Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-26
GREAT CAVE FULL OF RATS.
Remarkable Discovery Of Ranchman
in Wyoming.

Laramie CWyol Correspondent Denver News.
Paul Pascoe, a ranchman of the Laramie
plains made the discovery Friday of what
could almost be called a mountain rat fort
ress Mr.. Pascoe was hunting wolves,
which have been harassing his sheep, ana
had penetrated into deep canyon in the
Laramie foothills, which had apparently
seldom or never been visited by man. The
whole bottom of the canyon, which was
perhaps mile long, ending in cul-de-sac.
but only averaging sixty feet In breadth,
was covered with thick growth OF low
shrubs. through which were noticeable
numerous narrow tracks or paths, beaten
hard. while in several places were small
patches Of marshy ground. The whole
length and breadth of the Canyon was per-
vaded by what Mr.. Pascoe thought at first
was the smell of bears. and he brought his
rife into readiness for instant use, but
found out the cause when he saw mountain
rats scampering before him in great num-
bers as he advanced through the brush.
Half way down the canyon Mr.. PascOe
noticed that the tracks in the brush all con-
verged to one side, and following them he
presently discovered the entrance to a cave
concealed oy shrubs. Entering the cave he
heard a rush of apparently thousands of
feet, and. upon striking a match, saw rats
disappear into side passages in all direc-
lions Mr.. Pascoe made a torch from a
pitch pine root on the canyon side and
started to explore the cave. which he found
extended under the limestone ledge ior a
great distance, with numbers of side gal
leries The floor of the cave was literally
covered with articles OF all descriptions.
the inhabitants of the cave being evidently
well worthy of the name given TO the species
by mountaneers-'pack rats. Tin cans
were there by the hundred, there were
quantities of bones. a number of old shoes
(among them those of small baby, sew
erai articles of wearing apparel. several
knives, spoons and forks. several books
and, among other things, Mr. Pascoe picked
up blacksmiths hammer and about two
inches of gold watch chain. The ranch
man penetrated into the cave for 200 feet
and everywhere and as far as he could see
beyond sthe floor was Uttered with articles
that the rats had packed there. although
there is no human habitation, except sheep
camps, within sixteen miles
The side galleries, of which there were
many, some of them too small for man
to enter, were all rendered impossible for
any animal, and even for man, unless he
wore very thick boots, by the floors being
covered with a carpet of spines from the
prickly pear, every spine having been car
ried there by the rats. In several OF the
galleries which he explored Mr. Pascoe
found numerous nests of rats, all made
warm and comfortable with Sleeps wool
and containing young rats Of all ages. Mr.
Pascoe did not examine the place as much
he wished, as he found that the rats
wgfe returning. evidently emboldened by the
fastness of their numbers, and he feared
an attack. AS a matter of fact the rats
were so close to him before he reached the
mouth of the cave again that he could only
keep them off by vigorous waving of his
torch. An examination of the canyon dis
closed the fact that there were two other
caves IN 1t equal In extent to the first, and
each crowded with rats.
In one OF the caves Mr.. Pascoe noticed a
streak four feet thick and apparently Of
great extent of what he took to be some
black mineral. but an examination of
specimen which he brought away with him
disclosed the fact that it was composed of
the excrement of rats. changed by pressure
and time into almost the hardness of rock
and having the appearance of ore The de-
post shows that the cave must. have been
inhabited by rats in great numbers for ages
and that earthquakes must have changed
the conformation of the rocks in that time