Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1899-03-16
KeesoW Cave
BY Manley II. Pike
OUR short winter vacation was never

OUR short winter vacation was never
~ u lively one, and sometimes be-
came really tiresome. Asst came rather
late in the season, there was generally
so much snow that you could neither
skate nor coast, and although indoor
nmusements are all very well, no
healthy boy wants to spend his holt
days in the house, after having been
shut up within the four walls Of a
sOhool-room for eight or ten weeks.
So, at this time, we were always at cur
wits end for amusement. and willing
to do almost anything that promised
sport, especially in the open air.
Jack Adams, Frank Fisher and l
found ourselves in this state Of mind
one morning when we met at Franks
to see what we could do for amuse-
ment during the day
We three went together" as boys
cay, and people used to wonder at it,
because we were of such different char
acters. Jack was a bold, daring sort of
fellow, first getting into scrapes
through having almost too much cour-
age and enterprise, but invariably get
ting out again by means of the same
qualities; while Frank was exceeding
ly cool and thoughtful, fond of study
for his age, and much more mature
than we other two. For myself, there
was nothing whatever remarkable
about me, but / was more like Jack
than Frank.
Nevertheless, we were great friends
in spite of our perhaps on
account of it-and never had serious
quarrels, The only disputes that arose
among us were caused by Franks pro-
volRng habit of showing the weak fea-
lures of the impossible schemes con
stantly proposed by Jack or myself, to
which we naturally objected; but ns
we "supped sorrow" when we had our
own way, and met with success by fol
lowing his advice, we usually ended in
adopting his plans, which always turned
out to be the best.
Sometimes, however, we carried our
point against all he could say; and SC
it was on the morning speak of.
Boys, l tell you what let's do
burst forth Jack, in his headlong fash
ion. Let's climb Crow Hill, and spend
the day in Keesaw Cave"
Grow Hill would be called small
mountain anywhere but in Baalbec
which the inhabitants of neighboring
towns laughed at as the place where
folks never made any butter because
there wasn't level ground enough tc
set the pans for cream"
While this statement may possibly
be slightly exaggerated, still it is {
fact that about the only difference in
Daalbec land is between high hills anG
low ones.
Halfway up the hill was Keesav
Cave, a favorite resort for summer pic
mic parties, but not exactly pleasant
place in a northern winter, with at Least
three feet of snow on the ground.
Jacks proposal suited me well, ant
even Frank did not make nearly sc
many objections as he might, although
he assured us that we should certainly
come to grief in some way before WI
returned, and were likely to have more
trouble than we expected, both going
up and coming down.
THE fact that the thermometer was
in the vicinity of zero did not enter
into our calculations in the least. l.
q New EngIander is prevented from
making winter excursions by the cold
he will rarely make any'at all.
So, an hour later, protected by thicl
overcoats and fur caps, we started out
dragging behind us sled loaded will
provisions, cooking utensils, blanketS
and other supplies. Besides this, eacl
of us had light Ratchet, and Franz
carried his gun, for, as an enthusiastic
naturalist, he never missed a chance o.
securing specimens.
Following the highway mile or two
we turned off into woodroad, which
took us to the base of the hill. Herr
our difficulties began.
There was a narrow, winding patti
leading up the steep ascent, but ne
signs of it could now be seen, since
the whole slope was a smooth surface
of snow, broken at frequent intervals
by great granite lodges, interminget
with closely-growing trees and bushes
Straight up!" said Frank. That.
the only way"
We saw that as plainly as he did
and without any delay began the climb
which was not an easy one by any
means. The lower part of the snow
was packed perfectly solid by the wind
but upon this the last storm had de
posted another layer, still loose ant
SOFT to be toilsomely waded through,
can testify that climbing that hill
was no joke. Every few feet we woulc
come to a line of bare, perpendicular
rock, up which one of us would scram
bic, afterward pulling the sled after
him, with the assistance of the other,
pushing from below.
The rocks being high and the sleC
heavy, our task was tremendously hare
so hard that we were obliged to 81
down upon the top of every ledge tC
get breath enough 10 attack the mex
one.
If we had been doing this as work
we should have thought ourselves TIT
most abused boys in the world; anC