Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-01-24
1T SUDDENLY APPEARS NEAR TIE
TOWN OF FORMAN.
Emfts Mysterious RumbIinEs and =
suIphurous OdOr-8Eed Warriors
say II Is signal for
Mighty War of
Conquest.

arc 20 he wiped off the earth and the entire
North American continent revert TO the
Indians.
The cause Of the trouble Is a huge open
Ing In the earth. about ten miles north Of
the old government fort. from which have
been issuing terrible noises-as though TO-
60 demons shouting at the top of
their volces-and from which comes suf-
locating odor of birthstone. This odor was
not particularly noticeable until two days
ago. but II IL now so strong that no one
dare venture near the mouth of the pit.
and several wild animals which have gone
TOO close have been suffocated.
Tho crevIce in the earth appeared some
what over a 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 twenty feet. is about three
miles in length. and OF unknown depth
Investigation soon after the crevice ap-
peared showed that in many places II was
the bottom could not be found, although
rope nearly 1000 feet long was used;
At night blue flame can be seen issu-
mile the heat is sufficient to scorch piece
OF white paper. Crash after crasn can be
eral places huge depressions have appeared;
as though the ground were caving in. All
the snow In the vicinity of the crevice has
disappeared and at a distance where the
heat is not so intense as 10 wtther every
thing tie grass is spTinging up.
James Patserson's Discoveries.
James Patterson, who was lowered into
the subterranean pit, reports having seen
sticking from the sides of the crack huge
bores the like of which he has never be-
fore seen. and from the description given
by him the scientists of these parts are in
Cl!ned TO believe that the bones are those
OF long-forgotten mastodons. The shells OF
huge turtles were also seen by Mr.. Patter-
son, and he brought TO the surface with
been the shells OF gigantic oysters or clans.
These things have strengthened the theory
that this whole western country was once
those now found In the Atlantic or the Pa
cite. and on the bottom Of which lay oysters
of such formidable size as TO be beyond the
imagination OF the wise people or the pres
ent day. The huge bones seen by Mr.. Pat
erson would: apparently: INDICATE that that
the upon the land As soon as pos
sible further investigations will be made,
authorities at washington, as white men.
allowed upon the reserve without special
permit.
When the crack appeared in the elrth
every Indian upon the reservation hasten
ed to 4 the sbs spot Ths wsGs stricken
and rushed with all speed back to the
Whsre tMhSy to the s
was absent at the time. so Mr.. Patterson
determined 10 make an investigation upon
his own account Calling to his assstancs
several Of the Indian poi,esps1 me ne fraht X,sed
encd children OF the plains had told him
Was not exaggerated in the least.
Terrifying Sounds Are Heard.
The crack begins at a point trihe over
ten 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 rocky
shore. Now and then, sharp and clear,
can be heard the sound of an explosion,
as of a hundred big guns blended into
The Indian police each one q victim TO
the widest superstition. and firmly beiiev-
deep in the earth dwells a terrible demon,
wanted TO depart from the place at once,
hut they were ordered by Mr.. Patterson
investigation. One of the Indians was sent
80 tho agency for all the rope to be had,
and when he returned with his pony heav-
iiy laden II was found tn at he had brought
hack something like Leo, feet of cord, of
sufficient strength to sustain heavy
weight
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 howl
ing in mortal terror, into the yawning
abyss. Fainter and fainter grew the
howls. and. though they listened irtently
and could not hear "a sound OF the body
striking. the men concluded that the bot
tom must be many hundred feet down.
The body of the dog, crushed and fiatten-
ed as though passed under "A heavy steam
roller. WAS found day or two later In
a small spring less than half mile from
this agency headquarters, showing that
the spring and the cbasm are connected
by some sort of an underground ItassaSe-
way.
Lowered Into the Abyss.
When the windlass was fully risGed the
rope was wound upon II and Mr.. Patter-
con, after forming a seat from short
piece af board. had himself lowered gently
into the crevice Down. down he went. un-
III all the rope. practically 900 feet, had
been paid out. lie remained in the dismal
chasin for nearly an hour. not even the
light from the lantern he carried being
visible from above. Then came the signal
10 pull up. and. after half an hours hard
work. the adventurcr was once more back
on terra irma. where he told remark
able story.
As he passed down into the chasm he
raw hundreds OF gigantic bones and shells
protruding from the sides of the creyice
md some OF The smaller ones he secured
iyIng inem with pieces of cord TO the
rope by which he was suspended. The
walls Of the cavern was composed he said
of layers of sand. black loam limestone
granite and sandstone. through which. in
some places, tho water came gently ooZ-
ing.
About half way down there was huge
indsniation In the walls of the chasm
and In this indcntation, which sloped back
apparently, from the edge, Patterson could
see water-a large lake-which reflected
back thousandiold the rays from hi.
lantern. From the splashings he heard
and the black objects he saw in this un.
Gerground lake. Patterson says he believe.
Il contains a large number OF fish oil
water animals.
After passing this lake on the down.
ward journey, Mr.. Patterson was greeted
by odor of sulphur, which grew strong
er and stronger tho lower he went. Tn.
roaring al tho bottom of the hole becam,
louder and louder. and crash after crasi
shook the perpendicular walls of the Crev
ice. BY means of a signal string AIR. Pat
terson was enabled to tell the Indians
above when 10 lower and when to rails
him, and he was thus enabled TO observ
all about him as he slowly sank into tn
As he went lower and lower the lgh
from the mouth of the chasm becam
away altogether. The PIT was in abso
Lutte darkness, except for the feeble Iish
shed by the lantern, and the man sus
pended between the sky and he knew no
what dared not let himself think of tn
fate that awaited him were the rope L
break or the Indian policemen TO hecom
frightened and desert the windlass.
For n moment his courage deserted hir
as the terrible possibilities of his tri
flashed over his mind. and he almost CAV
the signal for the men above 10 hoist away
Almost instantly. however his nerve re
turned, and he signaled to be lowered sti
deeper into tho cavern. moment late
the rope began to be paid out and ono
more Patterson resumed his downwar
tourney. Almost below him appeared