Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1893-03-17
A Wonderful Mineral.

There are probably but few of the
readers of the STAR that have ever
heard of mineral cotton. OF these still
fewer are aware that the headquarters
of this mineralogical wonder is here, al
most at our door-steps, i'll Wind cave.
1t was discovered over year ago by
the "leader" of the 'Elite Fremstill
favi America" while exploring the
/ Star Chamber circle of the Castle Gar
den route. That society therefore
claims the honor of the discovery.
In daylight its appearance is strik-
ingly like refined cotton, but by lamp
light it seems to be composed of thous-
ands of sparkling diamonds. Its re-
spective localities and situations are as
peculiar as the mineral itself, it being
found OH or near some of the several
ledges of Wind cave marble. On exam
ming with magnitying glass it looks
very much like Il lot Of transparent
needles, internlngled together in such
a way that cubic foot of the solid
mineral in its natural state. weighs
barely an ounce and a half.
Minera! cotton is a strange form of
selenite or crystalized su!plate of lime,
which appears in all known forms in
this wonderful cave
There is another form found i'm the
Philistine Palace circle of the same
route, called mineral hair. Let us see
it in the same manner as visitor view
ing the underground wonders.
Going past the Pearly gates, which
no one disputes are the most gorgeous
pieces of scenery in the known world,
we are asked ii we should like to see
Noah's beard. Thinking it some joke,
we are slow to answer, but on being as
sured that "it's worth seeing," we re
luctantly give our consent. Going
through a low. narrow passage for
about one hundred feet we arrive at Il
room that is probably twenty-five feet
in d!amater. Here we are ordered to
stop and take seats. "You may sit
here aud not disturb anything until we
go. one at time, and see the beard"
said the guide: tiles bound to get the
Sinch on us. somehow" exclaimed a
droll member of our party. In reply to
this thrust the guide said: "You shall
soon see why gave you such strict
ORDERS" The guide said ''come with
mt" and had no other alternative than
to follow. We went under a ledge to
the left, and after descending gradually
for about twenty feet, was again or
dered to stop, while the guide climbed
down into an irregularly shaped de-
preston in the floor. then received
more orders in about this manner: LET
me take your candle while you climb
down; whoap; that's far enough; now
When you look at it, be very careful
and not breathe on it or it will he de-
stroyed."
was beginning to get exaspera.ed,
but such foolis!ness was soon farthelest
from my thoughts. Looking in q small
a!cote to the right saw a large col.ec-
lion Oh si.Vefy appearing hairs. iTac-
ing their origin 1 saw, apparently burst
ing from large cave flower, thick
mass Of these hairs. lls o2ls inches in
diamater. Their termini, about thirty
inches below, are over a foot in diana.
ter. Noticing more closely the termi-
nus of each .a;., found it to be a per-
feet curl. Now let us see sometlin.
pretty said my pilot, as lie held the
lights behind the beard. l was amazed,
for in each and every hair saw unmis-
taka5ly the colors of a rainbow. After
recovering from my amazement 1
asked: "Do you people know ali about
this cave yet?' 1--WE know ecmpaua-
lively nothing" said the innocent look
ing guide. z. JT.Q.