The St. Johns herald., 1895-05-09
4 Prospector's Discovery h
 YsaVapai Couqgt
Fantastic Forms of Natural Archi- aseisrs and an ynt@
 ground River.
Correspondence of the Prescott Courier.

1 us, and leave today fully equipped for prospecting and hunting trip
 Their mission is, in the main, tc renew the hunt of last May for ar old arrastra that was found 15 years ago by three cQwpan looking for ( COW range. They brought back some quartz picked up near the ar rastra which proved to be rich rock
 They fully intendfd to revisit the old arrastra, but put it off from time to time until now only one of them remains alive.
 About this time it was well known that two Frenchmen were at work in that vicinity, and Oftep passed through this section en route to Pres colt with brick gold and gold dust. It was after this time that the arrastra was found.
 In the last three years two or more skeletons have been found in that country, aud the old settlers generally believe these skeletons were the remnant of the two French men, whc never turned up alise, but were killed by the Indians.
 The party which vent out last May brought back good ore speci- mems and discovered a cave of large but unknown dimensions. The cave lies ninety miles west of Prescott in a locality seldom trod by foot of man. The mouth of the cave is situated half way up the mountain. On entering the mouth the cave is 25 feet wide, about 400 feet long in reugh rock. It is inhabited by large bats, swallows, lizards, snakes and millions of bees. Large flakes of honey-comb three or four feet long hang from every side.
 After passing through the rough rock, smooth gypsum formation is entered. The formation is of chalky conscience and easily carved Here was found carved in the wall U. NJ. C., Sep. p, 1872 and H. L. R.. Sep. 9, 1872" From the mouth to where the gypsum sets in, the ceiling of the cave is about twelve feet high, and from there on it gradually rises while the chamber gradually widens and the formation changes to all imaginable colors. The floor is dotted with varied colors, looking like done by hand. Pure spring water trickles from the sides at this point.
 Next you appear ta be entering a still larger chamber, when 2 di- viding wall is found running in line with the cave from top to bottom. The partition is six feet thick. and appears to be pure white marble, and seems to be g ledge which runs up and down through the noun tain, and shows about 15O feet in length in the cave. On either side stand large punches of marble, from four to six feet high, looking like statutes, while long. sharp, dagger like rocks project from the side walls in a thousand fantastic shapes. In the center of the room IS B basin of clear water, four or five feet deep. fed by the water trickling from side walls. At each side of this pool stands large black pillar of rock taper to s point from Q base three feet around. At the far end of the marble partition another partition sets in, brown ip color and soft in character. It is of the same thick ness as the marble partition. on the same ledge, runs 100 feet and breaks off abrudtly. Passing on several hundred feet more, the ceiling be- comes higher and the room wider and the rumbling roar of rushing water is heard, and in Q short time