The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-08-01

one of the most awe-inspiring expe-
beginning his walk to the cave, he was
warned that he had best take addi-
ticnal warm clothing. AS the mercury
stood at 81 deg. in the shade, he
laughed at the suggestion, but was
finally prevailed upon to accept a rub
Der coat and pair of rubber boots.
1t is not too much to say that these
articles afterwards saved my life.
The guide was one of the boys of the
ne1ghborhood whom long residence had
made familiar with the eccentricities of
the cave. After accomplishing the
journey, which has heretofore been de-
scribed, we took a peep into the cave.
l noticed that it's roof and sides were
dripping with water, and then realized
that the rubber coat and rubber boots
would prove very acceptable. [ donned
them while my companion lighted the
lanterns, a task rendered difficult by
the blasts Of cold air that blew out Of
the cavern entrance and promptly eX-
tlnguished every match lighted near it.
The entrance to the cave is not of suf-
hcent height to permit man to walk
erect, and we made our entrance half
walking and half crawling.
L have felt sudden changes, have
witnessed thunder storms in the Rocky
Mountains, the coming of a nor easter
in Chicago, experienced storms on Lake
Erie, and once a simeon was encoun-
tered; but on none of the occasions
was there such change as between
the atmosphere outside the cave and
the temperature within it. 1t was fer
all the world like going into a cold
storage plant and the water that drip
ped constantly from the roof and sides
was as cold as ever came from an ice
11Nr~( Of
but 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 a little more than 1000
feet. In width and height this pas
sage varied greatly Those who have
Journeyed through caves of large size
know that this is always the case. It
grew colder and colder. Even with the
heavy rubber coat. my feet in stout
rubber boots, l 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 it was difficult for us to
make our way through it.
cautiously we craWled along and
presently emerged into large and
spacious opening which proved to be
the ice cavern. non every side there
was Ice. 1t 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. A
strange fact was that the floor was
not covered with ice entirely, the ice
and earth having become thoroughly
mixed. l took out the thermometer
which had brought with me and laid
1t upon the floor of the cavern for
three minutes. When 1 took it up
again | found that the mercury had
fallen to 5 degrees below zero.
Extending into the cavern from the
other side of the chamber was a pas
sage evidently similar to that through
which my guide and I had just come.
L told the boy who acted as guide that
L would like to see what 1 could find
by penetrating that passage. He shook
ms mead and said that If I wished to
40 1t OF course could, but he believed
II led to certain sdeath and would not
Try It.. At first ] said would at
Tempt 1t alone ifShe would wait in the
Ice chamber for me. He said he would
wait, but begged me not to try.
Ignorance is bliss, truly. 1 walked
over to the opening described and
started to enter Never in all my life,
l hope, will feel such fearful biting
cold as the breeze that swept from