Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1901-10-05
SANTA FE, N. M, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1901
A NATURAL WONDER.
A Gave in the Sacramento Mountains That
Is q Marvel.

There is in the Sacramento mount
aims most interesting cave about
which little has been said or written.
1t is practically unexplored and is
known only to people in Its vicinity,
yet upon further exploration it may
become famous.
Travellers going from Captain, N.
M, to Fort Stanton, will see near the
edge Of the military reservation
large, round hole about fifty feet in
diameter slanting into the side OF the
hill This exposes a series of under
ground caverns, the extent of which
has yet to be determined. The first
floor in the entrance is reached at
depth of about sixty feet, from which
other passages open out at irregular
descents, some of them leading down
to an estimated depth of 1.5oo feet be-
low the surface.
One of the first passages to be en-
tered, known as the bridal chamber
is at the left. From it's large, vaulted
entrance it leads int chain OF dark
and silent rooms separated by small
entrances. Following these from room
to room the explorer at last sees sum
light again, imagining he has discov-
cred another exit, but to his great
surprise finds himself again at the
starting point, having Travelled in
circle Another passage down from
this point leads to chambers contain
ing large ponds of water, whose dl-
mensions one does not have an OPP
portunity to explore. Further down
a large abyss is entered, which seems
like a little underground world. 1t
has it's hills and valleys, lakes and
streams, ripples and waterfalls, with
the dark earth roofing it over like a
cloudy sky Many rooms open off
from this the most interesting being
the crystal cavern, where immense
stalactites hang far down from the
roof and reflect the light from the ex-
plorers lantern with rainbow colors
into pools of water on the floor.
A stream is soon discovered, which
rushes by leaps and leaps down into
dark hole. This can be followed for
a distance of several miles, the trip
being made in a small boat which was
made for exploring the cave by SOL
diers from the fort. At last this perl
lous voyage is suddenly checked by
the overhanging walls of the cave
which approach the water so closely
that the boat cannot pass. Where
this little stream ends and what be-
comes of it's cold, clear water one can
only surmise. In following this water
course, which runs under the CAPTAIN
mountains, the explorer passes under
another stream. Boneta creek, which
flows continually on the surface.
Only one entrance to this cave has
ever been found, but there are evil
dences that it has other openings
through the earth's crust. This the
ory is strengthened by the fact that
fresh air currents are constantly STIR
ing through the cave. 1t Is said that
a party of Indians were once driven
into this cave by the soldiers, who
placed guard over the entrance to
catch the hedskins when they would
be starved out. After two weeks the
soldiers abandoned the watch, only to
discover that the Indians had few
days previous turned up Unexpectedly
in the Captain mountains. The suppo-
sition is that they swan down the un-
derground stream and came out at
some exit unknown to the white men.
But few systematic explorations OF
this cave have ever been made. The
most successful examination of 1t was
made several years ago by a young
lieutenant and a volunteer squad OF
soldiers. They followed the stream as
far as white men ever went. Many
curiosity seekers have gone down
short distance. Few people are willing
to subject themselves to the dangers
| of such an expedition in order to sat
isfy their curiosity or for the love OF
the adventure. 1t is a perilous under
taking. 1t is easy to lose ones way
among the dark chambers and the ex-
| plorer is in constant danger in the
darkness of falling into deeper abys'
ses where, perhaps, a rushing stream
| would bear him off into the bowels o.
| the earth. The excitement and inter
est in such an exploration is great
others may soon undergo the danger
| and tell us more about the cave. Ther
it's dark and silent chambers viii
again resound with the tread of man
and like other attractions in the Sac
ramento mountains, this mammoth
cave may be turned into a pleasure
resort and be the destination of dali!
excursion trains and be advertised fal
and wide by the railroad companies.
Electric Railroad Wreck in West vir
ginia.
Huntington, w. ", Oct. 5.-Tw
electric cars on the Camden Interstat
railway collided today in heavy TO-
land nine persons were injured, on
fatally.