The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-03-22

er named r. D. Kellogg, OF Des Moines.
The cave that contains this agate giant
is located in the mountains of Camden
county, and is known as Ha Ha Tonka,
deriving its name from a river which
has its source there and which was SO
named by the Indians from it's limpid
loneliness, which they likened to laugh
ing water.
10 get to the wonderful onyx noun
ment, which is as perfect as though
chiselled by a sculptor, and well worth a
trip across the continent to see, it is ne
cessary to penetrate into a deep cave.
The easiest way to travel is to row on
the surface of a subterranean river,
which flows from somewhere in the in
| terror of the mountains, and which leads
| into the heart of the cave, whose walls
and roof, seen in the light of the torches
! of visitors. are a glittering mass of min
eral marvels. The discoveries of this
cave had rowed but a short distance on
| the subterranean river when thy We're
astonished and wonder-stricken to see
the great onyx monument rising before
| them. 1t was perfect in formation, inn
| mense in size, and worth at the lowest
| valuation one hundred thousand dollars.
| SO perfect was the formation of this
| monument that it was at rsfit hoped it
| would be possible to transport it by
! some means to one of the museums of
the country, but it was found that it's
size precluded the possibility of such an
undertaking. For the present there
fore. it will be allowed to remain in the
cave for the benefit of sightseers who
ic1, FRA
ment before it is destroyed So proud
is the owner Of the property Of his cave
and monument that he proposes to build
railroad fortythree miles long in or
der to bring the lonely spot on which
the subterranean river is to be found in
touch with the outer world.
Fla Fla Tonka is located in Camden
county, Mo-. and the Usage tribe of In
dams formerly inhabiting that portion
of the country gave it its name. The
topography and physical features Of the
country in the vicinity of the spring are
characterized by scenery as grand and
imposing as can be found anywhere.
There are found no lofty mountains, no
tltitudinous peaks whose snOw-capped
SUBMITS repose in a climate of eternal
frosts, but instead there are beautiful
forests, open woodlands, impulsive
mountain streams, terraced hills, cav
ernous canyons, caves, grottoes and
parks, natural bridge, island lake and
subterranean river, high frowning silu-
rian walls, rugged, corrugated and SIN
uous, upon whose grizzled countenances
are chiselled an age so remote that one |
gazes in wonder and awe upon them;
beautiful valleys and cosey coves where |
forest birds sing and wild flowers bloom |
in endless profusion. 1t is wonderful |
spot, and a worthy hding-place for the |
great monument.
In the great cave explorations have |
been made for nearly one and half |
miles As your boat glides along new |
wopdrs are continually unfolded. Sta |
lagmites hang from the ceiling, which |
glitter like a starlit ky. Far in the in |
terror Of this cave the stheam drifts your
boat to a shingly bank and, standing |
upon this bank, you can see the wonder
full stalagmite monument of pure white |
onyx standing thirty-five feet high and
fifteen feet in diameter.
The onyx of which this monument is |
formed is the finest to be found any
where in the world. AS is generally
known, the material is used for canoes.
1t is mostly brought from India, and
some Of the most beautiful from north
ern Africa. 1t is not usual to find any
where in the world such great masses as
are to be seen at Ha Ha Tonka.-De
Moines Register.