The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-06-21
MYSTERIOUS Cavern
The Chamber is Situated on a CAL
ifornia Mountain.
Subjec. of Indian Romance. Explored
by Party. It is Filled with Dag.
zling Stalactites and Contains
Peculiar Stream that
Rises and Falls.

Far up on tho mountain in remote
place on Mill creek near Ukiah, Gal il
q NoSded knoll OF peculiar and forbid
ding shape, Wherein is Il cave known rs
tho Black Hole 1t is only the unsuper-
stitious who can he prevailed upon to
saeak Of the uninEiting spot Tradition
Says that long years ago when white
settlers were unknown md the Tokayo
Indians were in full power a negro, in
Etraying from ship then lying in tho
bay Of San Francisco was captured, and
by. joining the tribo saved his life
Gaining power from hin knowledge ac-
qnired on board ship, be soon became
chief and later ono Of the most power
fal rulers the tribe had over known, be-
ms. called the Great Medicine chief
Everything went smoothly until he
feli in love with = Guplsy maiden Of an
other tribe, whom 10 marry WIS death,
according to tribe Ivy. The negro was
not without erezui,s, and this WIS ia
vorable opportunity to put him ont of
thu way. The council sf chiefs finally
declared that he rius; die
u was ut his Request that no was tax
en- TO tho top of this knoll to be e1ecut-
ed. During the might he slipped his
guard and entered this cave in the hope
of finding sono ontl9t. He never re-
turned. Some say that he was butcher
ed during the night by oEo of the Young
braves and thrown into the depths, and
that he gave 2 Departing cry as he was
beng hurled down, TIE shrill echo Of
which can yet be heard on nearing the
cave
To explore the unknown depths
party started Oh q reccnt Sunday from
Ukiah. The cpt,ance to the cavern is
at the summit ef the range, is surround
ed by oak and repporwoci and is reach
ed By the Reeves Canyon road. Parties
By careful driving may go up this way,
tho only accessible one, rs the front is q
preoipioe. The opcr5ng to the cavern is
about I6 feet i'll diameter and is funnel
shaped.
Lamps, ropes, candles, kerosene etc.
We're taken from the wagons, and prep
arations were soon made for descent.
Mr. Mason agreed to go first. Rocks
were thrown down to useertnin, if pos-
sible, the depth. They were never heard
to strike bottom, but would go rambling
down, down, until they died away in
IN the distance. a bundle of paper was
now saturated with k,roscne and thrown
in and watched with lively interest.
Soon aii explosion occurred followed by
scattering of grass. sticks and stones.
Then myriads CT hats appeared
MIR. Mason now determined to 90 BIO q.
low. A rope was it'd nreund his waist,
mad with lantern in hand he began
the descent. Those aboye carefully paid
out the rope. He was soon down some
10 feet. he asked another to come down
also, as the way had handbags, and two
or moro could vary ensily worn their
way along. Mr. Mason soon reached
100 feet. Here he found a chamber.
from which there were several halls.
Selecting what lie thought to be tho
main one, he continued down until tho
rope paid out marked $50 feet No
weight being felt upon the rope, it was
thought Mr.. Mason had reached his
journeys end.
In about 20 minutes signal was Civ
en-, and Mr.. Mason was drawn up. He
said that at depth of 40 feet the pas
sage WAS narrow and tt4raced frequently.
but frsm there on the terraces were less
frs1dent. At the end Of his passage he
finally smerged into large chamber
abeut 60 feet in diameter and 20 feet
high. From the roof of this cavern hing
large stalactites which glistened in the
dim light like countless diamonds. AL
most in the center of this chamber was
sn oval shaped depression in the floor Of
about two feet. This basin was filled
with water, internationally rising and
telling with clocklike regularity. Gin
cinnati Enquirer.