The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-08-12
DAKOTA'S WIND CAVE
UNITED STATES OBTAINS POSSES
SION OF ONE OF AMERICAS
GREATEST WONDERS
LOCATED NEAR HOT SPRINGS
Cavern Is Said to Extend Under
Ground for Il Distance
of Some Ninety
Miles

For years one of the greatest glories
OF the United States mas been exploited
as q private enterprise, and its beauues'
therefore only meagrely made known TO
the world at large. The magnhcent
Wind Cave, twelve miles from HOT
Springs S. D., is no longer under control
Of the two men who discovered it, closed
over its entrance, and made from it
fortune by charging an admission fee TO
those who wished to make the journey
through its succession of corridors,
chambers and causeways The United
States government has secured control
Of the cave, the majestic extent ana
wonderful formations Of which have
been but little described and seldom
pictured A deputation of officials, as
told in the press dispatches a few days
ago, mas been placed in charge of the
cave. and will modernze the methods OF
handling it and create more facilities
for seeing it's startlingly beautiful forRla-
tions and for gaining an entrance to its
lower depths.
a Philadelphia Record correspondent
recently made a visit to Wind Cave
passing through the first seven miles of
its corridors and auditOriums, each mile
presenting more beauty and more OF
unique formations than the preceding.
As at present managed but seven miles
Of the ninety miles Of passageways and
chambers which have been invaded by
discoveries are open to sightseers. Many
OF the most gOrgeous!y altared and tes-
sellated rooms are accessible only after
considerable eXertion, but under the
handiwork of the governments agents
these viii have passa geways opened or
bridges thrown across the narrow
chasms, so that the trip can be made not
only with safety, but comfort.
Zach uprSOO in the marty was attired
IN rough clothing and wore a small cap
OF rubber cloth, for, while there is but
little dripping water in the cave, that
which is met with is very cold. There
exist but few spots where the footing is
not dry and hard, and a complete rubber
outfit, such as is required in Mammoth
Cave, is unnecessary. Equipped with
large supply of candles, the party en-
tered the small log cabin at the base Of
the slope at which point the cave opens
at the surface of the ground. Immedi-
ately upon entering the cabin one IS
struck by the roaring noise at the rear,
the sound approaching that of a high
wind soughing through tree tops 1t is
this prevalent wind which has given the
cave its name. The power of it is sucn
that without a covering for the mouth
Of the cave one would find difficulty in
forcing himself into the entrance. A re-
markable fact is that once inside the
cave the wind is not felt
The outer door was carefully closed,
and then, one at a time the members of
the party We're parsed through an inner
door on a large platform, the combined
strength of two men being required to
close the door after each person en-
tered. The most intense darkness pre-
vailed until all were inside and standing
upon the platform. Then matches were
StT M cd 70 ha ba
entire absence of wind caused by the
shutting off of it's outlet was immedi-
ately noticed in the steady flare of the
small lights. These also disclosed an
aperture at the end of the platform
about the width of an ordinary well A
rude ladder led downward into the Sly
gian blackness. About forty rounds
brought the party to the end, and then
slight slope led still further down.
ward, at the end of which an uncouth
flight Of steps still maintained the down.
ward course. Nearly 100 steps were thus
taken when what might be called the
level of the cave was reached, for from
this point the slope toward the interior
Of the earth is gradual, and so slight as
not to require eXertiOn either in descend
ing or ascending.
The first of the peculiar formations to
be found in this wonderful work of
Ah~tAlS II IOOIl dDOuI ZUNOU 1Get IN
slze but its appearance at once strikes
one from the character of the formation
Of its walls The entire side walls and
cell ng are of "boxwork,' consisting of
small squares, from two to four inches
in diameter and about the same in depth,
opening outward and possessing the gen.
eral appearance of the tiers of boxes In
a postofice The formation is the first
process of capitalization, the CRYSTALS
being very fine and of a reddish brown,
similar to the color of the surface soil
and rock. From it's appearance this
room has been called the "postoffice,"
and in the boxes repose the cards of
thousands of persons who have visited
the cave.
Two other chambers next to this pos
sess the boXlike formation, each showing
a greater antiquity than the preceding
by the growing whiteness of the crystal
hzation. Then comes Odd Fellows hall.
$50 feet below the surface, and a much