Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-11-24
RIGHT OVER THE EDGE,

Lower yourself gently over the edge,
winding a leg around the rope as You
do so. and then drop awJy If you do
not hold fast you viii do a slide be-
side which the slide Of life In q circus
is q journey OF delight. Your drop
would terminate on big shiny smooth
slab Of limestone. which could give you
swift and exciting descent into
little lake, the waters OF which are
about as cold as anything can be and
not be frozen.
But don't let your hands and legs
slip on the Shiny rope and you are all
right. OF course you cannot very well
carry a lighted candle with YOU while
going down and 50 the dark descent
has an the uncertainty ~ trip blind
folded The sensation closely APP
proaches that experienced when, In
nightmare. sou are bound hand and
foot ana someone is pushing you over
the edge of a precipice.
The rope Is about 20 feet long Il
seems longer. but IL Is not Going up,
one would be willing 10 swear II was
so.
when your candle is lighted at the
end Of the descent you find yourself In
by far the most beautiful chamber OF
the whole chain. First step down
from your shelving rock and around
the edge Of the lake and then give
yourself up to admiration. The glisten-
ing white walls. pillared and carved by
nature In odd designs rise up to a
noble dome-shaped roof. Against one
wall and FED By trlckling drops from
the rocks, is the limpid lake clear with
marvellous transparency No water In
the world above Is so clear Only 10
feet Wide Is this little body OF water,
but 1t is a gem OF beauty.
WITHIN A NATURAL DAM.
a natural dam holds the lake within
bounds. but the cave continues 10 slope
away sharply Another gOod-sized
chamber. perhaps 200 feet long IL be-
yond the chamber OF the lake, and has
a descent from there Of 40 to 30 feet,
but IL offers no new spectacles. II Is
interesting chiefly because there are
many tiny openings In the walls
through which fresh air sucks Perhaps
here may bee found some time an en-
trance 10 the outer world
When one starts on the return trip
the wisdom Of bringing hin own ropes
As apparent II he had not so armed
the two Standard men who went
through the cave last July without
ropes I'm the chamber OF the lake
they had paused 20 use the huge apart
meut as q Photographic dark room and
10 change plates. The artist, very nat
uraly and properly, got chill So
be- went up the slippery rope first the
other man steadyng the rope from be-
low. Then the Photographic material
was hauled up laboriOusly and the
man below began the ascent Al that
moment his chill arrived, a little OF
schedule time. but vigorous for all that
The rope swayed and swung out over
the lake and the climbers ringers grew
colder and Sinner and number as he
tried 70 make progress When his
hands were about foot below the ledge
they gave out The rope was as n
soaked IN oil and grease, so slippery
was IL. To drop back was dangerous
lie held by his legs and meditated.
The artist poked himself through the
hole above hanging By his toes. and
threw a loop Of slender rope-used In
carrying Photographic material-down.
with this about his shoulders the chill
Is man. who felt like a monkey ON
very unsteady stick. rested until the
chill consented 10 retire Then ne
pulled himself over the ledge got into
the hole lay there and painted.
when the two az length emerged
from the cave they found kindly Mr..
Dumouchel just preparing TO Start
down after them From one of HE
claims q mile or so distant he had seen
them 80 90 the cave Alarmed by their
four-hours stay below De had started
20 their rescue.
THE STORY ABOUT TT.
That evening. IN his own snug little
about the cave.
1T was discovered IN lSS7" said no,
BY a prospector named Henry Near
shan. who, while sinking a prospect
hole. broke through the roof " the first