The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-09-30
NEST FOR CROOKS
Large Cave Discovered Near
Florence, Kansas.
ITS EARLY HISTORY TOLD
Visit Into Its Oarkened Interior
Vaults.

florence. Kan. Sept. "a large cave,
located on the farm Of John Tideman, a
mile and half north of this place. and
first built by outlaws and horse thieves
as hiding place for themselves and their
plumber, is the curiosity of this vicinity.
Half a mile back from the Missouri
river Is high, knoiI-like bluff. from the
summit Of which can be obtained a view
of the surrounding country and all APP
proaches for miles. The river and bluffs
from this point can be kept under sur
veillance by one Waterman, and a better
place could hardly have been selected for
an outlaws rendezvous. 1t is in the sum-
nit of this hill that the cave is locate ].
Them ain entrance to the cave Is from the
east side of the bluff, about one hundred
feet from the summit. There is now a
brick entrance, but when the location of
the cave first became known there was
nothing but a small hole, well concealed.
which was just large enough to admit
horse
Entering the visitor finds himself in
what appears to be long tunnel running
into the bluff The tunnel is round. with
rough sides. and is just high enough to
allow a person 10 stand up.
For one hundred or more feet the tunnel
runs straight into the bluff. until it
reaches a point Just below the summit.
Here another entrance has been con-
structed but one which the average per
son would not care to make use Of in en-
tering the cave. It is a shaft. just large
enough to admit to a persons body. and
TO a man on the summit of the bluff would
appear nothing but a well, forty or fifty
feet deep. Down the entire shaft small
steps are suit in the hard clay for the
hands and feet of any one who might be
taking this route. This shaft furnishes a
CLEAN of light to the interior of the cave
and Is also the only means of supplying
fresh air
AT this point the cave turns to the right,
and. circling around for two hundred or
three hundred feet. joins the other end OF
the cave at It's entrance. This peculiar
feature of construction OF the cave shows
the keen insight of the men who built It.
Although the cave has two ends, yet they
both terminate at one small entrance
Two men with plenty Of ammunition
could protect the cave and its contents
from regiment Nothing but dynamite
or heavy artillery could dislodge them and
the defenders could fight for a lifetime,
confident that there was no way by which
they could be attacked in the rear or sur
prised.
Although there was no rock through
uh he bod
yet the digging Of a cave four hundred
feet long. seven or eight feet high and
eight or ten feet wide Is no small task.
The early history Of the cave is clouded
in more or less obscurity. II is presumed
to have been In existence twenty or thir-
ty years before its location became
known. Having been dug for nefarious
purposes, the cave was naturally kept a
secret by those directly Interested For
years before any one knew of its ex-
istence the inhabitants for many miles
around had been preyed upon by horse
thieves and outlaws of every kind
Droves of horses would be rushed off in
the night, their tracks would be followed
for few miles. usually to the edge of
the river, and then all traces would be
knew.
Other valuable property IN no small
quantities was stolen and all trace Of the
thieves would be just as mysteriously lost
1t was generally believed that the thieves
took the property down the river to some
city and there disposed Of II. but investi-
cations along this line failed to reveal
any large boats or anything that would
indicate such a course When the ex-
istence of the cave became known the
mystery was cleared up.
1t was then seen how the horse thieves
could lead an animal down to the rivers
edge, take II to a boat to a point opposite
the cave and then In a few moments
have II concealed.
Even after the existence Of the cave be- /
came known. IL continued To be used as a /
rendezvous for bands Of outlaws. They I
were too strong and too well armed TO be 4
driven of by few settlers Il became i
necessary for them TO stop their excur- !
sions in the Immediate vicinity, but their /
operations were continued in more dis 1
tant districts. and the cave continued to /
be a storehouse and shipping point for 4
spoils. AS the country became thckiy 4
settled the vigilance committees became /
too much interested in the place and the 1
outlaws were gradually thinned out ur.si /
the cave fell into disuse.