Arizona republican., 1897-11-14
Tine Masonic Grand Lodge Ended
 in a Glorious Blaze
HELD IN ALADDIh'S CAVE
With Dome and Columns of
 Glittering Splendor
Closing Incidents Grand Banquet on.the Last NiGht-EloQu uent Ad- dreSses-VisitirR Masons Depart Singing Loud Praises of Bisbee.


 Bisbee's greatest joys are over. All week, until last might, the town has been jammed. Although Bisbee has ample hotel accommodations for all ordinary emergencies, they were far over taxed. A cot in room with six others has been all that bhe most fla vored mortal could be accorded. However the table d'hote facilities proved ample to Hhe enormous de mand. Victuals were plentiful and good. AS for sleeping -that is not an essential part of a three days Ma sonic high jinks, nor of the dignifed proceedings of the Masonic grand lodge Computations of cubic feet of fresh air to the sleeper were not in dulged in; the exemplifcation of the i Third degree was paramount-and took place in the lodge room. No one regrets the cots. Morris Goldwater did not blow out the gas at the Besse- 1 mer-he was repeatedly warned against it, and besides the Bessemer has incandescent light.
 i There were other features of the grand assemblage; notably the cave in the Copper Queen. It is all that has been said of it, all that was guessed or rumored or hopsd for it-and more. It proved to be the one unique spec tacle upon which all agreed that an i ticipatiou had not outrun realization l When the Masons viewed it first on Wednesday aud again when hun dreds of visitors saw it Thursday they greeted its royal splendors- | coming upon it suddenly at the end 1 of a shousand feet or more of narrow windfngs in dimly lighted tunnels with outbursts of applause, the spon- i taneous appreciation of the most en- chanting subterranean spectacle that nature has yet shown 10 man.
 ALADDIN'S CAVE.
 Immediately at the entrance of the room is large ampitheater of about 100 feet in diame ter, either from side to side or from floor to roof. This is surrounded by wonderful labryn.hs of galleries, many of which lead to other caves and Assures, some of them to ! an immense inclined hole in the rock fITtha,u seems qo be bottomIess and gives back 10 sound when stones are cast into it. To the Left of the amphithea- ter, as one enters, is an enormous pit of 800 feet in depth. The walls, floor and roof of both pit and ampitheater are covered heavily with a coating of carbonized lime drippings. At a very recent date the entire cavern was a vast subterramean we'll and the wa, CTS in going out here left indelible' traces of currents and wavelets on the g-is- tening and polished walls.
 Although the cave was discovered two years ago, it's existence has besn kept almost a secret to the outside world, and the Masonic fraternity of Arizona, accompanied by many visit ing members from all parts of the world, were the first to view its mar velous beauties. The cavern had been decorated and illuminated by hun dreds of incandescent lights arranged most effectively and artistically. Scores of bulbs shone dimly through the transluscent hangings of many hued copper-stained drippings, and from every large stalactite hung a yellow incandescent spark. The gal lerieS-many of which have eXQulS .te drapicgs of white or colored carbon lace work-were wierdly and wonder fully lighted. The whole effect was dazzling, enchanting, bewildering in the extreme. Those who were fortu- were awed by the magic spectacle There may be larger caves, there may be more awful cavities in the earth's crust, but none others have been found hiddein so deep and none 50 en- trancingly and indescribably beauti- full. The cavern of Aladdin's genii gives the only possible comparison. Where the crystalline lime coatings are not copper stained they are pure white, sometimes resembling sculp- carved and modelled drifts of snow
 King Solomon's temple was not a more beautiful nor bef1tting lodge room for the ancient and honorable brotherhood of Free Masons MASONS FROM ABROAD.
 Aside from the territorial Masonic bodies which assembled in the. cave for the first time on the afternoon oi the 10th instant, many hundreds ol
 visitors from all parts of the country
 by the courtesy of the Copper Queen Consolidated Mining company, have been afforded view of this under
 ground wonderland. Governor Nc