Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-31

the Smithsonian Institution, might be adj
duced. DR.. Hough is an enthusiastic
explorer of the regions Of the southwest.
While travelling in an Arizona canyon he
deserted an opening in one of the pre-
cipitous cliffs which he took to be a cave.
AS here was a possible find of scientific
value the neighborhood OF the canyon
being known to have been inhabited
by the prehistoric aborigines of the coun
try. the doctor determined to enter and
explore the cave If possible. But how
was this TO be accomplished? The open
ing was about 300 feet above the floor
of the canyon. and nearly as great a dis
lance from the top of the cliff. Being an
expert mountain climber, the doctor de-
termined upon scaling the almost perpen-
dicular face Of the cliff-which. indeed,
overhung in some places-by the usual
means of the jutting projections Of rock.
Mounting accordingly with caution.
slow and tedious proceeding. but with
held. as he says. more by the hope OF find
ing something which would make his I'M
dertaking worth his pains in the cave
than anything else. he at length reached
the opening. What was my chagrin and
disgust" said the scientist. when. upon
having reached the mouth Of the cave. al
most thoroughly exhausted with my pain
full physical exertions, 1 looked into the
mouth of an opening in the rock. the floor
of which, smooth and slippery. offered
nothing to the gaze but an inclination OF
about thirty-tive degrees, and did not per-
NIT OIL IIlSeT UOIu. saw dt SlaQCo
that no archaeological specimens were to
be found in this barren opening. but
tried to crawl in that / might rest a bit
before beginning my descent Judge OF
my sensations when, after getting about
half my body inside, l could grasp no
and felt myself slipping down.
1t was an aSoniZing moment. The floor OF
the canyon was composed Of rocks that
had fallen down from the faces of the
cliffs. and knew that fall meant death.
I CT cir lnnl 1t
that my elevation was fully that OF the
top Of the Washington Monument. There
below stood my companions. aghast at my
as they afterward told me. and
her shouting out to them. Don't say .
word. don't speak. or I'll DROP How 8
got down the face of that cliff I never
knew. OF course, had to proceed back
ward and almost without seeing where
could obtain a. foothold. I felt that every
footstep threatened to be my last. When.
eventually. l reached the bottom I had
to lie fiat on the ground. motionless, for
quite time. l was positively unable to
walk. or even to stand
"In regard to my sensations In thus
being near near to death, however, I
must say this: that while that one mo-
ment of feeling myself slipping from the
inclined floor of the cave, in which 1
called out to my companions below. was
severely trying, the following experience
Of climbing, almost without sentence on
my part, down the cliff was practically
devoid of pain. 1t is thus my belief that
death Is not generally painful. but that
nature provides. even in the most vio-
lent forms of decease, a certain insen-
sibility, to the latter phases OF dissolu-
ton, at all events. There is a gradual
loss of all physical sensation, and while
my actions in successfully negotiating
the descent Of the precipice were doubt
less guided by an intelligence. it seems
to me to have been an intelligence al
most outside Of myself. But the fact
is, at that stage Of the experience, I
really did not know what I was doing, In
the ordinary acceptation Of the term nor
did / normally realize what was happen
ing around me. Yes, I believe that in
such moments of peril the survivor does
not know what he has felt nor the ma
ture Or origin Of the force that has
saved hina"