The record-union., 1899-04-29
A MONUMENT OF ONYX.
It Rises From an Underground
River in Missouri.

River in Missouri.
An immense natural monument of the
magnificent marble known as onyx is
! to be seen in the inner depths of cave
situated on a lonely mountain property
recently purchased by a wealthy West
erner named r. D. Kellogg of Des
Moines The cave that contains this
agate giant is located in the noun
tains of Camden County, and is known
| as Ha Ha Tonka, deriving it's name
from river which has it's source there,
and which was so named by the Indians
from it's limpid loveliness, which they
likened to laughing water
| To get to the wonderful onyx monu-
ment, which is as perfect as though
chiseled by a sculptor, and well worth a
trip across the continent to see, it is
necessary to penetrate into a deep cave.
| The easiest way to travel is to row on
| the surface of subterranean river,
which flows from somewhere in the
interior 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 mineral marvels. The discoveries of
this cave had rowed but a short dis
they were astonished and wonder
stricken to see the great onyx monu-
mept rising before them. 1t was per-
feet in formation, immense in size, and
worth at the lowest valuation $10O 900.
| So perfect was the formation of this
monument that it was at first hoped it
would be possible to transport it by
some means to one of the museums of
| fry Int no tc,
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
wish to gaze on such a wonderful mon
ument before it is destroyed So proud
is the owner of the property of his cave
and monument that he proposes to
build a railroad forty-three miles long
in order to bring the lonely spot on
which the subterranean river is to be
found in touch with the outer world
Ha Ha Tonka is located in Camden
County, Mo-, and the Usage tribe of
Indians formerly inhabiting that por-
ton 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
| (,
anywhere. There are found no lofty
mountains, no altitudinous peaks whose
snow-capped submits repose in eli
mate of eternal frosts, but instead there
are beautiful forests, open woodlands,
| impulsive mountain streams terraced
hills, cavernous canyons caves, grot-
| toes and parks, a natural bridge, island,
lake and subterranean river high
fyr Gil
gated and sinuous, upon whose grizzled
countenances are chiseled an age so re-
mote 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 a wonderful spot and, a. worthy hid
ngplace for the great monument
In the great cave explorations have
been made for nearly one and a half
miles. AS your boat glides along new
wonders are continually unfolded. Sta
lagmites hang from the ceiling, which
glitter like starlit sky. Far in the in
terror of this cave the stream drifts your
boat to a shingly bank, and, standing
upon this bank, you can see the Won
dcrful stalagmite monument of pure
white onyx standing thirty-fve 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. It is not usual to find any
where in the world such great masses
as are to be seen at Ha Ha Tonka.-
| Des Moines Register.