Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-15

MN N& [IVS%M ne knew the grassy
NNN>SS NRSMN plaza where he
%,MsNS&SW\W stretched his long limbs
NSVMNo on sunny afternoons,
EN~ had reluctantly con-
scented to lead the way to the wonderful "Pana-
pashe" cave, twenty-five miles from the agency
gates. Our entreatios and offers Of good lunch
and cigarettes had met with shake Of the
head and "Coch (no), me heap scared Pana-
pashe, but when Ernest offered money his fear
vanished. 1t was three hours after sunup, the
time appointed for starting, before Scarface
made his appearance. He stopped at the plaza
gate and we mounted and rode down to him
His always ugly, scanned, bear-scratched face
was even more hideous now in its assumed OK
preston of dolor.
ME heap scared-my squaw heap scared
maybe so die. Panapasche catchie me-may be
| SO you give me S5-Psnapashe no get me-
Only one white person had ever seen the cave
and he had brought back such an account of its
weird beauty that the distance. the steep hills
| to climb, deep creeks to ford or even the ter
rible Panapashe could not prevent us from
going. Three hours we rode steadily. For the
first few miles e road was familiar, then we
| struck Of on srail narrow and rough. Over
the hills, thro:,gh creeks. now on the sum
burned mount3in side, then between great
punches Of w3ite, odorous sage brush that
lowered above car heads. but always something
mountains cofered with pines of all
colors Of greJn, from tho very light tint
| OF the younger brush to the darker shade of its
ancestor, and Che trees red where lightning
had stopped their growth or backened by the
mountain fires. On the level land were flowers
of every color. hut most wildly beautiful were
the cacti, with their punches of yellow, red
purple and pink blossoms. For miles the trail
was by the beautiful Winncesto creek with its
| innumerable little falls and its clear deep
pools, in whose depths lurked the specified
trout and the shining sunfish. With oil this
and more to admire the ride seemed short
When within mile of oar destination Scar
face halted. Here the creek made an abrupt
turn and our trail led far away from it. Scar
face looked longingly at the lunch bags and
ach and, rolling his eyes skyward emitted
hollow groan. We did not feel that way, so
started on-he jabbering, mo more water, no
makee coffee"
THE WATER DEVILS HOME.
After half an Hours steady climbing scarface
called halt au9 pointed to large rock at the
head of the rigine, saying solemnly, 'Pana-
pasha's wickiupt" or water DEVILS home.
We could see ino opening, but hurried our
horses down the hillside, dismounted and
found, half hidden by rocks and wild currant
bushes, the objetct of our trip.
While Scar-fas;e was uusaddling and picket
ing out our horses Ernest built the campfire
and looked after the lunch. Everything was
still there. but i'll such u condition that rem
dered niastication almost unnecessary. The
water for the coffee was obtained from the
cave. Soon it was boiling, and We set our
table, which was a large Hat rock.
As sooI as our appeutes were satisfied q
don't include Scarface, an Indian is ALWAYS
ready for more) We put away the remnants and
prepared to explore the cave. Old Scarface
refused to go anywhere near, so we told him.
Re good Stay here and we'll banL
Panapashe don't get u.s.
For twenty feet the upper wall is so low that
we had to Green in. We rose from our infantilc
position TO find ourselves in a room dark as
night except the bar Of light from the mouth of
the cave, the one exit or entrance. We each
lighted two candles, and after a few moments
blinking were able to 'vicw our situation DER -
We were i'll an immense chamber. forty feet in
width, sixty in length. with upper wall from ten
to thirty-fve feet above us. The sides of the
chamber were grayish black, soft ard dripping
with water. Under our feet was thin lay of
sand over firm rock.
Beyond us we could dimly see more chambers,
with cayerns, arches and pools of clear water
Ny first thought was, 'Well get lost, :" so Ernest
unhappily suggested fire, thinking the smoke
would pass out the mouth of the cave. The
thought was put into execution and soon. with
dry sticks from outside, we had blazing lire,
on which We threw the wet driftwood found
inside.
There were ten bodies Of water at least two
feet deep III the first chamber, but with our
high rubber boots we thought it '.jolly fun
to wade them.
st the farther side of the first room the walls
came nearly together leaving narrow path, on
one side OF which were sharp slippery rocks on
the other pool too deep for wading. This led
into u still larger chamber with many crevasscs
and apertures in the sides. We climbed the
sandy hill that led to one smaller cavern. and
di5reSarding the footprints and other marks of
the evident owners we started in. but pair of
fiery eyes and growlsh voice which seemed to
say Get ont caused precipitate retreat
"What do you think it wasp" l asked. "A
mountain lion,' Ernest replied. They never
attack person unless aagered or very hungry,
but we concluded not to try their patience over
much.
A<MYsTERIoUs RIVER.
Soon this chamber was divided by beauti-
fully rounded stalactite-covered arch.
On we went through lesser rooms, examining
by the Pickering light of our tapers their many
hooks and crannies, till we were suddenly
brought to standstill. At our feet WAS an
underground river. Dark, deep, undertaking
against its boundaries with a force that sent the
white spray high against the rocks WAS this
wonderful body of water; wonderful because
no one has discovered from whence it comes,
how deep it is or how long it has been there.
The water is pure and cold and contains fishes.
which, We judged by the two skeletons we
found, were like the brook suckers. Ernest.
holding my hand, stepped in, and followed
For few steps the ground was firm. Then
my leader began sinking "Quicksand," Our
combined strength was necessary to get him
back to terra frma. Going back a way we
broke off rocks. Then stepping into the
edge OF the water we threw them,
gradually increasing the distance, from
ten to twenty feet For twenty feet we could
hear them touch bottom, each time the sound
coming back dead and more dead, then twenty
three feet out no sound came back except the
dull splash. Still farther no sound At last q
stone was thrown out fully thirty five or thirty
eight feet and We heard it touch o rock
Another and another, the sound seeming to US
like that made by an immense marble rolling
down steps. "What could it mean?'' As If to
answer we heard bubbling, saw the water
move and sound came to our listening ears
Like as il an Infatuated water monster had been
disturbed from his slumbers.
Our candles were burned nearly down. 80
lighting fresh ones we prepared to start to a
more earthly region. Standing by the water
holding our tallow dips high above our heads
we saw weird and lovely sight Upper walls
covered with glisfening creamy white stalac-
titles. each one ornamented with q drop Of clear
water that constantly fell and was replaced
BY another. Sides containing the cleaning
fools gold" or pyrites Of iron, floors of sand
or rock beaten In queer shapes and figures by
tho dripping wnter-arches, caverns pools OF