The morning call., 1892-01-17
A SINGULAR CAVE,
In Summer Il Is Filled With Ice, In Win
Ter Ii Is Not.

Hidden deep among the hills in North
eastern Iowa there exists one Of the wonder
works of nature. The ice cave at DEBORAH,
in Winneshiek County, Iowa, while 1t pre-
sents no particular feature Of beauty, is
one of the two or thee ice caves in the
world Nature has dealt bOuntifuly with
the little town Of DEBORAH. 1t nestles In
one of the most beautiful and picturesque
valleys in the State of Iowa-''The Land of
the Beautiful View" To the north Of the
town a half mile extends for a mile east and
west what is called the Palisade. This is a
precipitous formation. worn by the action of
water, ages and ages ago. The cliff is $50
feet high and at its base winds in and out,
among the trees, the beautiful Iowa River.
A steep ascent Of nearly 900 feet and the
visitor comes to the mouth of the ice cave.
1t mn st be visited in the summer, however,
as Il is at that time that its most remarkable
feature is disclosed in all its glory.
Take the very hottest Gay in July or Au-
gust, and after having clambered up the
cliff to The mouth of the cave one is in ex-
celent condition TO appreciate this natural
iCe-box. There is a ledge extending cut
perhaps forty feet from the entrance, and
as soon as this IS reached one can already
feel the icy draft caused by the air currents
passing in and cut OF the cave. The people
of DEBORAH have placed large frame at the
entrance to the cave, IN order 10 prevent 1t
being closed by the rocks which are con-
tinually falling from the cliff above.
Entering the cave the ar grows colder
and colder. There are two com paTtmentS
to the cave, The first extends IN and down.
ward nearly 70 feet, when sharper slope
of 10 feet is reached, and IL the thermOme-
ter registers 100 degrees IN the shade out
side you may be sure to find here natural
- ~
of ice, ana some visitors are allowed TO take
the lead at this paint owing to the aStonish-
ing surprise awaiting them. A step or two
on this incline and the visitor is perclpi-
tated clear TO the bottom, the slope being
glazed with coating OF Ice about three
inches thick. The slide breaks up-doWn
rather-UU the icp-eave proper.
There is Il cavern 40 feet in length, rang
ing from to 10 feet wide, and so high in
places that the top cannot be seen. 1t is
formed by the rift in the rock. and while
there Is an opening above somewhere 1t
eludes all search, and so tar as is known
has never been found. Beneath. above and
Mt the sides it is one mass OF pure ice, two.
three and in some places eight inches thick.
The ice is as tTanSDar as pane OF glass,
and in the rock bene tth the ice the re-
mains of snailS, fish and cells NAV be
seen. If you chip off the ice and break off
piece Of the rock 1t will remain
damp and cool for an hour after having left
the cave. A few minutes is as long as one
dare remain in this natural refrigerator, 0w-
ing to the high temperature OF the blood at
this time of the year.
The hotter and dryer the atmosphere the
thicker the ice will Ue in the cave; and on
the other hand when il is cold enough to
nip your ears while walking half block, in
side the cave 1t IS warm anu damp, and the
drip, drip of the water as it continually
fails from the rocks above reminds one of
spring, or the dropping of rain after an
April shower from the caves Of summer
cottage.
The cave is renowned In the legends of
the Chichesaw and Winneshiek Indians.
Less than sixty years ago, old DecOTan,
chief of all the Winnesheks, used it for
preserving dressed game. such deer aud
antelope DEBORAH is a town of 1000 inhab-
itantS about 125 miles northwest of Dubuque
-Goldlhwaite'S Geographical Magazine.