The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-11-16

attack the wall with their picks, not
knowing what sort Of flood they might
let loose il they succeeded in breaking
through the obstacle that barred their
progress.
Leaving the cave, they retraced their
steps to the point where the stream falls
into the earth. With them they carried
long poles and ropes, wishing to deter
mine, ii possible, the depth of the chasm
into which the river was pouring.
In this they were unsuccessful, and for
time both men were on the point of
giving up their quest. Johnson, how
ever, is made of stern stuff, and finally
decided to have himself lowered into the
rush of waters as they took the plunge
downward into the unknown depths of
the earth.
All Alone in the World.
In vain Peterson endeavored to per-
suade his companion to give up the plan,
but Johnson, saying he was all alone in
the world, with no one looking to him
for support. declared he would make the
try anyway, just for luck.
Tying a rope around his waist and
giving the other END to Peterson to hold,
he entered the river a short distance
above the point where it drops into the
earth, and began wading directly toward
the chasm.
Just as he reached the spot where the
water drops straight down Johnson en-
deavored to shout something to Peter
son, but the thunder Of the stream
drowned his voice. SO he raised one hand
above his head and began waving 1t at
the man on the bank. who thinking
Johnson was drowning, let go the rope in
his excitement. This probably saved the
life of johnson.
when felt myself at the place where
the water dropped into the earth, felt
mighty shaky for minute, I can tell
you," said johnson, in an interview later
on. But as felt myself pulled down.
down, down, had the good sense to hold
my breath. else should. in all proba bill
ity, have been drowned. The drop was
not a long one-about Ii or 20 feet.
should say, and then my feet touched
bottom.
Carried Into the Earth.
IAN this time, of course, was being
carried further and further into the
earth, but that did not bother me to
any great extent, for at the time I did
not realize that Peterson had let go of
the end of the rope that was tied to my
waist.
my head, after had been borne along
for a rod or SO. came out of water, and I
at once opened my eyes. What saw
now seems like dream and it is hard
to make myself believe was really there,
instead of having read about it in a
book of fairy tales.
Instead of there being simply tun-
mel or underground passage, as I had
supposed, there was a lake, upon the
edge of which stood and gazed in won-
der. This lake is possibly half a mile
wide. with a. strong current flowing d.
rectly through it. from north to south,
and judged-correctly. 1 found later
that the inlet and the outlet We're the
hole through which had come and the
cave where we first tried to proceed UP
the river.
1T was standing In vast cave. only
just high enough in some places for me
to stand upright in. and at other points
the earth and rock roof was many feet
above my head. The ceiling. If may
call it the ceiling, sloped away to the
edges of the lake on all sides, except in
one place. which I subsequently found
was the outlet.
Light Enters the Cavern.
Considerable light entered the cavern
through the hole into which the water
Of the river was pouring, and by this I