The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-29
CAVE EXPLORATION.
Boys Who Lost and Found Themsclves-Tho
First Among Cave Explorers.

First Among Cave Explorers.
Two boys OF Sullivan county, who undertook
trip in Bnrnum's cave the other day, became lost
in the maze Of passage ways The neighbor-
hood turned out TO search for them and there was
some anxiety before the boys at last made their
way unaided 10 the mouth OF the cave ten hours
after they had entered IT, They had discovered
how easy II is 10 become lost in a cavern without
a guide, and found one of the reasons why cave
exploration has been slow process
At least seventy-fve years elapsed after tho
discovery of Mammoth Cave before fair idea
was gained of the extent and position of It's pas
sage ways Within the past fifteen years con-
siderable number of new galleries and chambers
have been added To the map The guides at Luray
and other caves usually willing 10 follow the
lead OF some knowing tourist who magincs that
he can retrace his steps to the itrancc Their
experience is that, after few turns of the path,
the amateur guide is hopelossly bewildered and re.
signs his leadership. Every important cave has its
stories of men who have lost theii way in the in
ticate passages. Old Matt, one OF the guides at
Mammoth Cave. could never tell without a shuddcr
of the time when his lamp went out and he found
he had no matches He determined to grope
his way out, but suddenly his staff dropped into
n pit OF unknown depth and the old black guide
swooned on the edge OF the Chasm. When he
for the path and TO feel for the side walls with his
hands When he came to an intersecting path
he had TO trust TO his memory to guide him In the
right direction, and most OF the time he did not
have TO go far before he came TO some familiar
object, such as a seat OF a peculiarly shaped sta
lagmite that confirmed his judgment showed
him that he was on the wrong road
The guides at Mammoth Cave usually stop
at Wandering Willic's Spring long enough to
naTate that 1t was named for blind negro boy
who wanted to the cave for himself" He
managed 10 get into the all alone. Of course
lost his way, and when he was found he was quietly
sleeping on the bank of the little spring that has
ever since borne his name
The Frcnchman, f. A. Marte who has done
moro than any other man to improve methods
of cave exploration, takes the greatest precau-
tons 10 avoid the possibility of losing his way
during his pioneer expeditions in caves He is
man of large means pays all the expenses of his
explorations himself and usually has from ten
to fifteen assistants He catries compasses 10
make surveys for his maps and lays down his
routes paper as nc advances He marks all
the routes of ingress with white paint and carries
hunting horns and whistles with which TO signal
TO the men in his party. He also carries finder
TO kindle fire and, il need be, take the place of
matches which apt to become damp.
The instinct Of animals sometimes leads them
out OF the depths of caves from which man not
knowing the route would hardly escape alive
An illustration Of this fact is the story DR. Hovey
and would boldly follow the explorer the remocst
bounds One day the dog lost himself IN gallery
ne nnnef'ook 10 explore on ms own account our
returned to the hotel. The next morning the dog
was found sitting by the lamp, patiently waiting
for mid. No sooner. however. had he been carried
over the river than he ran away again, and was
missing for two days, and then appeared on top Of
he bsS ss Of
swan rivers and threaded intricate passages.
He was guided by his mysterious gift of orienta-
bowels Of the earth whence he started. The scent
that took him To the only outlet Is probably similar
to that which pilots homing pigeons on their voy-
II is not commonly known that for many years
after the discovery Of Mammoth Cave the entire
work of exploration was practically in the hands
Of negro slaves the property Of the man who owned
the cave. Sometimes they would come to an OBJ
stacle that barred the passage such as a great
limestone rock or a yawning crevasse across the
way. Such obstacles would often stop explora-
ton in that direction for years though beyond the
obstruction there were likely Ia he Of beaut-
iul chambers and many miles OF passageways
Thus it happened that for years nothing was
known Of TINT ls5s, part Of the cave lying beyond
struction was known for over twenty vears before
it was crossed. Then one day, in 1887, the negro
cave explorer Stephen. and some of his fellows
dragged to the place the trunk Of small tree. and
on this rather dangerous bridge Stephen crawled
across the abyss Then began the explorations
that revealed one of the most wonderful and ex-
,ensive parts Of Mammoth Cave The abyss was
found later to he $50 feet deep
inaugurated by Martel, these difficulties are not
permitted TO thwart the work Of discovery. He
always removes distractions II II is possible to
do so. His force Of men uses hammers. pick axes
and dynamite for clearing passages. Dyna
,uitc, however is used with extreme cautlon
and only as las, resort in removing distractions
MartPl l a used
by gymnasts and is lowered into abysscs by his
men for The purpose Of exploring ,he walls Gnd
TO other tiers Of galleries. his thorough methods
Of cave study are the reasons why Mnrtel has adj
vanced the knowledge OF caves more than any
other man. He SAYS that mere chance hes throw n
in our way about all the knowledge that has been
gained in caves, and he looks forward to more
important results from patient and thorough
study Of them.
This explorer has now thoroughly studied
about thirty French caves. besides extending
his labors into suhterranean Algeria and Greece
One result Of his work has been to dispel the iu-
sion Of those who regarded the rivers here and
there that seem to spring full grown 10 the light
OF day as originating only in largc subterraDean
lakes, His researches have confirmed the view
small rivulets filtering through tn" upper strata
and meeting at last 10 make tn 9 large stream
which somewhere finds an outlet on the surface.
Martel discovered new type of cave in France.
Most caves as is well known. are exCavated by
the action Of water, carrying carbonc acid gas in
dissolving limestone but this cavity, which is
about $50 feet in length Is in solid basalt 1t
seems 70 he akin to the tubular cavcrns that have
been found on the Hawaiian Islands in lava flows
where the CONCEALED surface Of the flow stands
as roof while the liquid lava within has escaped.
Cave exploration IL Child's play. Some
men have special love and fitness for il and they
alone are adequate TO the work which requires
the training OF the man Of science the agility
and strength Of the gymnast and the heart that
is undaunted by hardship and peril. Cave cXplora
ton is passion with some men, just as mountain
climbing is the greatest delight Of the shining
lights Of the Alpine clubs. But there are many
more explorers who give their attention tn. noun
tains than have been attracted to this more recent
DhaSe al exploration known AS RrOttOlOgy