Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-30
NATURES DEATH TRAP.
Flask-shaped Cavern Partly Filled With
the Bones OF Its Victims
From the Helena Indeuen

Flask-shaped Cavern Partly Filled Will
the Bones OF Its Victins
From the Helena Independent
1t will be remembered that in the past sum
mer agents of the Smithsonian Institution col
iccted In Meagher county some WELL preser yeC
bones OF animals belonging to ages long passed
There also have been discoveries in the same
county Of caves beautifed with stalactite and
stalagmi;e. But on December last Geo. W
Van Horne is reported to have made the mo
wonderful discovery yet recorded. 1t is in q
cave. on the Dry range Of mountains twenty.
five miles northwest of White Sulphur Springs.
On December Is party of explorers. consist
ing OF the discoverer, Seth Butterfield, and the
Rev. ]. c. Lenhart, visited the cave. They
were equipped with lights and tape lines. and
OF the visit and its results Mr. Lenhart TINS
writes:
line mouth Of the cave is from two 70 three
feet wide and six feet long. located on the
southeast side. near tho top of a pocket in the
mountain The cave is almost the shane of >
flask, thirty-four feet deep. the bottom being
slxty-two feet long and thirty feet wide. We
speak OF the bottom OF the cave. but mean the
top OF the debris and vast amount of bones OF
animals which I'LL the space OF the bottom.
1T is known that the cave, instead of beinp
adorned with crystals and stalactite and stalae
mite, is n regular charnel house. and evidently
has been n death trap for ages to the uusus.
Pecung beasts OF pam and forest. The OPEN
Ing OF tho cave Is peculiarly constructed FOR
the purpose of relontlessly swallowing .nv by-
ing thing that ventured near its brink. The
mouth OF this destroyer of the living ia COM
posed OF limestone rock soruewha. on an incline
the depression being at its widest part Along
the otnor side Is an old animal trail. 1t is easy
to see how the buffalo or elk passing this wav
when the trail was slippery with ice or SNOW
would easily lose their foothold and be precini
tated into the cave. 1t is also a plausible the.
DRY to believe that at times during the winter
the mouth OF the cave is entirely covered with
snow, SO that the unsuspecting animal passing
over the familiar trail would at this point Il
diverging few inches to the south. slide
through the snow and be swallowed alive.
MANY animals, doubtless, were killed by be-
ing suspended by the head and fore part Of the
body, as the buffalo, or by the antiors ma tbs
elk, while many were evidently directIy man.iaS
and killed by the fall. But there are also evil
dences that some landed at the bottom of the
pit with sufficient powers remaining 10 drag
their bodies to remote corners of the cave and
there perish from wounds and starvation.
Some OF the largest skulls and skeletons of bnf.
faloes were there found.
"We could not determine the depth Of tho
bones in the bottom OF the cave, Us We did mi
have the necessary tools for making such ey.
plorations, but we counted in sight twenty-nin
buffalo skulls, several elk, bear, wolf. &c II il
probable that for centuries this vonderfnl a. W.
has been performing the ghastly Office of avail
lowing these living creatures Old hunters
who have gathered their information from the
Indians, say that it il at least half = centnrv
since the buffalo was last seen upon the Dry
further explorations are made, human homes
should be found. For should the lonely hunter
prospector or Indian chance to break throuSh
whom the cave Vas covered with snow he would
be doomed to certain death. for there are no
visible means at present whereby man could
Van Horne has securely constructed : ladder
Into the cave whereby ladies and Gentlemen
can enter with safety. The cave Is open TO Vie
itors."