The herald., 1894-10-14
CALIFORNIA CURIOSITY.
A Rival to the Great Nam
moth Cave.
Surprised Explorers of the Cuya-
macas.
Marvellous Wonders of Nature, the Ex-
istenco OF Which Has Bssn Un-
known Until Recent ExpIor-
ations Wore Made.

San Diego Union: A short time ago a
party OF prospoctors, headed by the we'll
known Captain Freoman, while making
an extended exploration OF Csjon peak,
stumbled upon, or rather stumbled into,
one OF the most interesting natural Gu
riosites OF Southern California in the
shape OF series OF caverns connected
by natural passages and extending sew
eral hundred feet into the side of the
mountain. Being without lights or
ropes the party made but limited Hur-
vey of their find, but their curiosity
being aroused determined to viait the
caves at some more appropriate time
and equipped with all that is necessary
for an extended search and exploration
OF the phi enomena.
On Sunday, October 9th, Captain
Freeman, In company with Msssrs.
Rogers, Bradshaw, Bunce, Hoides, and
a correspondent of the National City
Record. ascended the peak from
the northeastern spur to the mouth
of the caves. half way to the
top of the mountain. There are
several openings. which lie in water
way or ca1ion, and are reached by mar
row and tortuous trail, evidently known
and used by the Indians, who were
doubtless at one time acquainted with
the marvellous wonders of this freak OF
nature, running through thick and en-
tangled underbruah, over and around
precipisous cliffs and boulders as large
as the county court mouse. Entrance
is made by means OF natural shalt.
the descent being at least 20 feet verti-
cally into small chamber some II or
10 feet square; from here lateral pas
sages branch III several directions. ex-
tending from 10 to $50 feet, but the
main passage extends upwards some so
feet at an angle of 45 degrees into
larger chamber or hall, whose roof,
brilliant with atalactitss, and tho floor,
obstructed with numerous Doulders and
etalagmites. reflected the rays OF the
lights in thousand different directione.
From this room runs passage direct
ly south and 40 marrow as only to be
passed upon ones stomach, and then
only with extreme difficulty, about 100
feet, and then breaks off abruptly with
fall OF 20 feet into another passage
similar to this. The descent of this is
matter requiring q cool head and much
nicely OF movement and was best accom-.
plished by entering the passage and pr
ceeding backward over the cliff. On
leaving this latter passageway one finds
himself in q large chamber nearly 100
fest square, the walls of which
are composed solely of massive
boulders worn smooth by the
water that has evidently at one time
filed the place. In nearly the center
stands a rock that at first appears to
have been fashioned by human agency,
but close inspection dispels this idea. A
description OF this Is simply impossible.
but if one can imagine an egg of granite
Get upon ite largest end and about the
szs of an ordinary horse car, some
definite idea Of its appearance may be
had.
But the wonder of wonders is revealed
by closer inspection. At some time
past-doubtlsss thousands Of years-a
small boulder rested upon the top of
this egg shaped freak, and by the action
of water. in some way not discernible
to the discovering party, had worn
hollow in the latter to depth of como
five feet and at Que point nearly six feet
in diameter, the whole resembling some
gigantic iron tea kettle; and to make
the reaem blance complete the overflow
of the water had worn channel like
spout from the upper northwestern
corner.
At the bottom of this natural punch
bowl were two round pebbles about the
size of an ordinary baseball and water
strongly impregnnteu with iron and
other minerals. A email vial of this last
was procured and will be cent to San
Diego for analysis. Several other pas
cages were explored revealing more
wonder and delights to the astonished
explorers, who are satisfied from the re-
suta of their research they have dis
covered something that will prove an
object of interest not only to visitors
and tourists, but to residents as we'll. 1t
10 the intention, should their find prove
OF value, to develop the caves and sew
eral other mineral springs found, which
latter appear to have sorae medical
effect and value, and Oapt. Freeman has
left for Los Angeles to take the necessary
eteps to secure the land from the gov
ernment, when the parties named be-
fore will organize company and throw
the wondera OF the mountain open to
the public.