Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1900-03-28
HONEY In A CAVERN.
Unknown Riches Found on a Re-
markable Game Preserve.
Novelty within q Novelty In the
Ozark Mountains In Mis-
souri-six Feet of Solid
HoneycOmb.

A natural cave OF money - tHt idttst
addition to the riches of Col. Moses {.
Wetmore, of St. Louis. This cavern of
honey has just been discovered on Col.
Wetmore's 7,O0O-acre game preserve
in the wilds of fancy county, 60 miles
south of Springfield, Mo. 1t is a large
cave hidden from view in one of the
mostisolated spots of the Ozark noun
tain region.
The bees have probably had undis-
puted possession of the cave for many
years, for it appears TO be literally
filled with honey, just like Il hive in a
well-kept apiary. How far into the
side of the mountain this cave ex-
tends is an unsettled question. The
mouth of the ave is about six feet in
diameter and it presents a front of
solid h~oneycomb. While the bees APP
pear to be of the common species,
they are unusually hostile.
There are few wilder spots On earth
than the Ozark mountains in fancy
county. But few men have had the
bravery to approach the place. The
discovery was made by William Hunt.
who is in charge of Col. Wetmore's
game preserve as keeper. AS soon as
Hunt found the hidden treasure he
communicated with Maj. George II.
Mccain, of Springfield, who is asso-
ciated with Col. Wetmore in the own
ership and management of the pre-
serve. Maj. Mccain made a trip TO
fancy county to see the novel bee
hive, taking with him n party of
Springfield friends. Maj. Mccain
made as thorough an inspection as
the hostility of the bees would permit,
and he is now deyising plans for har-
vesting the honey. If this rave is like
the average Ozark mountain cavern,
il is all the way from one to two miles
in length, and if the honey is built
of il. The bees may have only woven
q web of honey at the front, or they
may have filled the entire space. This
is a question that will o be deter
mined, for Maj. McCann expects to
employ experienced b%cekeepers and
have a thorough exploration made.
This remarkable beehive is a novel;
ty within n novelty, for Col. Wet
more's preserve is well worth n thou
sand miles of travel to see. The col
onel and his associates have stocked
1000 acres with game. They have
animals. fish and birds of almost
every species, but they have made no
arrangements for bees. Now that ma
ture has supplied that omission the
game preserve is n m%enagerie such as
cannot he found elsewhere. A barbed
wire fence of II strands surrounds the
place, and White river, a most roman
tic stream. navigable for small boats,
flows through il. On a river bluff a
thousand feet above the water stands
THE Lodge" which shelters Col. Wet.
more and the distinguished visitors
who frequently accompany him to his
hunting precincts.
Col. Wetmore is the owner of the
bulN Hdlhlhb W. ihhNN NVhEANs II ~
located in THE Lodge" The finest
herd OF elk in the United States, il is
claimed. roams through the woods Of
this preserve. There are deer by the
hundreds. Wild turkeys are SO nu-
merous they cannot be counted. The
rivers are alive with fish. About the
only thing lacking is buffalo, and Col.
Wetmore and Maj. Mccain are now
negotiating for a herd. This preserve
is IS miles from the nearest railway
station, and IL is reached over as
rough n wagon road as can be found
anywhere in America. But here in
this wild spot "The Lodge" is carpet
ed with the softest Of velvet, the win
dows are draped with the costliest Of
curtains, there is a grand piano, a
mahogany sideboard, with a fortune
in silyerware, and many other furnish
ings that are not to be found else
where in this region.-Chicago Rec
ord.