The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-01-05
"A MONTANA
CAVE MARVEL
Hollow at Lime Spur Thought
to Rival the Mammoth.
SPLENDID SCENIC EFFECTS
Walls Of Rock Ribbed Halls in the Cham
bers Are Covered With Beautiful
Gypsum and Stalactitic
Tapestry,
SPLENDID SCENIC EFFECTS

An immense natural cave tnat prom
lses to rival the wonders Of the Mann
moth cave or the Wind cave Of the
Black Hills was explored few days
ago at Lime Spur, Mont The cave is
recent discovery, and few know OF
its existence, says a dispatch from An
aconda. Mont, to the New York Her
aid. Not more than four persons have
entered the underground region.
The mouth of tile cave Is at the top
OF Lime Spur mountain, ID Jefferson
canyon, about forty-two miles from
Butte, on the Northern Pacific rail-
road. 1t is about half d mile from a
lime quarry owned by D. a. Morrison.
who also owns the land where the cave
is found. 1t was discovered by acct
dent, and it was only recently that q
serious effort was made 10 4na with
er the cayerns led
In many respects the Lime Spur cave
has no equal. AT depth of 500 feet
below the mouth Of the cavern the
chambers widen into rock ribbed halls.
the walls of which are covered with
beautiful gypsum and staIactitic tap
estry. Translucent columns Of stalag
mite formation rise from the rock
strewn floor to the lofty ceilings. Fes-
toons OF curiously wrought flowers of
gypsum, studded with sparkling crys-
tai, reflect the light from the torches
Of the visitors. and strange colonnades
Of pure white cross and recross the spa
cious chambers.
Unlike other caves, this cavern
plunges into the center Of the noun
tain instead OF offering horizontal
passage. The first descent is Of fifty
feet into chamber, which Is the home
Of bats. Clinging in clusters TO the
milk white walls or flying about, star
tied by the candles, the strange crea-
lures seem to speak Of the mysteries
Of the caverns.
From the first landing there is
long incline, which ends abruptly in
another jump Of $50 feet Rope lad
ders are used here, the ends being fas-
tened to huge stalagmites. At the bot
tom of the second landing the cave
widens into series of Immense cham
bers. One room is oddly like the inte-
rior OF a cathedral, with organ loft,
chancel and all. A long row Of stalac-
tites which reach from the lofty ceiling
to the floor resembles an immense pipe
organ.
The stalactites vary from six inches
to an inch IN diameter and when struck
a heavy blow give forth a deep. sono-
rous sound that fills the cavern with
weird harmony. One is Of singular
sweetness and when the blow is re-
peated several times the cathedral is
flooded with melody.
The passage leads from one chamber
to another until another descent be
gins, This time the path leads down
steep incline to a depth Of 500 feet be-
low the mouth Of the cave. Here
wonderfully beautiful sight meets the
gaze On every side are walls OF milky
whitesness and oddly fashioned lace
work Of stalactitic formation. The cell
ings are high above. Grottos OF bewil-
dering beauty are on every hand. on
one side one hears the rush Of water.
A stream Of cold water six inches in
diameter gushes from hanging wall
and splasheS on the door The water is
only a few degrees above the freezing
point
A strong current Of fresh air PUSHES