The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1892-06-25
THE GREAT MISSOURI, CAVE.


River Discovered.
GALENA, Mo-, June 22.-The account
of the marble cave of Stone county
which was published few days ago
has caused great interest to be taken
in the matter and several parties have
been organized for the purpose of cx-
ploration. DIR. G. Hart Merriam and
Professor Holmes, OF the agricultural
department nnd Smithsonian institu-
tion respectively, have made an exams
nation of tho clay beds in which were
found the skeletons, and they ure OF
the opinion that great discoveries nre
in store for some scientist who has
time and money to devote to the cxca-
vation and exhuming of the skeletons
which are buried thore. The clay bed
extends into o passage way which
at one time was apparently
animals sought refuge to- escape some
whclmed that part of the country ages
ago, and the flood of clay came ovor
them and stopped up the entrance.
This bed of clay has been dug into for
about fifteen feet, and tho deeper into
it the exploration is made the greater
is the quantity Of bone. Some of the
bones are what are denomitnted recent
that is, OF the animals of the species
which are now on carth-whilc many
others are ancient aud prehistoric.
Among the latter arc the skulls of sew
cral cave bears, which are the first Of
these animals to have been found in
locality of the cave. There are also
bones of hyena. and some OF tho
great cat, while there is one which has
been set down us belonging to the
camel.
What has been considered Us most
remarkable of ull discoveries in the
cave is flint arrow head, which was
found imbcdded in the clny with the
bones. This is evidence of the presence
OF man at those remote times, but
whether the arrowhead was swept III
with the clay or whether man also
went into the cave to escape the flood
can never be told unless the bones of
u human being are found. The gentle
men from Washington, who examined
the bed, state that there is no possi-
bility of finding human bones there
unless they should have been petrified
or preserved between chalk, which Is
not found in the cave. One of the
most important features were not
spoken of in the article describing it,
anu tllAV ID thC IlSCT llOWlup through
it. The stream is about fifty feet wide
and flows very swiftly, and at dis
tancc car be heard the ronr of falls
No attempt has been made to explore
| this river, for those who have been in
the cave are afraid that they will be
| drawn into some awful chasm and that
will be the end of them
'The river is Icy cold and it is
the impression of those who have seen
it that it finds its wny through an un-
derground channel to the White river.
The possibilities of discovery along
this river nre SO great that nm effort
| will be made to go to its fountain
hcad, and then boat will be lowered
by means of n rope and it is possible
that an outlet will be found through
the water route. The objective point
of the explorers now is the outlet,
which it is believed exists in Barry
county, thirty-tive miles away. To-
| ward the big Barry county cave nll
attention is now centcred aud explor.
ers will go from both directions, hop
ing to meet in the center A syste-
matte effort is to be made to survey
the cave and maps and charts will be
made for the guidance of visitors and
it is the intention of those who are in
terested to make the place resort for
many who wish to spend the summer
| i'll the mountains,