East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-07-21

idea of the lntrlcacy Of the caverni
and the danger in attempting to visi
them alone. Occasionally some one
goes In by tying string at the en-.
trance and unwlnding the ball to serve
as a return guide. Dozens OF these
cords have been left in place, and
they give one the uncanny feeling that
II they were but followed to the end
there would be found dead man.
for so seldom are the caves visited al
certain seasons, and so isolated is the
locality that this might easily happen
to an over-darlng explorer.
Soon after the discovery of the
place the complete skeleton of a bear
was found In one Of the inner rooms,
and If brute instinct did not serve to
liberate him from that terrible maze,
there would be little hope for hu-
man being.
"The Golden Stairs" a wonderful
natural flight, lead out Of the Ghost
Chamber and ascend for many feet,
sometimes through passage so small
that one crawls on his stomach-or
stays behind II inclined to embon-
point. Appropriately enough, "The
Chapel" is soon reached, and here is
a charming little lake of the coolest,
clearest water, lying at one side Of the
room where the wall and ceiling ap-
proach to within a couple Of feet Of
each other
Hollow stalactltes, like clear glass
have been broken away to allow WIS.,
itors to drink the delicious water, the
remaining fragments carry many
feminine tress as a reminder Of fair
visitors.
Dangerous to Enter.
on and on, now climbing a ladder
or descending by cllnglng to the rocks
and stalactites, until the guide star
ties his charges by whispering, There
must be someone else in the cave"
Far. far below, in seemingly bot
tomless pit, glimmers a candle. 1t is
but a stub left by the guide In the
Ghost Chamber. and we are on an
upper level. near its dome. where a
single mlsstep would mean fatal ac.
cident.
Climax of beauty and grace is the
Pond Lily Room" most difficult Of
access. richest in its adornment The
ascent by long ladders and slippery
walls is fraught with danger at every
turn. yet the risk is well repaid.
Covering the walls OF this room, as
though carved In wax, are stalactltes
shaped as lily pads and blossoms,
while from the ceiling hang immense
fluted chandeliers Of the most delicate
formation.
Everything in the room is OF dazzl-
ing purity and whiteness. AS though
this were not enough to enchant the
beholder, dainty marine shells are
found in strata near the floor, pre-
senting an interesting problem to the
geologlst. Holy OF sHolies"-this
room has been called by. later visitors
and certainly It does inspire reverence
somewhat lessened when the guide
gives his version OF the name as
"Holliest Of Holes"
Some OF the names bestowed are
almost as picturesque as the rooms
themselves-"old Nick's Bedroom"
"Kincaid's Dancehail" and the
Sharks Mouth" At one place is an
immense pillar the thickness OF a
mans body. reaching from floor to
roof; again. there is broad |
shelf covered with minute crystals re-
sembling the tracery OF frost on |
window pane; here the floor lies in
little ridges like sand on the beach |
as the tide goes out. and so strong is |
the likeness that one involuntarily |
stoops to take a handful.
-Four Distinct Levels.
There are four distinct levels to
upper entrance has been uncovered
and enlarged. perhaps 200 feet up the
which makes 1t possible to
avoid the waters of Cave creek alto
yether. Night and day are as one in
these vast underground galleries,
whose perfection must have taken
upon century. Not the slight
sst change in even the smallest sta
actite is dlscernable since their dis
,overy, save where vandals have
broken them in unreasonlng quest for
There are two ways of reaching the
,aves, both involving a start from
Grants Pass, whence stage is taken
o either Williams or Kirby, then
journey on horseback
IT afoot. The Williams route is the
ihprtest and the trail is being con-
family improved; by Kirby is consid-
red a little the easier journey. No
nan is so familiar with the labyrinth
IS John Kincaid, who was the original
Explorer of many of the passages and
worked in their Improvement for
hree whole months. Johnnie" and
lis "bar" hounds are familiar figures
n the mountains. Thirty-five miles
listant from Grants Pass, this very
emoteness from the beaten lines of
ravel adds immeasurably to the zest
4 this outing. A whole week spent
t the caves would bring fresh en- {
oyment to hundreds and thousands |
o visit this marvellous natural mu-
eum
Women might be quieter IL they
talk so much, but they
ha rlv AZ q amusing