Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1892-05-27
A NATURAL TOMB.
For Ages a Death Trap for Wild
Animals.
a Montana Cave That Has Caused the
Disappearance OF Many BuGaloes
"A Curious Subterranean
ChHrnel House.

The averecently discovered continues
10 be the center of attraction to all in
terested in the wonderful and phenom-
NAL freaks of nature, says the White
Sulphur Springs Husbandman. The
cave is located in the dry range, twenty
five miles northwest from town, in the
vicinity of the Len Lewis and John
Moore ranches.
The mouth of h cav is from two TO
three feet wide and six feet long, To-
Gated on the southeast side heal the top
of a pocket in the mountain. The cave
is almost the shape of a flask, thirty
four feet deep, and the bottom being
sixty-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 fills
the space of what may be called the
bottom.
BE it known that the cave, instead of
being adorned with crystals and Stalac-
tite and stalagmitc,. is u regular charnel
house, and evidently has been n death
trap for ages to the unsuspecting beasts
of plain and forest. The opening of
the cave is peculiarly constructed for
the purpose OF relentlessly swallowing
any living thing hat vcnturcd neal its
brink. Tho mouth of this destroyer of
the living is composed of livestock
rock somewhat on an incline, the de-
precision being at its widest part.
Along the upper side is an old animal
trail. II is easy to see how the buffalo
or elk passing this way when the trail
was slippery with ice or snow would
easily lose their foothold and be pre-
cipitatcd into the cave. 1t is also a
plausible theory to believe that at times
during the winter the mouth of the cave
is entirely covered with snow, 50 that
the unsuSpectinG animal passing over
the familiar trail would at this point.
If diverging a few inches to the south.
slide through the snow and be swal-
lowed alive.
Many animals, doubtless, were killed
by being suspended by the head and
fore part of the body, as the buffalo, or
by the a%ntlers, us the elk, while many
were evidently directly manglad and
killed by the fall. But there are also
evidences that some landed at the bot
tom of the pit with sufficient powers re-
naming + drag their bodies to remote
of the cave and there perish
from wounds and starvation. Some of
the largest Skulls and skeletons of buff
fnlo were thus found.
No could not determine the depth OF
TIC bones in the bottom of the cave. as
We lid not nave the necessary tools for
making such exploration, bat we counted
IN sight twcnty-nine buffalo skulls, sew
eral elk, bear. wolf, etc. Ihavc brought
with me n specimen skull of the buffalo,
bear and wolf, which is on exhibition
at the Office of the IIusbandman. It is
probable that for centuries this wonder
full cave has been performing the ghast-
~ Office of swallowing these living
creatures.
Old hunters, who have gathered their
Information from the Indians, say that
1t is ut least half a century since the
buffalo was last seen upon the Dry
range. 1t would not be surprising that
when further explorations are made hui
nan bones should be found. For should
the lonely hunter, prOspector, or Indian
chance to break through when the cave
was covered with snow he would be
doomed to certain death. for there are
10 visible means Mt present whereby a
nan could cXtricatc himself from that
horrible pit. The d~iscoverer hay Sc
curely constructed q ladder into the
cave whereby ladies and gentlemen can
enter with safety.