Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1903-01-01
IA PRAIRIE CAVERN. ]
An Interesting Hole in the Ground in.
Indian Territory.

l.. Ma 4I1AANs
An Interesting Hole in the Ground in
Indian Territory.
At a spot II miles southeast of Sui
phur Springs, I. t., in the level prai-
RE upland is an opening about 40
feet in diameter and 60 feet in depth.
By clinging to its rocky and precipi-
tous walls, a person may descend to
the bottom, and there find the OPEN
ings to the two caves, one leading
westward, and the other to the east.
For years this place has been known
as Rock Prairie Cave. 1t is one of
the most striking natural curiosities
in the Chickasaw nation. The caves,
according to the Oklahoma State
Capital, are Of unknown length, and
through one rushes a subterranean
stream of great depth in places and
Of icy GOODNESS. Exploring parties
have ventured into these -labyrinths
for hundreds of yards, but the danger
of becoming lost has prevented a
thorough examination Of the under
ground passages. - :
The cave leading westward is
easiest of access and contains NUM-
Der Of spacious chambers. The room
is about 70 feet square and so feet
from the floor to the ceiling. The
floor is obstructed with huge boulders,
The darkness and stiffness are in
tense. Picnic parties sometimes go
there, and with large boulder for
a table, eat their lunch in the glare
of torches that cast uncanny shad-
ows along the massive walls. > =
Timid persons hesitate in ventur-
ing into, the depthssof the eastern
cave. The passage slants downward
at an angle that compels the explorer
to crawl and slip and slide for near
ly 100 feet before reaching a spot
where a person may stand upright
and walk. safely. From the darkness
echoes the sound of rushing water,
which later is found to be a stream
that runs from eight to 80 feet in
width, and from six inches to many
feet in depth. Men have waded in
the stream until the water reached
their chins, and then gone in a boat
to points where they were unable to
touch bottom with the longest oars.
A farmer carried his boat into the
cave several years ago to follow the
stream to its end. At depth esti-
mated to be 200 feet below the sur
face Of the ground is natural bridge
formed by a huge stone that fell
across the stream. The water plunges
underneath this bridge like a mill
race. A boat can be pulled over the
bridge, however, and launched on
the other side. About 100 feet be-
low the bridge the stream widens into
a broad deep pool, with huge vault
ed roof. Beautiful stalagmites and
stalactites adorn this chamber. Two
hundred feet below this pool the pas
sage is difficult. It is claimed that
this cave has been explored for a
mile. .a. g.. ..-... . saith. ,,s'r.:,'. ~.
The stream is believed to find its
outlet at a spring about three miles
from the entrance to the caves. This
spring is of great size, and volume
and flows with remarkable swiftness.
In rainy seasons the spring boils and
gushes as if choked with the flood
Of water that pours from its mouth.
The stream in Rock Prairie cave
rises when there is a heavy rainfall
in the surrounding country, and the
increased flow, of both springs and
stream, at such times is taken as evil
dence that they are conn ected.@
EACH HAS ITS LESSON.