The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-15

- INCE the secretary of the interior
has rendered the recent decision
setting Wind cave, South Dakota,
~ apart as a national reservation,
there is more than ordinary inter-
est taken in the great cavern. The
very fact that the government has de-
clared II a national wonder, ana Tor that
reason retains II for the enlightenment
and delight Of the public, at once gives the
place national notoriety. According 10 the
Minneapolis Journal the cave was discov-
cred by cowboy in 1854, when he was rid
ing the range. While in the ravine in
which the cave is located his horse sud
denly became frightened from roaring
noise coming from cliff of rocks near
by. The cowboy alighted from his morse,
and upon examination found that there
was hole in the side of the emhankment,
though only little over foot in diane
ter, from which wind was rushing with
great force. From this wind the cave
derived It's name The cowboy then pro-
cured some of his friends and together
they blasted away the rocks near the sur
face until a man might enter, the cavern
being larger farther in. one of the ven
turesome cowboys tied a rope around his
body and while those outside held the
rope he climbed in and down. against
terrific wind and into utter darkness. 1t
was necessary for him TO crowd and
squeeze himself through some small crew
ices, although there were occasionally
large apartments. After lowering himself
fifty feet the wind had ceased blowing,
and upon lighting a match he found that
the walls were covered with what re-
sembled a heavy frost, which glittered
and sparkled brilliantly
The cattlemen and pioneers of that To-
cality thought of the cave only as a tenn
porary attraction and had no desire to
claim 1t under any government right,
Until 1890 It thus remained unclaimed
and practically uBexplored. only as the
daring and venturesome visitors deved
into its mysterious labyrinths In that
year II was located a mineral ground.
and the work of opening the cave as an
attraction was commenced Since then
IL Is claimed that 100 miles of passages
have been explored without reaching the
end. and 5000 different chambers have
been discovered, varying in size from
12xl2 feet to about three acres. These
chambers have been named by guides
and visitors appropriate to the forma-
tons and crystals upon the walls, or upon
suggestions of tourists exploring them,
among the most prominent being Brides
Chamber" Red Room" White Room"
M L. Church." &c. A Il. Hail." Fair
Ground" "Johnstones Campground" and
"Dante's Inferno They have already
discovered fourteen different routes in
the cave. only three of which have been
thoroughly opened to the public and made
easily accessible, viz. THE Garden of
Eden" Fair Grounds" and "Pearly
Gates"
The whole cave, with its numerous by
ways. yawning chasms and craggy walls,
has the appearance of what might be an
extinct geyser. There are assures or
crevices parallelng one another all the
way from fifty to 300 feet apart. which
are connected by cross passages. There
are also eight different tiers of chambers
everything one another. In the first tier
you find the water formation-beautful
clear stalactites like icicles hanging from
the ceiling, some Of which connect with
the stalagmites below
The second tier has the frost work-liiee A
bank OF srow-composed Of Jns. fine, need
leli<e crystals of the purest white, being
from one-fourth to two inches in depth.
The third tier Is the very delicate box work,
the prevailing formation Of the cave. In
the fourth tier the box work is little
heavier and OF a transparent color. TIE
fifth is the popcorn formation. In the
sixth and seventh tiers the box work is
stlll heavier. with goodies and all colors or
crystals while in the eighth tier. which Is
800 feet below the entrance, the formation
is heavier than anything seen before. and
Is indigo blue In color and dazzling TO the
eye.
The cave is perfectly dry and the air
pure. sweet and inv.gorating. especially 10
asthmatic people The temperature Is
about forty-nve degrees al the time The
pure, fresh air Is caused boy the Hind az the
entrance which blows outwardly az times
and again blows in. changing according 90
the rising and falling 81 the barometer. IL
was I'm this cave that Johnstoue. tho IA
nous mind-roader. searched while blind
folded for a hidden pin. finally hnding 80
after searching three days and nights fno
cave Is located ten miles from Hot SPRING
and is reached by daily stage coaches. IL
has been under contest for the last shree
years. ono party claiming Il az minefai
land and another as agricultural land' "aen
attempting 20 carry out tho governmental
provisions FOR acquiring title. and between
Thorn thsy have built hotel ioS eao4h
over the entrance 20 the cave. aud nave
made many and expensive interior irnI r sFe
ments. \ warden viii no Doubt be az one ono.
appointed by the governmrh, 10 t"Nc
-, AMI g. s. exuectcl that more or
the surrounding Landscape ~1i De inel'd-
Cd IN the government reservation