The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-10-06
FIELDS OF ADVENTURE.
THRILLING INCIDENTS AND DARING
DEEDS ON LAND AND SEA.


In the long string of islands-up-
lifted mountain ranges, that extend
along the coast of Southern Califor-
MIA, there is one named Santa Cruz
that if thoroughly known might be as
famous as Capri. 1t lies nearly cf
Santa Barbara, its shores, abrupt
rocky cliffs, often rising directly from
the sea, presenting bold and forbid
ding front. This shore line is per-
forated with wonderful caves, some of
which reach in to a great distance
and have assumed the dimensions OF
large halls through which the sea
washes with reverberating roar ap-
palling in its deep-toned intensity.
Many of the caves are entirely cov-
cred at high tide, and at half tide con-
stitute orifces from which air and
water is blown with great violence.
The largest cave opens in chamber
forty or fifty feet in height, the roof
and sides of which are richly colored;
red, yellow, blue and green tints pre-
dominating. This chamber leads
into a second almost as large from
which. three or four hundred feet
from the entrance of the cave, mar
row passage has been worn away,
leading into the largest room OF all, OF
unknown height, from which branch
other leads below the surface, and
from which proceed horrible sounds
the groaning and muttering of the sea
as it is forced into the deep crevices
of the great cave.
It was in this chamber, or at its en-
trance that very singular adventure
was experienced by a party OF men;
one that was almost fatality and that
made a deep impression on the OBJ
servers. They were cruising around
the island, and seeing the entrance to
the cave,they determined to goin. The
wind was blowing heavily, and with
much difficulty boat was lowered,
the yacht runningin near the entrance
to the cave, then dropping a boatload
and keeping away. When close II to
the opening the water was calm, being
protected by the high mountain into
whose heart the cave extended.
Pushing through the hills that
formed slight barrier, the men rowed
into the great chamber, the roof Of
which rose over them like cathedral
dome. The first and second chambers
were investigated and before the mar
row entrance to the third they halted,
startled at the marvellous sound that
came forth. The sea in entering the
passage seems to dip almost at an
angle of forty-five de ees, and conveys
the impression tha whirlpool IS
formed in the room ncyond.
For some moments the explorers
listened; then seeing that the water
flowed in and out without any danger
ous disturbance, they decided to make
the attempt to enter the passage; so
taking the oars and using them as
paddles they moved on. In moment
they were in the entrance, peering in
to the gloom beyond. A few feet more
and the boat was fairly in the narrow
gateway. The man in the bow had
lighted a torch and was waving it
when deafening roar came from the
inner room-barking, screaming, hiss
ing sounds that fairly raised the hair
on the heads of the adventurers;
and before they could retreat band
of large, black animals came pour
ing through the passage, uttering
frightful cries. To the demoralized
party they seemed to be the object of
a determined attack, and that there
was little doubt regarding this was
shown by the fact that the animals
came at them with their open mouths.
Some climbed into or over the boat,
and others followed until the boat
filed and the men were thrown into
the water. For moment the water
appeared to be filled with struggling
men, while the boat was in possession
of several sea lions, others diving be-
meath it and all uttering wild cries,
whose reverberations were echoed un-
til there appeared to be thousands of
them.
Driven from the boat, them swan
to the second room to ledge, from
which they watched the extraordinary
spectacle. Their boat almost filled
the narrow entrance and the sea lions
were still pouring out, over and under
it, forming perfect stream from the
inner cave to the bright spot which
indicated the outer air and world.
When they had all disappeared the
men, who had a narrow escape,
lowered themselves into the water
again and swan to the boat which
they had managed to right.
The inner chamber was sea :1on
rookery, and must have been fs;rly
filled with the animals which, Y:nen
the boat appeared, realizing thes they
were trapped, made desperats rush
for the entrance, completely filing it
and sinking the boat in their efforts to
crawl over it.
Nearly all the large caves Of Santa
Cruz island are inhabited by sea lions
and seals. The sea :o2s are very
large, the males weighiat: much more
than large horse.