The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-10

The Wellington caves in New South
Wales are remarkable not only as being
among the first discovered in the colony
but also as being the only ones in which
fossil remains have been found thereby
establishing their prehistoric antiquity.
The town Of Wellington. in the vicinity
Of which the caves are situated. is In the
western district. about 2N miles from
Sydney. and is kind Of western sanato
rum being nearly go feet above sea
level. on tire western margin Of the south
ern lakeland The township is divided
into two portions by the waters Of the
Macquaric. and bounded on either side by
ranges Of steep hills. on the highest point
OF which mount Arthur is catru OF
stones made by Sir Thomas Mitchell when
engaged in the work OF exploring and
surveying this portion OF the colony. Ihe
caves We're discovered by Sir Thomas
Mitchell I'm lSsg while examining the lime
stone cliffs on either side OF the river.
The limestone everywhere presents
naked and rugged surface, composed of
pointed. weather-worn blocks. betW cen
which are small crevices leading TO caves
and assures. From these crevices." says
Sir Thomas Mitchell. "a warm air
cends, accompanied by a smell peculiar
10 the caves. The worn appearance OF
the external rock, resembling half dis
solved ice is very remarkable, particu-
larry near the largest caverns.'
The ~revfce forming the entrance 10 the
caves is about le0 feet above the river
level and IS easily reached by we'll
constructed road.
The principal attraction to the majority
OF visitors Is the Great cave. II IL APP
preached by steep and rugged opening,
and consists of a spacious and lofty vault
ed chamber, ornamented by an immense
staiactlte. The passage descends from
hence considerable distance. and as the
aeyft IN ~ NJ. 10 K
~ covered with loose. dry red earth, which
rises In fine dust at every step. In one
place, behind the great stalactite. the
earth is of white color. Here, when the
caves were first explored. one of Sir
Thomas Mltchelrs companions unexpect-
eddy sank TO the waist to his great alarm.
Passing through an opening 70 the left
of the stalactite an abrupt descent OF
about twenty feet leads to a smaller cav
ern. with a level floor OF dry red earth Of
considerable thickness Al the end Of this
cave further progress is barred by deep
assures, at the bottom OF which is water
OF unknown depth. one remarkable fea-
ture Of the two chambers Is the massive
and unbroken appearance Of the roof and
walls. suggesting the idea that the cham
bers mad been excavated out Of the solid
rock The red earth is supposed to he a
sediment deposited by the water former
~ flowing through the caves
About eighty feet TO the west Of the
Great cave is the Breccia cave. one of the
most important and interesting. from a
scientific point of view, vet discovered in
Australia. It Is a kind ~ deep pit or
well and from its small size and the diff
ficulty Of access Is not much frequented
by visitors The entrance Is effected by
means Of ladders to the first landing
place a depth OF seventeen feet From
here Il further descent of about eleven
feet is made between two nearly vertical
walls OF rock landing midway in an ir-
regular assure. extending nearly north
and south. Crawling hence through a
narrow tunnel in the solid rock. q small
chamber twelve feet high. is entered. The
floor Is Of red earth. of considerable depth
the upper portion containing large mum
bers of bones
II is stated that when Sir Thomas
Mitchell Reached the mouth OF Brcccia
cave one of his assistants. named Rud-
kin. volunteered TO go down and see
what was at the bottom. He was low
cred bv rope, which proved 20 he Of in
sufficient length Another rope was low
cred TO him and this was made fast to a
projection ia the side Of the pit With
this all he began further descent.
when, happily for science, but unfortu-
nately for Rudkin the projection to
which the rope had been fixed gave way.
and he was precipiJated to the bottom,
something striking him OF the head as ne
fell Thinking this To he the stone 20
which he had fastened the rope he picked
1t up and was astonshed TO find IL was
Ia reality bone. Subsequently the