The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-11
SOME CAvERNS IN TEXAS.
UNDERGROUND FEATURES OF THE
LONE STAR STATE.

mat IN San AntoniOs immediate Vicln-
ity there are a number of caves, many of
which might vie with the Mammoth cave
of Kentucky, is a fact that is not univers-
ally known, but it is a fact just as hard
and just the same. Many Of the older in
habitants are acquainted with some Of
these caverns and have explored them
Every now and then a new cave is found
nearer and nearer to the city, and some
of them are even located within the cor
porate limits.
In making excavations for various i'm
provements these cavernous chambers
have been encountered or discovered. The
fact that they have not always been fully
explored is attributable TO the further
fact that the discoveries were persons en-
gagged in making improvements that were
profitable from a financial standpoint
while the profits in exploring these caves
were purely problematic, none of the
caves in this vicinity ever producing any
golconda of wealth 1t is true that they
are all rich in scenic and startling beauty
All of them resemble scenes in fairyland
Their stalagmites and stalactites all CLEAN
and sparkle as though bedecked with
gems and reflect in myriad splendor the
rays of the torches of the explorers None
has ever yet been found that does not
abound in such beauty. All are located
at a considerable depth from the surface
and all are difficult to explore.
All of them, with a single exception, are
the creations of nature. The exception
is said to be a subterranean passage con-
Meeting the old Alamo with the Conception
Mission. Ehis latter is not less interesting
than the other, since it has the charm of
mystery surrounding it. The existence of
such passage is believed in strongly by
many of the old inhabitants, and that
there may be some foundation for their
belief is indicated by a number of discov-
cries made at various periods within the
history of the city Within the past de-
cade, while excavations were being made
at various points directly in line with and
between the two historic structures men
toned a well defined and preserved sub
terranean passage has been encountered
and traversed for a considerable distance.
The latest discovery of this nature was
made on Saturday at the engine house.
Another was made a few years ago by a
property owner on Vilita street while
having well sunk on his property At the
depth of twenty-five feet the well diggers
were surprised to drop down about seven
feet and land in a tunnel Foul air pre-
vented NueiT exploring IL 10 any very great
distance, but the tunnel ran in the direc-
ton above indicated. There had previous
to that time been a number of persons who
had claimed to have had similar expert
ences and made similar discoveries.
Had this SECRET passage been revealed
to and known by the victims of the Alamo
how different would have been their fate
and how happily they could have circum-
vented Santa Ana. They would not have
achieved the immortality and imperisha-
BILE fame acquired by their tragic fate but
would have Travelled mole-like less than
league, emerged from the bosom of
Mother Earth and chagrned Santa Ana
by appearing in the other sanctuary. and
subsequently escaping, effected junction
with the forces of Houston at San Jacinto
where there would have been no battle
cry of Remember the Alamo!'
The Others, the works of nature, many
of them have been and most of them will
be fully explored by adventurous man
kind, and very probably within the ores-
ent decade. The principal drawback to
their exploration lies in the fact that they
are almost without exception the abiding
| place of innumerable deadly venomous
| reptiles. In their recesses the Crotalus hor-
| ridus abounds During the Information of
| these reptiles they coil and cluster in hun
| dreds in the crevices of these caverns and
none but the most hardy brave the dangers
| that await them.
| One of these caves is situated within a
! few hundred yards of San Pedro Park.
| Its entrance has been closed by the wan
| ton act of young German, who rolled an
| immense stone into its mouth and closed
/ II IN. 1t was last visited by officer Fred
| Bader about nine years ago.
IL was discovered while blasting was be-
| ing done at the head of San Pedro ave
| nue. with a view of extending that thor
oughfare to a point north of the present
terminus of the avenue. 1t was entered af-
| ter passing through a sinuous and tor
tuous passage barely large enough to ad-
| nit person, and this passage was about
| IUO teet in length and had an inclination
| whose angle was about sixty degrees. max
| ing 1t more difficult to ascend than to des-
| cend. Bader was accompanied by several
| other adventurous spirits who found a
| large subterranean chamber whose walls
| were about twenty-five feet high the
| width of the chamber varying from twelve
| TO hundred feet They never reached the
| other extremity of 1t. After they had pene-
| uated its depths to a distance of between
| three and four hundred feet they encoun-
tered a swiftly flowing and clear, as well
| as very cold, stream of water flowing
| through 1t and directly across It, This
| they attempted to wade. They got into
| water up to their armpts and then con-
| cluded that it was more prudent for them
70 retire and return to the earth's surface.
| 4hell toItheS III up the cave Tor the space
OF forty or fifty feet around them, and
they were dazzled by the splendors of the
spectacle that they witnessed in its con-
| fines. Mammoth stalagmites and stalac-
tites formed huge and gruesome grotesque
columns and truncated cones. Their CAPT.
tails and bases were awe inspiring A min
iature forest of these columns and cones
sprang no about and bewildered the ex-
| plorers.
They spent several hours in the cave
and were lost in it for over an hour.
Their torches were nearly consumed be-
fore they reached the surface. and they
mad narrow escapes from being lost and
| overwhelmed in the cavern's depth in ut
ter darkness. Their experience was such
a thrilling one that they did not care to
| repeat IL, and one Of their number swore
then and there no one should penetrate
4 II If he could prevent It, and so he rolled
the large stone down into it,
Another one of these caves, and one
which can be visited at any time by en-
countering considerable difficulty in de-
scending and ascending the passages, two
In number that give access to II. Is sit
uated near the Olmos creek In a pasture
owner by Or. L. Herff. Sr. II has three