The state herald., 1892-03-11
THREE DAYS IN A TOMB.
LOST IN AN AFRICAN UNDER
GROUND LABYRINTH.
A Strange story Of Two Ladies' and Three
Gentlemen Who Lost Their Way
In Haggard's Caves OF
tho AmahagyL

Vulley DetWeon TWO ranges Oh mount
aims clothed with rich. dark verduro
all the year round.
Vines loaded with ripening grapes,
monthly roses and pomegranltes FORM
ing blaze Of bloom amid the flood OF
sunshine shimmering like golden wa
ter. Under these mountain ranges
are vast caverns only n few OF which
have been entered. aud these only
partly explored.
These caves aro the original Hag-
CARDS caves OF tho AmahaggL In
which tho wonderful She dwelt and
ruled. Right under this mountain
and through these dark caverns runs
clear sparkling river OF water
Tho source OF this river, which fur
nishes tho water supply for this city.
has mover been discovered. A curious
fact is that its wators arc highest dur
ing tho dry season. This points to tho
theory that it is fed by rain, and that
these rains do not reach the river till
about four or fivo months after they
fall.
This rivor is inhabited by fish and n
strange kind OF crabs and Holsters, nil
OF which have no eyes. This species
OF acquatic animals having boon 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 ontircly disappeared from their
structures
Some friends Of minc, two ladies and
three gentlemen, went on an cxplor-
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
tho bowels OF the earth:
'.Mr. j. H. Lcloy, of tho 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 tho
Fountain cave. Armed with two
lamps and provisions enough for two
meals we started.
I've got through tho entrance
which is very narrow. with difficulty.
Going few yards, wo found it neces-
sary to light tho lamps Proceeding.
wo found on each side OF the main
passage numerous sideways and alleys
apparently hcwn 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 n considerable time we came
10 n spot whero tho roof OF the con.
corn. hitherto lofty slantel down.
gradually becoming lower and lower
until we wore unable to walk erect.
Finally we came TO where tho floor
was on an inclined plane and got more
head room. We then descended n
steep hill, Mt the foot OF which was n
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.
Tho air. hitherto cool and bracing.
became damp and cold. clammy dow
sottlcd on our faces.
TO tho sides OF tho passage clung
u HtiC, buuht-liht tuustlUtf
which TO the touch produced n shivery
sense Of adherence. We began 10
wish ourselves well out OF tho under.
taking. However being In. thoro was
nothing for 1t but to go on.
I'VE walked up this passage dis
tancc. should Judge, OF 800 YARDS
when We arrived at nm octagonal court
from which ran eight different pass
ages, tho four main ones being about
width OF fifty feet and tho four mar.
row ones about four feet each.
Under our feet could bc heard n
sound rs OF the running OF n rivor and
tho violent 5reaking OF water upon
rocks. wo could perceive no mode OF
descent aud tho ground under our
feet seemed solid.
Being weary. and the ladies some
what faint VIC 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 nnd.
fortified by fow draughis OF capo
sherry. felt our spirits riso and. curl.
osiiy ms TO tho cause OF the sound
under our fcot getting tho better OF
our Judgment We began searching for
way to descend md finally found n
place whero thoro were stone stops Mt
irregular intervals.
Sidney and descended. leaving
Leroy and tho lndlcs above. Wo fol-
lowed these steps for about fifty fce,.
Tho descent wa, very difficult The
light OF tho lantern grew feeble How
ever we arrived on broad platform
OF level ground.
'I'ho sound OF tho wator had by this
tlmo Increased to that OF u roaring
torrent aud on our feet wo saw tho
black. inky stream rushing past Wo
sounded and found tho river worry doop
and cold.
Passing along tho banks. tho mir
bocamo heavier still. and tho limp.
which hnd boen burning more fcobly.
went out altogether Breathing bo-
camo very difficult owing 10 tho nb-
scncc OF oxygen.
''ln this dreadful place. and In to-
tnl darkness wo wcro stumbling about
trying to fnd tho stops by which to
return. for hours until becoming quito
weary wo snt down and fell into n tor.
pid heavy slocp. How long We ro-
maincd In this state do not know.
'Dn awakening with n great effort
wo aroused ourselves and finally hit
upon n passage which wo followed.
a. wo wont tho noiso of tho wators
became less audible, aud thcro wns no
rny OF light; nothing but thick dark
ness md n noisomc poniton,lnl mir
'Wc CROPPED about for hours from
| ono pns-npo 10 another amid n silence