The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-08-09
A CAVE OF GIANTS.
Remarkable Cavern Found IN
Providence Mountains Explored

Providence Mountains Explored.
From the New York Herald.
Seattle. Wash, Aug. IA NAM
moth cave has been discovered In
the heart of the Providence Mountains,
Southeastern California, which is nam
cd the "Cave of the Giants" and RI
walls in splendor and beauty other re-
nowned caverns of the globe. If graphic
descriptions are to be credited.
George L. Berg, who discovered the
cave and explored it's recesses, has
tolen nm his residence in Seattle. 1t
was Mr.. Berg's love for scenic beauty
which took him into the Providence
Mountains.
Looking across the Fo Shea pass
from Goldstone camp every evening
at sunset there are outlined on the
face of the immense limestone GIFTS
that form the northern wall of the pass
two giant masks, formed by the con-
tour of the rocks and the evening
shades. One face has the pose of a
bearded giant, with his head pillowed
on the brow of the mountains and
ewes closed in slumber. The other face
is that of n low browed, sallow check
ed and sullen Moor, with scraggy chin
beard and mustache, gazing Vacantly
into space. The great limestone cave
which has just been explored is un-
derneath and back of these sentinels.
The existence of the cave was reveal
ed to Mr.. Berg by an aborigine known
as Indian joe" who lived on the
west slope of the Providence range.
By markings on the ground he wildly
described the entrance leading to great
depths, where winged monsters lived.
Describing his exploration of the cave
with Charles Staubin, Mr. Berg said
1--WE found the cave as Indian joe
had described it. Great spire-like
peaks stand above the entrance, cast
ing long dark shadows down the preci-
pitous sides of the canons. 1t was
a long, hard climb to the large bal
cony at the entrance to the cave, which
overhangs a deep canon.
Had to Turn Back.
Our first trip was stopped by declivi-
ties we dared not attempt to descend
without ropes and graphing hooks, but
we saw enough to prompt a second
expedition.
1.-THE Sunday following our first visit
Staubin and l, accompanied by my
wife. who is an expert mountain climb
er. returned to the cave, prepared to
see more of it, This time we were
equipped with hooks and ropes and
abundance of candles and flash light
caera.
1--WE wound our way through one of
the several corridors, a distance of
hundreds of feet, coming on a main
hall or grotto that leads due south. The
last rays of daylight were soon left be-
hind, and with miners candles in our
hands we went down a gradual slope.
The floor was rough and sharp edged
crystals of lime ground beneath our
feet and cut our shoes. The roof soon
disappeared from view and the walls,
too. but they reappeared again fur
Their down to the width and hight of
an ordinary door. bringing us out on
which appeared to be a small balcony.
Our dim lights seemed like a mockery
in the gloom that hung about us like
a pail.
SuueaIE ut the Bats.
But we were not the only living
things. Attracted by our lights, shad-
owy forms circled around our heads.
We felt the flap OF their wings before
we discerned the dim outlines OF the
bats. These were the evil spirits
that had scared Indian Joe and drove
him from the cave. The squeals Of the
startled creatures reverberated
through the grotto. The echo OF our
own voices sounded like the clang Of
broken bells and gave US more OF a