The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-30
TALE OF AN ALASKAN CAVE
DISCOVERY or A SKIPPER ICEBoUND
ON THE YUKON
He Repen by killing Three Bears in It end,l
Tben Made out Some Ancient Pictures any
the walls which He Thinks May Throw
tit. -, ,ba History of the Natives.

I,,bt On the History of the Natives. ,
SEATTLE. Wash. July 22-Capt. ID. c. Bayse
OF the Standard Oil Companys Yukon River
steomer oil CITY was one OF the shippers caught
midway between Dawson and st. Michael by
the freezing OF the Yukon last October He
spent tho winter hunting and exploring. often
making long trips into the interior from the
stoomer On one OF these trips he had ali ex-
citing bear hunt and discovered traces OF an
cient Alaskan history that may prove valuable
when properly investigated.
"Tbc beginning OF last winter on the Yukon
found the stern wheel steamer OIL City mid
way between Dawson and st. Michael with a
big cargo OF oil on board" he said to THE Sun
correspondent. There were unmstakahls
signs OF an early closing OF the stream. In
consequence | ran the steamer into short
but deep stream that flows into the Yukon OPP
posite the Russian mission. We got every-
thing in GOOD order before the river finally
closed on Oct. 10.
1T was case Of killing time until the rver
opened six months later. and there were few
ways Of doing IL. Hunting was not good. a
game was scarce. but we had no choice. few
white grouse now and then. largo white
rabbit or a red fox were about the only targets
that presented themselves on an ordinary
days hunt. My companion on these trips was
usually Lin Que. the Americanized Chinese
steward OF the steamer. Lin had cut off his
queue and was a good Baptist. Moreover he
was fond Of hunting and did not mind carrying
the heavy pack OF provisions that sudden
changes In Alaskan weather made necessary
to have at hand always.
About midwinter we decided on longer
trip than usual. After hard mornings travel
over the snow. we finally made the crest Of a
low range OF white sandstone hills From tho
marks Of wear on their straight. white Sides
thronph the
judged that they had once been washed by a
mighty river We made detour for the rur-
pose OF reaching q higher ridge OF the same
kind OF rock and finally found ourselves in a
sort OF cove entirely shut off by rocks. except
for the entrance which we had made use o.
While was resting Lin went out on private
prospecting trip. l was soon aroused by hear
ing him call:
"Captainl Captainl Come long quick;
heapy hole in rock'
Il found him peerinR into what took to be-
the entrance TO bear or fox den. asked Lin
how far he had gone in and he replied about
twenty feet but that 1t was too dark TO SEQ
ANYTHING. I told him we had not lost any
care to look for one In 80 dangerous place.
Giving the Chin9waan my revolver with which
times les into the cave The report sounded ike
and VOTED %G patiently fer the
s f Sa sma boosa The Of sh sSt
erawlsd some six ieet and found ourselves il
square with high rock in the centre which
had evidently been used as table, On the
ing further back. we noticed the entrance to
somewhat larger chamber.
six balls Of fire gIaring out Of the darkness
directly ahead LIN moved his light to one
and and come ON" toward n me with rusR RI" Bda
Was almost upon me before remembered the
Winchester ! raised the weapon, and with No
have It. killed the bear. 'SSs', 40 'oV- "'u'
h oo had S seem Pss on OF F s avn
preaching; He took one hurried shot with HI.
was making for him in the loin. He threw
the and WHIPPING out his
nsa The " pa f!GS aeeT On H
kpiie in to the Mi could not shoot. a tie tie
G Chi 9E1f and the bear were too mixed W.
tho nesh about his arms SAT and limbs had F Ssea
badly torn, The other cub was easily killed.
and send Tin and our dog drivers ' after t tRs
AS, soon as the, Arctic sky indicated
to investigate our discovery. We hauled two
days rations. an, oil stove and blankets on
| The day was very cold and we were very tired
ais5 our FIVE hours TRIP Lin soon had Re.
pipe after this ,mea! that i CHANGED, to notice
made our discovery most interesting.
om Aft ter carefully ,Sn brushing of the wall with
a carefully drawn panorama, which judgedti
| be the history OF the people who occupied the
IN 3m T was th St Th first
| was very plain 1t showed three small boats,
with three people in each. putting out on
| stormy sea from a rugged coast On the Shors
stood crowd Of people waving farewell,
about three IsS further along was sno,hGr
The boats had evidently crossed the sea and 4
| were landing on low shore Between N.
seals The third drawing was four fect from
the second and showed the three boats coming
After examining these scenes closely came
70 the eopclusiop that the natives had tossed
RehrinS lea and ana come Up either the lnkon t
ths Yukon once flowed along the bluffs IN III,
s side OF which we found the cave. and sr'yrci
yc The The map shows low s
are fed by small river during the high water
s"2dsGn III This river is called the TaobakooE.
| Further investigation showed other
sketches. Of the chase after buffalo. deer, ear
with dogs and canoes. In none of the sketches
TTnns there any indication of sl"ds or snow.
| MS ltu me 10 wonder II the Yukon country ht
| that time had the same terrible winters il now
has, 1t seems strange that the ancient H..
| torian would forget the cold winters when lie
| WINS so accurate In putting in other details
l9yestigation OF the inner, room ,rr,yei
| equally interesting 1t had oubt"diy te"n
cut out years before and had conrave roof
| The walls were very smooth. Thre" hunks
| had been cut into the sandstone walls They
were shaped like canoes and the rock above
had been hewn ont in the shape OF a half noon
| FIVE by two and half feet. Tho walls were
| elahoratcy carved, There were monsters Il
| the sea and strange looking animals. \ COM
pass and square. quarter moon and numier
| OF stars decorated one side Of the room, In
one corner we found a deep well-ke hole that
| had evidently been used as reservoir for StoT-
| ing water NJ one time.
| Near this We found Chinese coin with 4
| square hole in the centre. II was diN"rert
from the ordinary Chinese. cash, Lin had lever
| seen anything like It before and said that IL
must be very old, | will have it eXamincdty
authorities on such matters and see II W!
| not give some clue to the ancient inhaNltaGr
| Of the Northland. In one corner NJ ~" 7fn
| lay nil OF bores. believed them TO b." rom
httE,, k..t.,