Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1902-06-26
GREAT OREGON CAVES.

world are in Oregon; in Josephine
county, far up in the depths of the
Cascade mountains; 45 miles from the
railroad These great and remarkable
labyrinths lie in the midst of forest
solitude, are reached only by a mar.
row trail; and are comparatively un-
explored. Remote and undisturbed
the great caves lie, remarkable, won
derful to the greatest degree, yet al
most unknown except to those who
live and dwell near about them.
A few years ago hunter pursued
bear through the southern Oregon
mountains. He followed it to its den
and was led into the mouth of these
wonderful caves. Following into the
opening the hunter was led into an
endless labyrinth of passages, tun-
nels, halls and cavens, all of limestone
of purest white and the most beautiful
brillisncy
There are two entrances to the caves,
one above the other and about $50
feet apart on the mountain side, form
ing practically two caves, the explorer
can climb from one to the other on the
interior. The only difference between
the upper and the lower cave is that
the upper one is possessed of fine
stalactite formations, while in the
lower one none appear, Entering the
lower cave the explorer finds himself
in a small hallway, from which an
endless number of passages ramify
into the depths of the mountains.
Following these one will find himself
being led through tunnels that at times
open up wide and high enough to ad-
nit several teams abreast, while at
other times they are so low and mar
row as to be passed through only on
hands and knees A strong current Of
air passes through these tunnels, max
ing it difficult to keep torch lighted,
and proving that there must be cor
responding outlet on the opposite
side of the mountain that has as yet
not been discovered.
There are no square chambers or halls
in the caves. Irregularity is mani
fest everywhere throughout them, and
in this particular they are unsurpass-
ed There are no parallel walls, few
straight ones, but corners are every
where. Beautiful views of stalactites
and stalagmites of limestone stand
out in bold relief against snow white
walls, and in the light of the explor-
er's torch, the crystals on the walls
and columns sparkle and glitter like
so many diamonds.
One of the wonders of the cave is
the DEVILS banquet hall. This is an
immense chamber that is found far
back about three -fourths of mile
from the lower entrance. 1t is a large
circular hall, 150 feet across, and
with domed ceiling that stands 60
feet from the floor at the highest
point, with long and brilliant stalac-
tites hanging like extravagant floral
decorations from every point above.
On each side of the immense room and
opposite each other are the two arch
ed entrances of the great hall. Stand
ing in one of these entrances and gaz-
ing across with uplifted torch, the
explorer witnesses sight he will
never forget. Beautiful, yet awe-in-
spring and almost grewsome, is the
spectacle presented.
The dismal shadows from the flick
ering lights, leap hither and yon
about the walls and ceiling and i'm
part a ghoulish dance-like aspect.
Multitudes Of little streams trickle
down the walls and fill the hail with
ripping music, pleasant for devils,
perhaps, but not at all such for super
stitious explorers; and by the way,
nearly all the explorers of these caves
find that they are superstitious in
some degree so long as they are in the
caves. But the music! As one looks
and listens they can easily imagine
that the devil is holding high carni.
val in his favorite banquet hall. One
can see the myriad little imps as they
caper in and about the dark corners
and crevices of the great hall. Up
and down they dance, swinging their
arms in fiendish glee until the explor-
er gets enough and makes his retreat,
but the devil and his imps continue
to make merry and the dance goes on
Just how far these caves have been
penetrated and the winding passages
explored, is not known, but probably
no exploring party has ever gone more
than mile into the bowels of the vast
rock mountain. Distance in these
caves is something that cannot be-
measured with accuracy The sub
terranean openings wind in and out,
and turn and twist with endless varia.
tions. From single room or hall,
a half dozen low and narrow passages
may ramify. Some Of these openings
lead out into other stone walled,
stone-ceiled, snow-white apartments
some, after describing a curve, or af,
ter making many short turns, and
acute angles return 10 the game room
Some Of the openings lead down 10 un.
known depths, while others lead tc
Passages aloft Beyond any doubt the
whole mountain is one vast honey.
comb Of limestone, and many year,
will pass before they will be com
pletely explored, in truth they may
never be. For any party of explorer,
to enter the caves without a guild,
would be risky, a very risky undertak
ing. IL one once became farily en-