Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1895-04-23
AN EXPLORER UNDER EARTH,
The Wonderful Discoveries of NJ. Martcl
In France-Caverns Big
CathedraIs.

A proposed feature of the French uni
Versal exposition of 1900 is cavern
which shall be deep enough to afford
tropical heat, that is, if the theory of
the heated condition of the center of the
earth is correct. NJ. Grousset, Partisan
member of the chamber of deputies, is
the author of the proposal. He says that
after penetrating certain distance into
the earth, the temperature rises 1la deg.
in every hundred feet. AT this rate the
boiling point would be reached at 5000
feet, and the state of fusion about
twelve miles down. The cavern at the
exposition would be 450O feet deep, and
below that borings would be continued
for scientific purposes. There would be
galleries and gardens fitted up in keep
ing with the temperature attained.
In connection with this idea, il is in
terestinS to know that France possesses
an explorer of caverns, NJ, a. Il. Mar
tel, whose discoveries and books promise
to make cavern-hunting rival of AL
pine climbing for those who want eXer-
else and excitement combined.
NJ. Martel is an active young Partisan
lawyer, being one of the counsel for the
Tribunal de Commerce of the Seine. He
has explored caverns in his spare mo-
mcnts
He penetrated thousands of feet below
the earth's surface and found subterra-
mean chambers greater than the largest
of buildings, waterfalls and rivers of i'm
posing size. Sometimes he came on
SttlltS OF tIldlkdplt GRANDEUR. MS
journeys We're miles long, and ice cold
streams had to be passed in pitch dark
ness. All these things he describes in
way both scientific and readable.
Before entering on an exploration, he
provided himself with a folding canoe, a
vessel holding two persons and weighing
only few pounds; a portable telephone;
rope ladders, miners lamps, large can
dies, n pot of white paint for marking
the way; whistles and hunting horns; a
tiD "a 60 an flN At htr az T.1l
as provisions He usually took two COM
pauions with him.
The Causes, n remarkable group of
high, stony table lands in the depart
mcnt of the Tarn, We're the scene of
some of NJ. Marters exploits. They are
of great extent and are uninhabited.
There is not a stream or a pool on the
surface, for all water sinks through the
earth to depth of thousands of feet.
The surrounding country is fertile and
we'll Watered
The plateu is inden.ed in places with
aVenS or chasms, the bottoms of which
are usually invisible. The avens are OBJ
jects of terror to the country people,
who believe that they are the mouths OF
hell. They have also more material rea-
son for fearing them, for many men
and more cattle have fallen into them
and perished.
When NJ. Martel first proposed the
descent Of one of these avens, near
Padirac, in the department of the Lot,
the peasants told him IL was certain
death. They believed that his object
was to seek for treasure which, accord
ing to tradition, had been left there by
the English in the time of Charles VII
In spite of opposition, he secured his
assistants and began the descent. At
first he was within reach of them
through his telephone, but for hours all
communication was suspended,
He devoted six days TO the exploration
of the aven OF Rabanel, descending TO a
depth OF more than 200 feet. once he
was left suspended on his ladder in utter
darkness, his light gone out.
At one point in this exploration he
| came on scene of fairy-like beauty.
From the openings above the light fill
tered through in rays of intense blue
irradiating the stalactites and giving
the great cavern the appearance of
magnificent cathedral.
In the heart of the Cevennes between
Mende and lie Vigan, is a great mount
ain torrent called Bramabiau, the source
of which was not known. NJ. Martel de-
termined to search for this.
His efforts resulted in the discovery
of a subterranean river over three miles
in length, and of cascades, grottoes and
galleries without end.
our advance" he says, was a series
of gymnastics, all movements regulated
by the width of our path Uhe ledge bor-
dering river and cascades), the hold to