The Opelousas courier., 1903-08-29
A Trip to Omaha and the
Black Hills.

where three days were spent
Tradition gives these springs cred
it for healing the bodily ills of
the red man from time immemo-
rial, but the development of the
place as Il modern health resort
has been accomplished mostly
within the past ten years. The
town now contains about 1900
people, and many hotels and
boarding houses have recently
been erected, the Gillespie and
Evans, of beautiful pink sand
stone, being quite elegant and
thoroughly up to date. The fa-
cilities for bathing are ample,
there being three large houses
for the purpose. One OF these is
built Of wood, iron and glass,
75x250 feet, Covering q pool, the
waters of which, clear as crystal,
bubble from the gravelly bottom
at a uniform temperature Of 96
degrees. The depth gradually
slopes from three to nine feet,
and provision is made for aquatic
sports by means of spring boards,
toboggan slides, RATS, tubs, etc.
A visit to the "plunge," either as
a bather or spectator, is a feature
of the daily program at this re-
sort.
The morning after our arrival
Il trip was made to Wind Cave,
about II miles distant, the next
day a carriage ride was taken
about the town and surrounding
country, and the third day, rain
having fallen, was spent IN the
vicinity of the roaring fires built
in the enormous open hearths at
the hotel. Wind Cave was dis
covered about 25 years ago by q
chance passer-by whose horse be-
came frightened at the, noise
which on investigation proved to
be :, rush of air coming from
hole in the ground. Blasting a
Snort distance revealed what APP
peared to be its end, and it re-
mained nnexploEed until 1890,
when parties located it as min
eral claims and blasting was re-
sumed. resulting IN the discovery
of 5000 chambers, varying in size
from an ordinary bedroom to over
three acres, with over hundred
miles of passages-and the end
has not yet been found. A strong
cold wind constantly blows out of
the aperture through which visit
ors descend in the cave, but at q
depth of about $50 feet no move
ment of the air is preceptible and
the temperature is quite pleasant.
The passageways and chambers,
lined and paved with rocky form
ations Of various kinds and
shapes. are all quite dry. It's
geological formation is puzzle
to the student, as the formations
have no parallel in the other we'll
known caves, and seem to upset
many we'll established theories.
Many enormous assures are to be
seen, sometimes extending 60 feet
overhead, and the numerous Cir
cular or oblong holes apparently
worn or ground out in the stony
roof seem to give color to the
theory that there, ages agone,
boiled and bubbled and swirled
countless geysers, long extinct.
The largest stockholder in the
Homestake is Mrs. Phoebe Hearst,
| who has established at Lead a free
library aud reading rooms, the
most complete in the State, and
a free Kindergarten, both main
tained at her own expense.
Wealthy people who, like her,
spend their surplus in such ways,
are real benefactors to the COM
munities in which they live, and
her name is blessed in the Hills.
Lead has a fine hotel, built at q
cost of 100000, and is spending
100000 this year for street paw
ing. Deadwood also has q fine
modern hotel, cost $150,000, and
work on a government building
to cost $175, 1000 is now in prog
ress. In these twin cities will be
held, from the 7th to the 18th of
lSeptember, great Mining Con-
gress, and every municipality and
commercial body in the country
is invited to send delegates, the
citizens promising to make their
visit one of both profit and pleas
ure. Many magnificent features
Of entertainment have been pro-
yided for, among them excursions
lover grand scenic routes, visits to
the mines, etc.
/
The party went back to Omaha
on Saturday, and there dispersed.
We went on to Denver, spending
tive days there and at Colorado
ISprings and Aanitou, of course
visiting the famous Garden Of the
| Gods, returning via Kansas City,
lSt. Louis, Little Rock and Alex.
andria. At the latter place we
were Hospitality entertained by
i Mr.. Albert McGinnis, whose wife
Iis one of ST. Tandrv's fairasi