The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1903-04-09
NATURtI WONDER
IS THE ND CAVE.
Beautiful Cavern il Black Hills
Discovered By fugitive
from Justice.

d
Selected.
IHOT SPRINGS, 8. D., March 3d.
In view Of the fact that Wind
cave and its picturesque surroundings
have been convert6t into national
leak, public in.@rest-sn this snbterra.
mean wonder will doubtless be stimuIat-
ed to such an extent that it's fame will
spread throughout the entire country.
The bill establishing what is to be
known as the s'Wind Cave National
Park" has already become law.
The bill sets aside about 5000 acres
OF land in the Black Hills district OF
South Dakota and confers jurisdiction
OF the same upon the secretary of the
interior, with full power to lease the
big cavern underlying a portion OF the
lands and also to lease portions of the
land upon which buildings may be
erected tor the accommodation of visi-
tors. Homestead ers who have acquir-
ed rights in this tract ct land are to be
allowed to select other lands in lieu
thereof within the boundery OF the
State. The proceeds arising from the
leasing OF the cave and surrounding
tracts are to be paid into the treasury,
and 1t Is the intention of the interior
department. to use this fund in beauti-
tying and improving the park.
These lands are of the same nature
as those In the Yellowstone park, with
the exception that the geysers which
produced the wonderful cavern under
lying large part Of the lands em mbraced
In the park have become extinct, there
by leaving the dry excavations to be
filled with the pure All of the outer
world.
POWER FOR LIGHT PLANT.
By constructing dam across one OF
the canyons near the cave an artificial
lake can be formed, which in itself will
not only aid In making the place at
tractive, but will afford ample power
for an electric lighting plant to be used
to illuminate the cave. The enter
prise had been contemplated by pri-
vate parties when they were seeking to
acquire title to the hnd in the early
contest regarding the right to enter
it under the homestead law.
Various persons ard corporations
have st diGe:eDt timer s1,sxg:st TO -eh-
tain title to this natural wonder. Home
stead filings and miners filings were
placed upon the land covering the en-
trance to the cave, resulting in pro-
tractlve litigation. This litigation was
finally Terminated and the interior de-
partment has held that none of the
claimants were entitled tc the property,
but that it ought to be preserved by the
government for the purpose OF ma
tional park.
The cave was discovered in ~ by
Lame Johnny notorious stage rob-
Der and outlaw, who was afterward in
vited to 'snecktie party" and was seen
no more. Later, in 1884, while cow
boy was riding through a gulch his
horse became frightened, and stopping
to learn the cause, he discovered small,
oval-shaped hole, 8x1O inches, in the
bottom of the gulch, where the wind
was rushing out with great force. From
this the cave took Its name.
BLASTED AN OPENING.
This being the only opening discOv-
cred they blasted an entrance near it,
and going a short distance, supposed
they had reached the end of the cave
It remained idle until 1890, when some
parties located it as mineral claims, and
put men to work blasting out small
openings and exploring. Since then
they have explored 100 miles Of pass
ages without finding the end and have
discovered 1900 chambers, varying in
size from 12x12 feet to over three acres.
There are fourteen different routes
and but three have been opened to the
public at an expense of $25, ,OOO-the
Garden Of Eden, Fair Grounds and
Pearly Gates. It is acknowledged by
the many thousands who visit the cave
to be one of the wonders Of
the world, differing In formation and
scenery from all other caves.
Geologlsts claim that the formation
Is unknown. There being no geologi-- ]
cal names for these formations, the
guides named them what they most
work, popcorn snd
frostrwork. The formation Of other
caves are also found sta1actites, stalag-
mites, geodites, quartz and calcite crys-
tails aud minerals bearing rock. Tha
cave is formed OF fssures or creyices,
one another all the way
from 80 to 500 feet apart and connect
cd by side passages.
EIGHT TIERS OF CHAMBERS.
It has been aptly likened to sponge.
there being eight different tiers Of
chambers overlying one another, some
Of which are large enough TO inclose
the congressional library, and most
decorated with ferns, grasses
and feathers Of pure white lime and
FOR OVER SIXTY YEARS.
Mrs. WInslow's Soothing Syrup has
been used for sixty years by millions OF
tor their children while teeth
ing, with perfect success It ssoothesl
the child, softsns the gums, alias all
pain, cures wind colo, and Is the best
for Diarrhoea. It will relieve
khe uo0r litfIa aufkerer immndiAke1p.