Bennington banner and reformer. (Bennington, Vt.) 1903-19??, 1903-05-14
FAMOuS WIND CAVE
G. 7. Parker OF POwna Describes One OF The
Wonders OF The World.

y. !. Parker VI POWnal Describes One VI me
Wonders or The World
G. I. Parker Of Pownal, who spent
the winter West, wrote the following
account of his visit TO the famous
wind cave Of south Dakota for the
North Adams Transcript, from which
this is taken. The cave is near Hot
Springs where Mr. Parker spent sew
eral weeks.
heard a Chicosgoan say, who had
seen Mammoth Gave 10 Kentucky and
Luray Cavern in Virginia that neither
could compare with this. 1t is stu
ated u miles from the city and a daily
stage line runs to it. The fare is
81. 90, dinner at the Gave so cents and
the guide so cents, making the cost of
Visit ". 1 was fortunate in having
Mcdonald as guide, as he is geolog
ist who understands the many different
formations in the cave and explains
them carefully.
It is called Wind Cave from the fact
that during a storm and for a few
hours previous a strong wind blows in
to the mouth of the cave. In pleasant
weather the wind blows outward.
Our geologist cannot account for this.
The wind is not felt score Of fact
from the mouth The temperature in
the cave is 40 degrees at all seasons Of
the year. IE has been explored for 100
miles and no end in sight
THUS far they have discovered
about 5000 rooms, ranging from few
feet across to three acres. The cave
is owned by Uncle Sam and the last
Congress appropriated 81, 800 for better
ments and it is expected that in the
near future it viii be lighted by cleo
tricity.
Nov visitors must carry tallow dips.
The three principal routes taken by
tourists are the Bridal Tour" re-
curing three hours, the Fair
Grounds, +" four hours and the 'Pesrly
Gates" six hours.
The Bridal Tour / discarded as /
took one 80 years ago, and don't wish
to repeat it, and was not prepared for
the Pearly Gates, so chose the Fair
Grounds and spent four hours under
ground in most enjoyable manner
The prevailing formations are the box
work, pop sorn and frost work. Stall
sgmites, stalactites and crystals
abound. Overhead in one chamber we
saw a multitude Of snowb balls which
looked as though some school boy bad
thrown them there. One room is the
PostoiIiee where visitors deposit their
cards in the box work. The giants
coffin is found in one room. / tried to
raise the lid but was not strong
enough.
bishops Gate is room 10 feet
high. 10 the Garden Of Eden can
be seen the most beautiful frostwork
which LOOKS as though breathe would
melt it. Jacobs Well represents an
extinct gey7er. A Gypsum mummy
and rhinoceros jaws are other attrac-
tions. In the sportsman's Delight q
goose hangs suspended from the cell
log. Some Of the most attractive
rooms were Mermaid's Resort, Noah's
Beard and Dswey's Palace. where can
be found bis monkey. In many Of the
rooms formations are seen which re-
semble animals and other objects like
the prairie dog, alligator, sheep, bat
tlesbip Colon, Queen of Sheba's head
dress, Milkmsid's Mishsp, and many
others. The Punch Bowl has no bot
tom and the guide said Salvation
Army lassie knocked il out.
1t is worth a long trip to soc the
beauties of this cave, but visitors to
the Pacific coast can 60 there with but
n,;;,t,e additional expense The North
western Railroad runs into Hot
J Springs and the main line Of the Bur
iihgton en- route for California runs by
Edgsmopt ana thence via a branch
road 30 miles TO Hot Springs. Exour-
siddists to the General Assembly 10
/ Nav aud g. a. r. reunion in August
are allowed 10 stop over at Edgemout.
Mr.. Jensen, BbO is proprietor OF the
stage line, told ms that he took over
1000 passengers to the cave in the
three months of last sunmer.