes Of its Da