The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-03-03
THREE DAYS IN IA TOMB.
LOST IN AN AFRICAN UNDER
GROUND LABYRINTH.
AStrange Story. of Tw o Ladies anu Three
Gentle men Who Lost Their Way
in Hagsard's Caves of
the Amahaggl.

/
The city OF Pretoria, capital of the
Transvaal, South Africa, is located in
3 most beautiful spot 1t stands in a
valley between two ranges Of mount
aims clothed with rich, dark verdure
all the year round.
! Vines loaded with ripening grapes,
monthly roses and pomegranites form
ing blaze Of bloom amid the flood Of
sunshine shimmering like golden wa
ter. Under these mountain ranges
are vast caverns only few of which
have been entered, and these only
partly explored.
! These caves are the original Hag
CARDS caves of the Amahaggi, in
which the wonderful She dwelt and
ruled. Right under this mountain
and through these dark caverns runs
a clear sparkling river of water.
The source of this river, which fur
nishes the water supply for this city,
has never been discovered. A curious
fact is that its waters are highest dur
ing the dry season. This points to the
theory that it is fed by rain, and that
these rains do not reach the river till
about four or five months after they
| fall. ~
This river is inhabited by fish and a
| strange kind of crabs and Holsters, all
OF which have no eyes. This species
OF acquatic animals having been bred
in and inhabited this dark Stygian
stream for thousands of years, have
never had any use for eyes and so.
after many generations that organ
had entirely disappeared from their
structures.
| Some friends of mine, two ladies and
three gentlemen. went on an explor-
ing expedition through this cavern,
got lost in its maze and were three
days before they found their way back
to the outer world. Mr. Saunders of
the American consulate at Cape May,
thus relates their experience while in
the bowels of the earth: '.ss
MIR: j. H. Leloy of the Northern
Pacific railway of the United States of
America; Mr. John Sidney and two
ladies' Miss Webster and Miss Gootch,
and myself started to explore the
Fountain cave. Armed with two
lamps and provisions enough for two
meals we started. - -.
1--WE got through the entrance.
which is very narrow, with difficulty.
Going a few yards, we found it neces-
sary to light the lamps. Proceeding,
We found on each side of the main
passage numerous sideways and alleys,
apparently hewn out of the solid rock.
''All around there were evidences
Of the caves being inhabited by
swarms of bats, which constantly;
kept flying in our faces. Pursuing our
way for a considerable time we came
to a spot where the roof of the con
Germ. hitherto lofty, slanted down,
gradually becoming lower and lower
until we were unable to walk erect. :
Finally we came to where the floor
was on an inclined plane and got more
head room. We then descended a.
steep hill, at the foot of which was a
dead wall which completely barred
further progress IN that direction.
''On the right hand narrow pass
age presented itself just wide enough
to permit of our walking Indian file
The air, hitherto cool and bracing,
became damp and cold, clammy dew
settled on our faces. ".
ITO the sides of the passage clung
a pale, Shiny, snak like substance
which to the touch produced a shiverv
sense of adherence. We began to
wish ourselves we'll out of the under
taking. However, being in, there was
nothing for it but to go on.
I'VE walked up this passage a dis
lance. l should judge, of 800 yards,
when we arrived at an octagonal court,
from which ran eight different pass
ages, the four main ones being about
a width OF fifty feet and the four mar
row ones about four feet each.
Under our feet could be heard a
sound as Of the running of a river and
the violent breaking OF water upon
rocks. We could perceive no mode of
descent and the ground under our
feet seemed solid.
''Being weary, and the ladies some
what faint, we resolved to 20 back, al
togher disappointed with the result of
our exploration. However, before
starting again we refreshed ourselves
with the victuals we had brought and
fortified by a few draughts Of cape
sherry, felt our spirits rise, and, curl
osity as to the cause of the sound
under our feet getting the better of
our Judgment we began searching for
a way to descend, and finally found a
place where there were stone steps at
irregular intervals.
| Sidney and descended, leaving
Leroy and the ladies above. We fol-
lowed these steps for about fifty feet.
The descent was very difficult. The
light OF the lantern grew feeble. How
ever we arrived on a broad platform
of level ground
The sound of the water had by this
time increased to that OF roaring
torrent and on our feet We saw the
black, lnky stream rushing past. We
sounded and found the river very deep
and cold.
/ Passing along the banks the air
became heavier STILL aud tho lamp,
which had been burning more feebly.
went out altogether. Breathing be-
came very difficult owing IN tha All