The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-10-04
CAVERN RIVALS MAMMOTH CAVE.
So Does ths Writer Of this Article
Rival Barren huRchausen.

Rival Karen nukCHdGsen.
In a recent issue of the Wheeling
News the following relative to the dis
covery of a cavern alleged to be located
near Mountain Lake Park, appeared.
The writer OF the article certainly was
imposed upon or was imposing upon the
credulity of the readers of the News.
However we reproduce the write-up
which was given prominent place with
scare headlines in the News:
Robert Stead, a former Bridgeport,
Ohio, hotel keeper, who was forced to
retire from business on account of i'll
health, has discovered cave on farm
purchased near Mt. Lake Park, which
rivals in beauty and granduer and ex-
tent of territory covered the famous
Mammoth cave of Kentucky. The cave
was discovered by mere accident. There
had been a big land slide on the side of
the hill on his farm and with his wife,
Mr.. Stead went out to see what dam
age had been done. While walking
over the top of the slide, they discovered
what appeared to be a small fissure
in the rock, but which on further in
vestigation proved to be the entrance
to a great cave. The room opening
from the Stead farm is circular in form
and about 100 feet in diameter. From
this there is a passageway five feet in
width leading to another and largest
room of the underground cavern. 1t is
256 feet long twenty-seven feet wide
and from the floor to the roof is over
Zoe feet.
From this big chamber there are six
rooms opening off through short passage
ways large enough for one person to
walk easily. The rooms are longer than
they are wide, but not nearly 50 big as
the room from which they start. Stead
and his family have explored the mine a
a distance of three miles and there are
several openings they have never visit
ed, but which will be explored in the
next few weeks.
There are many things about these
parts Of the cave, which have been ex-
plored that would indicate that at one
time it had been occupied by human be-
ings, but this is considered improbable
and the general theory is that the for
nations resembling animals, birds, ships
and other thing We're formed by the
action of the elements which formed
the cave.
In the center Of the largest room,
there is a natural fountain, which sends
up spray apout the size Of an ordinary
city fountain and the waters falling on
| the solid rock on the floor probably for
centuries, have worn hole two feet
deep On the side of the main room is
a perfect figure Of a ship, with all sails
set and in the roof is another exactly
ike the one on the wall. These are
twenty feet long and twelve feet high.
In this same room is the form Of a
lady slipper about six feet in length.
There are perfectly carved dogs.
monkeys, horses, cows, human beings,
bow, arrows, guns and hundreds Of
other things.
The cave is perfectly dry, except for
the stream of fine fresh water that
flows from the fountain, There is only
one dangerous spot so far discovered
and that is in the center of the main
room, where rock weighing several
hundred pounds seems on the point of
breaking loose and falling down. The
formation of the cave is of stalactite
and lights thrown on the pendants,
makes the cave glow like myriads dia-
monds. It is now known that there is
vein Of fine limestone formation three
hundred feet deep in the side of the hill
and is Of immense value, since the dis
coyery of the cave.
Agents of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad who have heard Of the cave
| have been making offers to Mr.. Stead
for the farm and the opening of the
cave, but he refuses to deal with them,
his intention being to form q company
to fit up the cave for the purpose Of ex-
hibition. So far the owner has refused
to let people have free access to the
cave, but he has shown scores of friends
through and al! marvel at the wonders
seen, especially in the main room.