Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1897-07-30
FROM THE HOT SPRINGS.
A Trip to the Wonderful Wind Cave
and How 1t Appears.

y.
Among the wonders Of this wonderland
we find the famous Wind Cave at the
head Of the list. The writer in company
with Hon. A. l.. VanOsdel and Hon.
Harvey Gunderson, members Of the Home
board, and Quartermaster Cleveland,
started to visit the most famous cave in
the world. one day last week. The drive
out to the cave occupied about two hours.
and the scenery on the route is both pic
turesque and romantic. Opposite the
head of Buffalo Gap we were shown the
rem AIMS of old Sitting Bulls camp when
he watched the Custer expedition pass
through into the Hills.
Arriving at the cave we found com.
Portable hotel and all necessary conven-
fences for tourists, and the genial Col.
Stabler, manager Of the cave, at home.
After dinner party of fifteen in charge
of Col. Stabler and his two sons prepared
for the trip. Two ladies were in the
party. Each person was furnished with
canvass skull cap and a candle. The
trap door leading down into the deserted
home of Old Nick was raised and rush
of wind greeted the advance. The air
was actually cold when compared with
the atmosphere outside. Col. Stabler led
the advance and the writer followed close
behind. After going down about 100 feet
one could not feel any draft and the
atmosphere was pure and of a tempera-
ture of about 60 degrees. The single file
of candle bearers kept going down, down
and down and the end seemed far off.
when at last we reached the third floor
and we halted to close up. 1t was wild
and unnatural scene. but the company
seemed in good spirits and after few
minutes rest proceeded. going gradually
down. At the Bridal Chamber the writer
left his coat and felt no inconvenience.
We passed on in single file through the
Snow Ball room, Church Steeple, Post
Office. Red Hall, White Room, Grand
Opera Hall, Devils Lookout, Milton's
Study. SIMPSONS Palace. Queens Draw
ing Room, Methodist Church, Giants
Causevay, and other noted places until
we arrived at Odd Fellows Hall, where
we were placed in position and a fash
light photo of the crowd taken. At many
places on the route to this place we
marched up and down, over little bridges
and at other places we had to stoop to
conquer or pass under the mountain of,
rock above, and at other points squeeze
our way through narrow passages blasted
out in this wonderful creation of nature.
When the photos are finished will send
the LEADER a copy to show what Wind
Cave group looks like $50 feet below the
surface of the earth. The party was in
good spirits when it left Odd Fellows
Hall, and the journey was continued. At
choice Of going many miles in any
direction desired out Of four routes. The
route ending ut the Fair Grounds was
selected as it was considered the best.
Kimball's Music Hall was delightful
spot and one could almost imagine he
saw grand pianos and heard the melodi-
GUS voice OF some enchanting maid. One
OF the charming resorts next visited was
named Hole.in-the-wall. There were
plenty OF holes but nothing in the holes.
AT this place the Quartermaster. young
tho nd ~
turned back. The artist was also a
guide. The others went on to the Fair
Grounds, taking one hour and half
more to complete the journey after we
left them. Our return was slow and In
teresting, because we had plenty Of
opportunity to study the wonders of
nature. At Odd Fellows Hall we found
q perfect stone representation of an old
Billy Goat and little Nanny Goat. The
William Goat looked as if he had been
ridden by all the Odd Fellows IN the
world and might have been one of the
goats Noah had in the ark. Almost over
the goats we noticed the three links and
the all seeing eye. an excellent represen-
tatiou of each. If Grand Patriarch
Waldo of Canton, had come around the
corner with regalia on lodge could
have been opened in due form. as there
were Odd Fellows In the crowd. The
Postoffice contained thousands of cards !
and other tokens of visitors, but Bro.
Mckinley will not be disturbed ty candi-
dates for this place.
Our trip through this famous region
called to mind the terrible struggle of
the mind reader, had TO dis
cover the head of a pin concealed IN one
of the many thousand corners IN this
cave. 1t was in 1894 that Johnstone, on
a wager Of 81, 900, agreed to find the head
of pin concealed somewhere along the
80 miles Of streets and alleys. Beds and
provisions had been located at many
points to prevent starvation in case Of
accident. Johnstone and u party of five
entered on that terrible hunt. For -
hours these men hunted. They walked.