The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-30
INDIANS IN GREAT FEAR
Terrorized by Wonderful Phe-
nomenon in North Dakota.
A BIG BoTToMLESS PIT
1t Suddenly Appears Near the Town of
Foreman-Emits Mysterious Rum
blings and Sulphurous Odor.
Indians Say 1t Means War.

Correspondence of the Chicago Chronicle.
F'orman, NJ D.--The Indians on the Sis
seton reservation, near here, are in such
a state of terror that the utmost dipIo-
macy has to be used to keep them within
bounds. The older Indians are counseling
the younger men to prepare for a mighty
war and are declaring that the time is
near at hand when the white men are to
be wiped off the earth and the entire
North American continent revert to the
Indians.
The cause of the trouble is huge OPEN
ing in the earth about 10 miles north of
the old government fort, from which have
been issuing terrible noises, as though
10000 demons were shouting at the top
of their voices, and from which comes a
suffocating odor of birthstone. This odor
was not particularly noticeable until two
days ago. but 1T is now strong that no
one dares venture near the mouth of the
pit, and several wild animals which have
gone too close have been suffocated.
The crevice in the earth appeared some
what over week ago, the frozen ground
bursting asunder with report which was
heard all over the reservation. and which
ratified the windows in every house for
miles around. The crack varies In width
from four to 20 feet. is about three miles
in length and of unknown depth. Investi-
cation soon after the crevice appeared
showed that in many places it was only
about - feet deep. while in others the
bottom could not be found. although a
rope nearly 1000 feet long was used.
At night a blue flame can be seen is
suing from the hole and at the distance
of mile the heat is sufficient to scorch
a piece of white paper. Crash after crash
can be heard in the bowels of the earth
and in several places huge depressons
have appeared though the ground
were caving in. All the snow in the vi
entity of the crcvice has disappe AIRED
and at a distance where the heat is not
so intense as to wither everything the
grass is springing up.
James Patterson. who was lowered into
the subterranean pit, reports having seen
sticking from the sides of the crack huge
bones, the like of which he has never
before see, and from the description given
by him the scientists of these parts are
inclined to believe that the bones are
those of long-forgotten mastodons. The
shells of huge turtles We're seen also by
Mr.. Patterson. and he brought to the sur
face with him curious objects believed to
have once been the shells of gigantic oys-
tors or CLAIMS.
These things have strengthened the the
DRY that this whole Western country was
once vast sea, in which swan fish
larger than those now found in the At
lantc or the Pacific, and on the bottom
of which lay oysters of such formidable
size as TO be beyond the Imagination of
the wise people of the present day. The
apparently, indicate that their possessors
in life must have been monsters equally
at home in the waters of the sea upon
the land. As soon as possible further in
vestigations will be made. after permits
sion has been secured from the authorl-
ties at Washington, as white men are,
outside of the reservation officials, not
allowed upon the reserve without a spe-
cial permit.
When the crack appeared in the earth
fhp ttn.a has
tened TO the spot. They were stricken
with awe at the sight which confronted
them and rushed with all speed back to
the agency, where they reported to the
agents representative. Mr.. Patterson.
The agent was absent al the time, so
Mr.. Patterson determined to make an
investigation upon his own account. Call
ing to his assistance several of the In
dian policemen, he visited the chasm
and found that what the frightened chill
dren of the plains had told him was not
exaggerated in the least.
The crack begins at point a trifie over
10 miles from the ruins of the old fort
and extends almost due west for three
miles. being widest and deepest near the
center. Far down in the earth, faint and
dim comes the sound of rushing waters
mingled in mad confusion with the pound
ing as of gigantic waves upon a rocky
shore Now and then, sharp and clear
can be heard the sound of an explosion
as of a hundred big guns blended into
one.
The Indian police. each one a victim
to the widest superstition and firmly
believing in the old tradition of the tribe
that deep in the earth dwells terrible
demon, wanted to depart from the place
at once, but they were ordered by Mr..
Patterson to remain and assist him in
making an investigation. One of the In
dams was sent to the agency for all the
rope to be had. and when he returned
with his pony heavily laden it was found
that he had brought back something like
1000 feet of cord. of sufficient strength to
sustain a heavy weight.
When Mr.. Patterson and the Indians
were rigging windlass-for Mr.. Patter-
son had determined to descend into the
unknown depths-one of the Indian dogs
in peering over the edge of the awful
hole, lost his balance and fell, yelping
and bowling in mortal terror into the
yawning abyss. Fainter and fainter grew
the howls, and though they listened in
tently and could not hear a sound of the
body striking. the men concluded that the
bottom must be many hundred feet down.
The body of the dog. crushed and flatten-
cd as though passed under heavy steam
roller, found day or two later in a
small spring less than half mile from
the agency headquarters, showing that
the spring and chasm are connected by
some sort of underground passage
way.
When the wndlass was fully rugged the
rope was wound upon 1T and Mr.. Pat
terson. after forming a seat from short
piece of board. had himself gently low
cred into the crevice. Down. down, he
went. until the rope practically 1000 feet.
had been paid out. He remained in the
dismal chasm for nearly an hour not
even the light from the lantern he carried
being visible from above. Then came the
signal to pull up. and after half an hours
hard work the adventurer was once more
back on terra firma, where he told a re-
markable story.
As he passed down into the ehasm he
saw hundreds of gigantic bones and shells
protruding from the sides of the crevice.
and some of the smaller ones he secured.
tying them with pieces of cord TO the
rope by which he was suspended. The
walls of the cavern were cnmnnsed he