The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-30

HONEY IN A DEEP CANON.
In Seven Mountain Is a Vast Hive of
Bees-TOns of sweet There.

From the Pittsburg Dispatch.
Kishacoquillas Gap, Pa. Aug. 22.-Kish-
acoquillas Gap is located in the Tussey,
or Seven mountain range, and is one
of the many breaks through this wild
chain of mountains leading from Penn
sylvania into Stone valley. The Seven
mountain range is perhaps the widest
of any system in the state of Pennsyl-
vania. Though it is not as large by any
means as some other ranges, yet because
of its many ridges, peaks, ravines and
decliviues, which accounts for it's name,
it is a wooded region, in which it is cas-
Ter to become lost than in any other noun
famous region in the state.
More than one experienced hunter has
lost his way in these mountains and spent
weary days wandering around before he
found his way to civilization again. and
some even failed to return, and it is gem
eral belief that their bones lie in some
dark ravine.
Years ago current report said that in
one of the least explored of the many
Businesses of these mountains there was
a bee hive in the rocks, which contained
enough honey to make a man rich. The
story, which was universally considered
a mythical one by all. was in effect as
follows: Some eight or ten miles north
closing the widest spot in the entire
chain of mountains.
Precipitous cliffs to the hight Of several
hundred feet, rise on either side, the
whole almost completely covered with a
dense growth of small shrubbery and trail
ing vines, while away down at the bot
tom, so deep that the sun hardly pene-
trates, owing to the narrowness of the
gorge, trickles a small stream. On the
north side of this gorge, about half way
up the rock side of the cliff, is a fissure
in the rocks, presenting an opening per-
haps twenty feet long. and varying in
width from two to five feet. Though there
is no accurate way of knowing the depth
of this assure or cave in the rocky side,
it has been estimated at anywhere from
thirty to fifty feet, perhaps even more;
and possibly with the dimensions of a
large chamber.
In this rift in the rocks a swarm of
bees years go made their home, and there
they have continued to abide, multiply
and store up honey until three years ago,
when the last report Of them, as given by
a lost hunter, stated that so numerous had
they become that there was one perfect
column or string of bees fully a foot thick
going and coming TO ana from the stone
hive
The amount of honey now stored away
in the rock chamber must be enormous.
that on a warm day the sweet fluid would
trickle down the side of the cliffs and
fall in pools at the bottom. Several par
ties attempted to dislodge the bees and
get at the hive of honey, but owing to the
difficulty in getting at the opening they
were never successful, as the bees always
drove them away.
A few days ago a stranger, who claimed
TO hail from the eastern part Of the state
and who had been trudging these mount
aims in quest of the outlook for game on
the several game preserves located here,
stopped few minutes at the Gap, and
while here told of seeing the beehive in the
rocks, but he believes he found the Won
derful honey deposit
The man averred that the bees going
and coming looked like an immense tar
rope, at least two feet in diameter, and
so constantly did they keep at their work
that in the hour or more he watched them
there was not one break in the flying
string of bees.
There is only one way in which the
cavern could be reached, and then it
would be at the risk of destroying the
rich store therein, and that is to blow
the mountain side up with dynamite. But
even this mode of attack would not rid
the place of all the bees, and when once
their home was destroyed, all interlopers
would want to seek some secure retreat.
The stranger averred that he would find
some way to get the bees out and get at
the store of honey He declared his in
tention of returning ere long to make the
attempt, at least.
Others, who by chance. formerly found
the bee colony when they the second
time tried to locate it, found themselves
completely at variance. In the section of
mountains where the hive is supposed to
be located, there are numerous deep ra-
vines. and the seeker after any particu-
lar one very frequently becomes confused
and very often is compelled TO give UP
the search after many weary days OF
trudging through the mountain depths
Five four. or even two tons of honey is
a large pile of the sweet stuff, and the
smaller amount If it could be put on the
market IN anything like good condition.
would. at the present price Of Is cents per
pound. realize just $500 for the success
ful bee hunter-a very clever sum to pull
from a rift In the mountain SIDE
Dorothy has wonderful self-control."
'rWhy do you think so p she could tell
lots Of things that happened thirty years
ago. but she never does Chicago Re
cord.