Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-31
ROPE LADDER RESEARCHES.
A Sort OF Cave Exploration That Re-
auires n Good Deal OF Muscle.
QExchauge)

Under the inspiration Of i. a. Marte''
who is now the most famous Of cave ex-
plorers. the lovers of this sort OF re-
search are developing great enthusiasm
for diving into the depths Of the eSNth.
Within the past two years Mr. Mdrtel'
who has done far more than any other
man 10 find out all about the many caves
of France, has been engaged IN suDter-
rauean explorations in Algeria ana Eng
land. and the crowd Of cave hunters VINO
have followed his example ana me'hou9
are diving into every underground open
ing they can find and have brought 10
LIGHT scores Of caverns IN the limestone
ro,,iors of France. They have formed
tho Societe de Speleologie and publish the
results Of their underground wanderihs7
I'm the quarterly magazine, Speiuh'"'
which. from cover 10 cover contains no.
thing that does not relate TO caves.
MOI a, Few of the French caves show no
external evidence Of their existence save
q hole I'm the level surface Of the ground
often SO small that a man could not possl-
bly, fall through it, and frequently 80
well concealed in the underground that u
has never been discovered until quite re-
Gently. 4 popularity OF many OF these
onenings is that instead Of giving access
a
make his way, as at our Mammoe" cave,
there Is nothing but air beneath them ana
one might drop a plumb-line through the
opening for hundreds of feet before II
would touch the floor Of the cavern. IL
takes a good deal of grit and the steadiest
of nerves TO launch ones self at the end
of n rope into these black abysses.
There are two ways Of making THIS
gloomy trip, and one Of them requires
not only nerve, but an unusual amount
OF physical strength. In this case the
explorer depends almost wnolly upon
himself in making both the descent ana
the ascent. In the other the muscle OF his
comrades is called into service 70 lower
and raise him. and the exploit does NOT
involve so much fatigue. II the man in
tends to depend upon his own muscles
he requires a rope ladder, and this ap-
pliance IS o part Of the equipment OF
every cave-hunter who expects TO inyes-
tigate any Of this class OF openings. Inc
distance from the opening TO the bottom
is first ascertained by means or a piuH>
met line and then the rope lddder -
lowered and after securely tastenns IL
at the upper end the explorer Is reauy
for businss.
His torch is fastened to his headgear.
and cannot easily be displaced. TWO or
three trusty comrades remain at the sur
face 10 attend 10 the orders they may
receive from the explorer. Attached 10 MS
waist is a little telephone cord ana the
duty OF one of the men IS 10 receive the
messages over it, and TO pay out the cora
or take i'm the slack as the circumstances
require The telephone cord is usually ~
or 40 feet longer than the ladder. when
Is rarely over $50 feet in length. IL has
been found that i'm almost all cases TINS
length Of ladder is sufficient 10 land the
oxnlorer on the floor OF the cavern.
II IS not so very difficult 10 descend TINS
ladder. but il certainly requires the
strength Of an athlete TO accomplish the
other feat OF perpendicular stair climbing
on the swaying rope. Frequent rests are
necessary. and sometimes the rope rests
for little way AGAINST the wall Of the
ABYSS, or a shelf Is found on Whlch the
explorer sits down 10 regain his breath.
The other method OF making the 1e-
scent IS far easier for the explorer. no
Is seated at the end Of the rope. which
ls slowly lowered by his comrades. In
one hand he holds his lantern, while he
manages the telephone transmitter with
tho other. There Is not much fatigue,
but strange as It may seem, most cave
sxnIorers appear 20 prefer 10 use the
ladder though sometimes they are over
an hour I'm ascending 10 the surface.
THE successful cave explorer nowadays
e. usually able 10 retrace his steps In the
dark recesses which he Is exploring and
II very seldom occurs that one OF them
Is nor able 10 return without blunder.
This Is more than one visitor in thou
sand to Luray Cave is able TO do. The
guide there usually gives any one who
wants the privilege a change TO conduct
the party back TO the entrance ana Aual-
IN after three or four turns In the
! r'eht direction. the pilot branches or on