St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-08-16
Wind Cave of the Black Hills.

The recent decision of the Commits
sioner Of the General Land Office at
Washington in the famous case which in
volved the title of Wind Cave has
awakened interest in this Black Hills
wonder. The ground upon which the
cave is situated was claimed both by the
South Dakota Mining Company, as
mineral location, and by ]. d. Mcdonald
as homestead. The decision of the
Land Commissioner throws both liti-
giants out of court and the valuable pro-
perty will undoubtedly pass into the
hands Of the Government. This will suit
the Black Hills people very well. The
cave has not been advertised in the last
few years, owing to the uncertainty Of
the title, and it is generally looked upon
as good thing Tor the Black Hills to
have the matter settled.
Wind Cave is situated near the famous
Hot Springs of the Black Hills, and
drive Of about ten miles in one of those
old time tally-hos brings the visitor to
the "tenth wonder of the world" Wind
Cave was discovered in 1877 by an odd
character called Lame Johnnie. !"
Johnnie was one of the many in the early
days Of the Black Hills who got their
living by holding up the Deadwood-
Cheyenne stage coach. He was invited
to "necktie" party one night and never
lived to contest the claim OF his priority
to the discovery of Wind Cave.
In 1884 a cowboy discovered a small
opening, Sx1O, in the bottom OF the
gulch, from which the wind was rushing
with great force. The hole was blasted
out large enough to permit an entrance
to the first single chamber, and here the
development of the cave rested until
1890, when, the ground having been
located as mineral claims men were put
to work exploring and blasting out other
chambers. AT the present time fully 100
miles of passageways have been opened
up and 5000 chambers, varying in size
from 12x12 to over three acres have been
discovered.
Only three of the fourteen routes have
been opened to the public-The Garden
of Eden, Fair Grounds and Pearly Gates.
The thousands of people who have come
from all parts of the world to see this
wonder pronounce it unlike anything else
on the globe, differing in formation and
scenery from all other caves. Biologists
say it is an extinct geyser, and Prof
Merrill of the Smithsonian Institution
says the formation is unknown. The
guides have therefore had to furnish their
o wn names for the peculiar formations
and they point out to the visitor the
beautiful "box work, pop corn and frost
work" Wind Cave also contains the
formations of other noted caves, such a:
the stalactites, stalagmites goodies
quartz, calcite, crystals and mineral
bearing rock.
There are eight different tiers of cham
bers. In the first tier is found the water
formation-beautiful, clear stalactite
hanging from the ceiling, and some con
Meeting with the stalagmites on the floor
The second tier is the trostwork-a banl
of snow, composed OF tiny, fine, needle
like crystals of the purest white, from
one-fourth OF an inch to two inches deep
The third tier is the very delicate box
work, the prevailing formation of tn
cave. In the fourth tier the boxwork i
little heavier and transparent. TIL
fifth is the popcorn formation. In tn
sixth and seventh tiers the box-work
still heavier with goodies and all color
ofcrystals; and in the eighth tier, whic
is 500 feet below the entrance, the forms
ton is heavier than anything seen befor,
and is indigo blue in color and dazzlin
to the eye.
The cave retains temperature c
about 450 all the year. the air being DIR
and fresh. The rising or falling Of tn
barometer governs the thrush or Out
going of the air through the entrance t
the cave, which is of itself wonder.