The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1897-05-13
GREAT WIND CAVE TRIP.
An Interview With Prof. tombstone About
His Most Famous Exploit.

nina reader anu pdlIllSG, WHO - dG IHc
present time creating something of a
furore in town, has some very thrilling
and interesting photographs at bis
lparlors. They are of large size and
show Prof. tombstone during his great
Wind Cave exploit in the Black Hills
The story of that terrible trial is best
| told by Prof. tombstone in his own
words.
/" It happened several years ago, !"
said the Enigma TO a NEWS represen-
tative. 9. then was at Hot Springs,
S. D. A wager was laid between
g Billy" Carter and my manager, NJ.
E. Rice, for $4,000 side, to the effect
that Carter was to select a committee;
pins head was to be hidden; the CON-
mittee was to have twenty -four hours
in which to hide the tiny bit of metal
and | was to find the same blindfolded,
and fetch it back to Hot Springs.
f" Well I was guarded by several
gentlemen in u suite of rooms in the
Evans house while the committee took
the pins head and driving away to the
northeast some fourteen miles, they
arrived at the Caves mouth and taking
the chief guide to the wonderful hole,
| (Alvin McDonald) they descended into
the bowels of the earth and eventually
deposited the article on the edge of
bottomless precipice, some eighteen
miles from the caves mouth. The
committee was gone forty EIGHT hours
instead of twenty -four as the agree
ment read.
81 was then blindfolded, or rather
/ had been blindfolded twenty four
hours; and fastening a wire to my
wrist [ handed the other end to Mr..
Germond, one of the committee, and
dashing through the corridors of the
house entered the vehicle and lash
ing the horses into a breakneclz speed
I started for the cave. The route is
frought with dangers, with ravines,
bridges and old water ways; but |
never drew line until we arrived at the
caves mouth; although the committee
said the vehicle at times was on one
wheel, at times on two and then again,
whilst dashing down some old, steep,
river bed, the wheels were all in the
air together.
g Forth from the yaWning jaws there
issued terrific wind; but | lead the
party on a run and we were soon en-
veloped in night. All went we'll for
the first eight hours, when [ suddenly
turned to the guide and said: " You
have lost your way"
At that instant the guide realized
that he had lost his way. He looked
in stupid manner at the committee
and myself; then realizing the horror
of the situation his knees slowly came
together and he sank down on the
stony floor and wept like child. We
held consultation in the dark, in
order to save the candles which we
were carrying, and finally agreed to
keep moving. This we did for four
days and five nights"
Did you have anything to eat?'
the reporter inquired.
Not mouthful,"
Have any water?"
. No. no water. Nothing but hun
ger and thirst; the yawning chasms;
those terrible precipices; fatigue and
the greatest of all horrors that of our
pending doom.
Well, | finally succeeded on the
fifth morning in finding the way again,
and then | found the pins head. We
started to retreat when suddenly the
man who carried the candles dropped
them down one of those frightful
chasms and there We were, some ten
miles from the caves mouth, and with
two small pieces of candles.
| then suggested that we give our
clothes to the guide, who was to burn
them and get as near the caves mouth
as possible. This was done and the
guide started on the perilous trip. We
had tucked pieces OF paper IN his long
hair stating where we were and the
condition of the party.
He got within eight miles of the
caves mouth, when everything gave
out and he fell asleep. Here search
ing party found him and from him
they came to u.s. We arrived in Hot
Springs that night. The guide, Nc
Donald, died; Germond died; the other
committeeman lost his reason; but
John Moon, the press correspondent
and myself escaped more fortunately"
How long were you blindfolded,
Mr. Johnstone?"
In all seven days and nights. The
blindfold was not lifted an instant
We travelled in all about eighty seven
miles underground and the wager was
declared Won"