The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-08-20

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trip to the top of the peak.
OF perhaps greater interest than
any of these is the Wind cave, II miles
distant from the town. This place is
intensely interesting to the visitors.
1t is so called from the wind or cur.
| rent of air that at all times rushes
either in or out with noise that can
| be heard for many feet away and is
sufficiently strong to drive the wheel
| of windmill Of considerable size.
This cave was discovered in 1881 by a
hunter formerly known as Tom Bing.
nam. In passing he observed the
noise of the wind and placed his hat
in the small hole and found that it
was carried into the air. He repeated
| this several times with the same re-
suit. He went home and told his
brother of the phenomenon and the
next day the two returned,
the brother then putting his hat
into the hole and to Toms
surprise the hat was carried into the
cave and was lost, for on this day the
current was going in instead of out.
But little was known of this cave un-
til $780, when the opening was blasted
out and the passageway made sutfi-
GENTLY large to admit visitors, since
which time it has been visited by
thousands of people. The cave is
everywhere honeycombed with small
and large chambers-some of these
very large. 1t is perfectly dry inside
and has a temperature of from 45 to
40 degrees, according to the location,
and is uniform during the entire year.
1t has already been explored to a
distance of 81 miles, and the distance
from the exterior to the lowest cham.
Der is $50 feet.
We had the pleasure a few days
since, in company with nineteen
| others, to visit This cave. With the
aid of a guide and our tallow candles
we were taken down, down through
narrow alleys and almost perpendic,
ular narrow steps until we reached a
distance of $50 feet from the mouth of
the cave, and at that point about $50
feet beneath the surface of the ground.
A description of the interior of this
cave would be exceedingly interesting,
but would occupy too much space for
this letter. 1t is certainly wonder
land upon which sun, moon or stars
have never shown.
Although this letter is longer than
l first intended, 1 feel that 1 ought
not to close without making some
mention of the hotels service here.
There is no lack of good hotel accom-
modatiOns and at very reasonable
prices. The Evans Hotel is the largest
and in every way strictly modern
and well kept hotel, and in con-
nectlon with it the famous Mime
kahta bath rooms and the big and lit
tie Plunge. For hotel so we'll kept
the prices are very reasonable. Second,
/ wish to mention the CatholicOn
Hotel, which is situated at the foot of
Catholicon Mountain, and just in the
rear of the hotel is found the Catholi.
con Springs, which deserves it's envied
reputation. This spring has daily
flowing capacity of 100000 gallons.
The water is stronger.in it's medincial
natural ingrediences than that Of
Minnekahta.
In connection with the Catholicon
Hotel is the Catholicon bath house.
Both the hotel and bath house service
are of the very best. This is an ideal
place for invalids-th nurses are first
class and the attendance most excel
lent. The proprietor is gentleman
from Vermont and is man Of culture
and refinement.
Hoping that this letter may be of
some value to those seeking health
and pleasure, remain,
Very truly yours,
J. W. ANDREWS.