Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-07
CAVE OF THE GIANTS
REMARKABLE CAVERN FOUND IN
PROVIDENCE MOUNTAINS, CAL.
Great Cathedral-Like Room and Stat
uary Hall Are Among the
Wonders.

Seattle Correspondence New York Herald.
mammoth cave has been discovered in
the heart of the Providence mountains,
southeastern California, which is named
the Gave Of the Giants, and rivals in
splendor and beauty other renowned cav
ems Of the globe, If graphic descriptions
are to be credited. George L. Berg, who
discovered the cave and explored Its re-
cesses, has taken up his residence in Seat
tie. 1t was Mr. Bergs love for scenic beau
ty which took him into the Providence
mountains.
Looking across the Fo Shea pass from
Goldstone camp every evening at sunset
there are outlined on the face Of the i'm
| mense limestone cliffs that form the north
ern wall of the pass two giant masks,
formed by the contour Of the rocks and the
evening shades One face has the pose of a
bearded giant, with his-head pillowed on
the brow Of the mountains and eyes closed
in slumber. The other face is that of a
low-browed, sallow-cheeked and sullen
Moor, with scraggy chin beard and mus
tache, gazing vacantly into space. The
great limestone cave which has just been
explored Is underneath and back Of these
sentinels. The existence of the cave was
revealed to Mr.. Berg by an aborigine
known Indian Joe," who lived on the
west slope of the Providence range. By
markings on the ground he wildly de-
scribed the entrance leading to great
depths, where winged monsters lived. De-
scribing his exploration of the cave with
Charles Staubin, Mr.. Berg said:
I'VE found the cave Indian joe had
described it. Great spire-like peaks stand
above the entrance, casting long dark shad-
ows down the precipitous sides of the can
yons. 1t was a long. hard climb to the
large balcony at the entrance to the cave,
which overhangs deep canyon.
Had to Turn Back.
Our first trip was stopped by declivities
we dared not attempt to descend without
ropes and graphing hooks. but we saw
enough to prompt a second expedition.
> THE Sunday following our first visit
Staubin and l, accompanied by my wife,
who Is an expert mountain climber, re-
turned to the cave, prepared to see more Of
it. This time we were equipped with hooks
and ropes and an abundance of candles and
ffashlight camera.
we wound our way through one of the
several corridors a distance of hundreds of
rect coming on main hall or grotto that
leads due south. The last rays of daylight
were soon left behind, and with miners
candles in our hands we went down a
gradual slope. The floor was rough and
sharp edged crystals of lime ground be-
meath our feet and cut our shoes The
roof soon disappeared from view and the
walls, too, but they reappeared again
further down to the width and height Of
an ordinary door. bringing us out on what
appeared to be small balcony. Our dim
lights seemed like mockery in the gloom
that hung about us like pail.
Squeals of the Bats.
But we were not the only living things
Attracted by our lights, shadowy forms
circled around our heads. We felt the flap
Of their wings before we discerned the dim
outlines nj haf 70 bo fowl
spirits that had scared Indian joe and
drove him from the cave. The squeals of
the startled creatures reverberated through
the grotto The echo of our own voices
sounded like the clang of broken bells and
gave us more of a start than the screams
of the bats.
I'VE took soundings Of the place by drop
ping pebbles to see how far we would fall
If we should step into the dark depths be-
low. We ascertained by this method that
the next floor was nearly 100 feet below u.s.
We then threw stones in every direction,
and came to the conclusion that the cav
ern had the proportions Of a vast cathe-
dral.
1--WE retraced our steps and found wind
ing stairway that took US down to the
floor Of the great grotto which we had
just left No cathedral ever had richer
carvings or more beautifully tinted walls
forms of petrified snakes and lizards of
divers kinds were incrusted in the walls
of what resembled beds of delicately tinted
moss.
"Rich mosaics Of design and pattern as
regular as If fashioned by man after
some geometrical plan covered walls and
pillar. Above US hung great stalactiteS
of snowy whiteness, resembling huge ici-
cleS
A Statuary Hall.
1--WE next passed into a statuary hall. We
thought of the museum Of the ruler OF
Siam. The statues take many and gro
tesque forms. We found many strange
shapes, carved, as 1t were, by the hand OF
nature out Of translucent stone. A candle
thrust into a small chamber of the vast
grotto revealed a frost-like tracery OF
crystals on the walls so delicate that it
crumbles at the touch of the fingers. At
the narrow entrance to the south grotto Is
a huge human face outlined on the wall.
Il threw rope up steep declivity and
| 1t was caught on short. stout post, set on
the edge Of a terrace At the top of this
terrace Is another marvel Of natures handi-
work. Before us stretched gallery with
an exQufsitely delicate pattern of lime crys-
tails that sparkled in the light Of the can
dies like frost In the sunlight. The floor
was as smooth as a billiard table. From
the roof hung stalactites. some long. some
| short others fiat, and still others as thin as
a Single.
Still we passed on from alcove to cham
Der. noting traces of a mysterious beauty
| now done in brackets and again in scroll
| work.
THE last object to arouse our curiosity
was giant toadstool, like huge umbrel-
| la, large enough to shelter a. dozen people
| under it. After passing the toadstool the
| nature Of the cavern changes. There Is
! rapid descent toward the bowels Of the
| earth. The white limestone gives way to
| blackened walls and the passage has the
| appearance of having been used as the fiue
| of a great furnace. Masses Of rock of DIFF
| ferent kinds appear fused as by heat. A
| faint smell Of sulphur is noticeable
I'VE reached the edge of deep pit and
| lowered lighted candles attached to one end
Of 300 feet of rope in an effort to find the
| bottom