Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-04-10
HAWTHORNE, ESMERALDA COUNTY, NEVADA APRIL TO- 1895

known the charge to be as high as $50.
Going to Ballamar, you should take
what is known as the Bay street road,
which is lined with handsome resi-
dences and is really one of the finest
thoroughfares to be found in Cuba. The
one-story dwellings, of Italian, Gre
clan, and Moorish architectural COM
binations, all have beautiful facade,
ornamented with colonnades and ver-
andas of marble, stone, and wrought
iron; but over all commercial ruin
broods and the faded and forlorn ap-
pearance which now pervades life and
business in every part of this fair but
bankrupt island hangs a pail.
The melancholy impression pro-
duced by so much out-at-thee elbow and
down at the-heel grandeur is speedily
dissipated when the once gay boulevard
ends abruptly at the shore of the bay
and wide marine view is suddenly
unfolded. After swinging along for a
time close to the emerald green waters
that gently wash the siIvery sands,
from whose blue distance come the
cooling ocean breezes of early morning,
while across the bay are the verdure-
clad hills that overtop the lovely vale
of Yumuri, and on the right hand
green banks, overshadowed by graceful
palms and fanlike cocoanut trees-you
turn eastward into the direct road to
the caverns. And such road-the
dry bed of a mountain torrent, wind
ing, rugged and stony, up the hills to
the top of the plateau. AT last the
Cave House is reached-a large frame
building erected over the entrance to
the caverns, containing the usual yisi-
tors register and specimens of crystal
formation, brought from the depths be-
low, for sale at exorbitant prices.
These caves, which somewhat resemble
those at Luray, Va. and present the
rock forms, galleries. stalactites, and
other beauties incident to all such sub
terranean formations, were accidentally
discovered about thirty years ago by
some native stone quarters, who, on
opening into them, fed alright, calling
upon the saints to forgive them, i'm
agining that they had broken through
the crust Of the earth to the imminent
destruction of mankind. Before
going down into the bowels OF the
earth you should divest yourself of all
superfuous clothing, such as coats,
shawls, vests, etc., because it is exces'
sively warm in the inner depths; and
ON coming out, unless you have some
extra garment to put ON, the too great
change of temperature is likely to pro-
duce chill which may end in tedious
calentura, or local fever, resembling
the fashioned. "seven- year-ague. "
You pay 81 each; the attendant
muchacho or guide takes his one bees
wax taper and you follow him down a
long fight of stairs. There ought to be
more light, and probably would be
should you insist upon it for one soli-
tary candle does not go far toward
Illuminating the vast spaces, magnifi-
cent columns, and wonderful forma-
tions. Presently you cross a wooden
bridge. made tolerably secure by iron
railings-over what abysses can only
be imagined, as you cannot see step
in the dense darkness-and enter the
"Gothic Temple where, by the light
of several lanterns hanging on the
wall, you can distinguish thousands OF
weird shapes standing on every side
like company of ghosts, and millions
upon millions of beautiful crystals, all
merging in the gloom and darkness OF
unexplored depths beyond. Place the
candle behind anyone of these crystal
nd re fro rlrndnpps
an indescribably lovely effect, the
colors varying from pure white to
amber, sea-green, violet, and rose.
While this temple far surpasses in rich
ness and splendor the temple of the
same name in Kentucky's mammoth
Cave, it does not begin to equal it IN
size and solemn grandeur. This Of
Bellemar is, should judge, so far as
opened, about 250 feet long by 100 wide.
The Mammoth Cave leaves upon the
mind an impression of gloom and
solemnity, and ones imagination in
voluntarily peoples it with gnomes and
demons; while this appears to belong
more appropriately to dream OF
fairyland, where sprites and naiads
| h66D I6bSl WuCu llol talo oiO hOp PiSo
ent. Every pillar and giant protuber
anoe has its name-so says the mu
chacho; this called Columbus Man
tle," that 1.-THE Guardian Spirit" an
other, the Sacred Altar" another
1.-THE Virin's Cloak" and so or
through the varying fancies of lone
line of travellers. One of the most
striking objects is the great "Fuente
de Nieve" (Fountain Of Snow, which
is certainly lovely enough to allure one
here again and again. 1t takes about
three hours to "do'' this gothic temple
and the two or three other minor cav
erns and passages that have been par
tally opened. How far they may ex
tend has not yet been ascertained, only
about four miles being now opened tt
the public, to the greatest depth below
the surface of the earth of $50 feet.
Should you proceed from Matanza