The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-08-08

low freezing and from its walls fcscses de-
pend ike s.alactites. From some unk.lo~
source in the snperefraole rear or tas
cave comes blast OF cold air "a Gnu as
If IL came from the Arctic regions III tns
winter The temperature OF the cave = IKE
summer.
TO one who has never seen. or rainier
felt. TIE phenomenal conditions winch eN-
iSs within this strange creation OF nature
il seems almost incredtoie, but Nis1 20
the place wouid speedily remove an ao.nt
Of the truth OF the assertion. II IS diG-
ficuIt place 20 reach. lying as IL does N .
high hluT Of hills at the extreme ena q
a little horseshoe shaped valley In order
10 reach Il II is necessary 10 cross a ht''e
stream on a hand-rope ferry.
This done the aspsrant for cave INTENT
gence must scramble up the rough side or
the bluff. When ne has nearly reached
the top he sees a small assure In the hill
side or rather what seems to be that- on
closer approach the visitor finds that WHAT
he thought was steam is really ice-ceia
air and the appearance or steam Is the
result of atmospheric conditions thar exist
when the air from a large refrigerator
meets the moist. warm air OF a brilliant
summer day.
The writer speaks OF this cave from per-
sonal observation. for in IL he had one OF
the most awe-Gnspiring experiences in his
existence Previous TO beginning his Walk
20 the cave. he was warned that he had
best take additional warm clothing. AS
the mercury stood at 81 degrees in the
shade, he laughed At the suggestion, oGt
was finally prevailed upon 10 accept
rubber coat and pair of rubber boots.
II ia not too much 10 say that these ara-
cles afterwards saved his life.
The guide was one OF the boys OF the
neighborhooi whom long residence had
made familiar with the eccentricities or
the cave. After accomplishing the journey
which has heretofore been described we
took a peep into the cave. l noticed that
its roof and sides were dripping with Wa
ter and then realized that the rubber coat
and rubber boots would prove very ac-
ceptahle. I donned them while my COM
panion lighted the lanterns, a task rem
dered difficult by the blasts Of cold air
that blew out of the cavern entrance and
promptly extingtilshed every match lighted
near II. The entrance to the cave Is not
OF sufficient height 10 permit a man 10
walk erect. and so we make our entrance
half-walking and haif-crswling.
I have felt sudden changes, have wit
messed thunder storms IN the Rocky
mountains. the coming OF q ror'easter in
Chicago. experienced storms on Lake Erie.
and once a simeon was encountered; but
on none of these occasions was there such
a change as between the atmosphere out
side the cave and the temperature within
Il. II was for all the world like going into
81 cold storage plant. and the water that
dripped constantly from the roof and sides
was as cold ever came from an ice
cooler. There were no signs of Ice, bur the
deadly chill In the air that blew steadily In
our faces proved that there was ice to
come.
We followed the winding passage In and
out for little more than Iin0 feet In
width and height this passage varied
greatly. Those who have tourneyed
through caves of large size know that this
Is always the case. II grew colder and
colder. Even with the heavy rubber coat
my feet In stout rubber boots. I felt the
chill to my very marrow. On the roof and
sides OF the passage the frost cleaned
white and chill. and still there was no sign
or Ice. Presently the passage narrowed
down until IL was difficulty for us TO make
our way through IL.
Cautiously We crawied along and pres
entity emerged into a large and spacious
opening. which proved TO be the Ice cav
ern. On every side there was ice II hung
from the ceiling in huge and fantastic
forms. The walls were OF cleaning blocks
and through the chamber there constantly
swept that fearful current OF cold air 4
strange FAC. was tina. the floor was not
covered with ice entirely the ice and earth
having become thoroughly mixed. I took
with me and laid Il upon the door of the
cavern for three minutes when I took II
up again I found that the mercury had
fallen 10 FIVE degrees below zero
Extending Into the cavern from the 9TH
er side or the chamber was a passage evi-
IDENTIFY similar TO that through which my
guide and had Just come. | told the how
who acted as guide that would like 70
see what could find by penetrating that
passage. He shook his head and said that
II l wished 10 do II OF course I could. hut
he believed Il led 70 certain death and
would not try IL. At first said I would
attempt IL alone II he would wait I'm the
ice chamber for me. He said he would
wait. but begged me not 10 try
Ignorance Is bliss truly | walked oyer
10 the opening described and started TO en-
ter. Never In ali my life. | hope. will 7
reei such fearful biting cold as the breexa
mat swept from the opening brought WITH
IL believe that a man could not have
lived In that temperature for ten minutes
All thought Of further exploration passed
from my mind and was glad enough 70
teu nav guide that his statement was GER
tainly based on facts
To assure myself when reached the
outer world thar ! was not dreaming ~
what l seI;. ! broke OF pieces az .ha
ialcies that depended from the roof Of the
Ice chamber. When / reached the onsn
found them TO be as genuine ice as ever
was frozen. ard they melted ranistly in
the hot san.
nat Is X that causes this phenomenon
Scientific men are said 20 have visited IN a
cave within the last Day or two who have
declared that u had In some manner A
suoterranesn connection with the polar
regions. and that che cold air from the
norm. coming IN contact with the warm
moist atmosphere from outside. converted
me Vspor into water ON the walls of ne
cavern. where IL straightway convoales
40 hot know what the cause is / simply
present the facts.
IN reference % the statement tina. tina
cave ~ as warm in winter as Il ia in z,1n1
neF. have the word Of q man who claims
10 nave known Of the cave for a lorg
zine, but said nothing about Il. He de-
clare@ mat In winter. while the caves tenn,
pefaiuFe Is not sufficient 20 cause persnl-
ration, II rarely Is above 81. tina, ,heya
~ no sign OF Ice. and thar the air wh,e.
comes from the Passage 10 the Ice cham
Der is quite warm
X seems to me possible. after ,hJnttry
the matter over carefully. tina. In sow
mysterious manner the same lusua-~as
that work the changes In climate IN ~.
Arctic and Antarctic regions are on-are,t,,
IN this cave. II ~ a well known fan, ira,
N me regions referred 10 the seasons ara
me reverse OF what they are here. To ma
X seems. then. that when the blast from
the ice chamber Is warm IL viii BE- roasstie
70 further investigate this renarast,ta
phenorneuor1. and perhaps make a hgxeov-
cry that VIII startle the world. lam free
20 say That ] hope 70 a-temp, il.
standard OIL Trusts Extra Dividend.
NtW YORK, Aug s-ThA STANDARD ct,