Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1907-07-04

Sunday evening
falling out with the management, paid a
visit to the West, and while there visited
among some of the tribes of Indians in
that section of the country. In conversa-
ton with some one of the old chieftans he
learned that the old chief had at one time
been resident of Edmond county, Ken
tuckyn the vicinity of the Mammoth Cave
The old Indian told him of another cave
not far from the Mammoth Gave and said
ne discovered it one day while hunting
! bear
DR.. Hazen, inspired by the story of the
old chief, returned to his old home filled
with longing to find the cavern told of
by the chief. One day while cutting wood
in the woods about two and a half miles
| from the mouth of the Mammoth Cave. the
doctor, who always carried a gun with
him when in the woods in hopes of getting
shot at some of the quails and part
ridges which were abundant in those
Poi ", IOoi0 " q IOoC Llldb oOQuQ6O W MIN
like the noise of birds in the nearby dis
tance. Taking his gun and crawling and
listening at the same time he approached
the direction from which the noise seemed
to eminate, moving cautiously in the di-
rection of the sound he was surprised to
find no birds but was more surprised to
find that the noise which attracted his at
tention was the noise made by the wind
escaping from small hole in the ground
He tried to break the hole open with his
hands but it was all rock and he returned
to his home and securing a sledge ham
mer and pick returned to the spot and
soon succeeded in making a hole large
enough to effect an entrance when he
found that he had struck the cave told of
by the Indian chief
The next morning the doctor went
down into the cave and started his ex-
ploration and was rewarded by finding
that he had discovered a colossal cavern
that placed the Mammoth Cave in the
background from every point of view.
In 1895 Rev. Myers was on a trip
with party of friends to the Atlanta
Exposition and while on the way told the
members OF the party that he would like
TO stop and make a visit to the Mammoth
Caye. Arriving there he learned Of the
discovery of the Colossal Cave and the
party turned their attention to that point.
This cave is situated at the top of hill
and when they reached the point they in
quired for DR. Hazen and one of the at
tendants said That's him." pointing to
the doctor and approaching DR.. Hazen
they asked il they could see the cave
The DR.. replied that he reckoned as how
they could if they had the price There
we're about ten persons in the party and
the DR.. fixed the price at S23 which
seemed little high but inasmuch as he
could not be moved they paid his price.
Before visiting the cave the doctor told |
them that it would be necessary for the
party to all change their garments, which |
they proceeded to do, the speaker draw
ing an old fashioned roundabout for his. |
After changing their garments they be-
gan their descent into the strange and |
wonderful cavern that had so lately fallen |
victim to the hand Of man. The descent |
was accomplished by climbing down a |
ladder SIS feet long where they were
allowed to rest for a few moments when
they were informed that in order to reach |
the desired mecca they must still descend
another ladder about feet in length.
Nothing daunted, the party again began
the descent, and in time soon reached the
first magnificent chamber OF the Colossal
Cavern. Where shall we 90 was the
first question asked and one Of the guides
suggested that he would like to visit the
cellar. Having gone down thus far con-
cluded that had gone down about far
enough but portion Of the party thought
that it would be nice to visit the cellar
and so while one or two Of us renamed
behind, they went into the cellar and. as | |
afterwards learned, we're regaled with
some good things to eat. The guide who
remained with me took me to see those
weird wonders, the eyeless fish.
When the party returned from the
cellar they joined US and we started on a
long voyage through this wonderful place.