Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-26
CAVERNS In TEXAS.
UNDERGROUND FEATURES OF THE
LoyE-sTAR STATE.
Tho Secret Tunnel Leading from the
AInmo-A Robbers Caye-One Tbnt
Can he Entered Only in MID
winter.


tdNt oA heutuckys IL a ldtl lhdt - hOt
universally known but it is a fact, just
as hard. and just the same. Many of
the older inhabitants are acquainted with
some OF these caverns, and have explored
them. Every now and then new cave
is found. nearer and nearer to The city,
and some OF them are even located with
in the corporate limits.
In making excavations for various inn
provements these cavernous chambers
have been encountered or discovered.
The fact that they have not always been
fully explored is attributable to the fur
Their fact that the discoveries were per-
sons engaged in making Improvements
that were profitable from financial
standpoint. while the profits in exploring
these caves were purely prOblematic,
none Of the caves in this vicinity ever
producing any eolconda Of wealth. 1t is
true that they are all rich in scenic and
startling beauties. All of them resemble
scenes in fairyand. 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 con-
siderable depth from the surface, and
all are difficult to explore
All of them, with a single execution,
are the creations Of nature. The excep-
ton is said to be subterranean passage
connecting the Old Alamo with the Con-
cepcion Mission. This latter Is not less
interesting than the other, since IL has
the charm of mystery surrounding It.
The existence Of such a passage is be
lieved I'm strongly by many Of the old
inhabitants. and that there may be some
foundation for their belief is indicated
by a number of discoveries made at va
rious periods within the history Of tho
city. Within the past decade, while eX-
cavations were being made at various
points directly I'm line with and between
the two historic structures mentioned.
wel-defned and preserved suDterranean
passage has been encountered, and tia-
yersed for considerable distance.
The latest discovery OF this nature was
made on Saturday at the engine-house
Another was made a few years ago by
property-owner, on Villita street. while
having a 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 I'm a tunnel
Foul air prevented their exploring it to
any very great distance. but the tunnel
ran In the direction above Indicated
There had previous 20 that time been a
number of persons who had claimed TO
have had similar experiences, 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 circumvented Santa Ana. They
would not have achieved the Immortality
and imperishable fame acquired by their
tragic fate, but would have travelled
mole-like less than a league. emerged
from the bosom of Mother Earth, ana
chagrlned Santa Ana by appearing in the
other sanctuary, and subsequently es-
caping. effected junction with the forces
of Houston at San Jacinto where there
would have been no battle-cry Of RE-
member the Alamo!
The others. the works of nature, many
Of them have been and most or them VIII
be fully explored by adventurous man
kind. and very probably within the pres
ent decade The principal drawback to
their exploration lies in the fact that they
are almost without exception the abiding
place of inuumerabe deadly venomous
reptiles. In their recesses the Crotalus
horridus abounds. During the hiberna-
ton Of these reptiles they coil and cluster
I'm hundreds I'm the crevices OF these
caverns, and none but the most hardy
brave the dangers that await them.
One of these caves Is situated Withlh
q few hundred yards Of San Pedro Park
It's entrance has been closed by the wan
ton act of young German, VINO rolled
an immense stone into its mouth ana
closed il up. 1t was last visited by Olil-
Ger Fred Bader about nine years ago.
a NVh Blasting
being done at the head Of San Pedro
avenue with a view Of extending that
thoroughfare TO a point north OF the pres
ent terminus of the avenue. 1t was
entered after passing through a sinuous
and tortuous passage, barely large enough
TO admit person, and this passage
was about 100 feet in length, ana mad
an inclination, whose angle was ABOUT
e0 degrees, making it more difficult to
ascend than to descend. Bader was ac-
companied by several other adventurous
shirts who found a large subtefranean
chamber whose walls were about -
feet high, the width or the chanlper
varying from II TO 100 feet. They never
reached the other extremity of II. After
tbev had penetrated it's depths TO dis
rance OF between 300 and 400 feet, they
encountered & swiftly-howing and clear,
as well as very cold, stream OF water,
flowing through Il, and directly across IT.
This they attempted 10 wade. They got
into water up 10 their armpits, and then
concluded that il was more prudent Tor
them TO retire and return 10 the earths
surface. Their torches III up the cave
for the space of forty or nifty feet around
them. and they were daZzled Dy the
splendors OF the spectacle that they VII
messed in its confines. Mammoth stalag-
mites and stalactites formed huge ana
gruesomo grotesque columns and trun-
cated cones. Their capitals and bases
we're awe-inspiring. A miniature forest
Of these columns and cones sprung up
about and bewildered the explorers.
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
had narrow escapes from being lost ana
overwhelmed in the caYern's depth IN
utter darkness. Their experience was
such a thrilling one that they did not
care to repeat il, and one Of their num-
Der swore then and there no one should
penetrate Il If he could prevent H. ana
so he rolled the large stone down into II.
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
I'm number, that give access 10 II, Is
situated near Olmos creek In a pasture
owned by DR.. +. Herff, Sr. 1t has three
chambers-two small and one large one
an three of which have been thoroughly
explored by hundreds OF residents OF TINS
citv This cave is infested with bats and
the larger chamber contains an immense
quantity Of guano that might. II more
accessible. be made Of commercial value.
In this chamber the writer shot ana
killed wolf and the incident was
varv thrilling one 10 himself and the
marty of about a dozen who accompanies
him The wolf was encountered suddenly
anI nnexpectedly The animal was con