El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-04-11
Four Young Men, Well Equipped for Exploration Enter
Cave Near Plateau, Texas, to Depth of 500 Feet,
Only to Find That 1t Apparently Is Fathom-
less Pit-Plateau Still Wonders if It Is
Treasure Box
Treasure Box.

Plateau, Texas. April 1.-THE mys-
| ferrous cavern of the grinning skele-
ton has az last been explored The
awe inspiring cavity. deep down in the
bowels of the earth, into the depths OF
which the bravest men heSitated to ven
ture; of which mothers warned their
sons, lest youthful curiosity and reck-
lesSness should lure them into its
yawning abyss, has been entered by four
young men from Ell Paso.
No spot in Texas is more near 20 ma
lures heart than Plateau valley. Up
TO four years ago the footprint of man
was seldom implanted upon this fertile
soil Instead. herds of cattle roamed
at will, the silence being broken only
by the whoop of the carefree cowboy
in the occasional roundup, which sent
heller SHELTER, in search of a hiding
place, rabbits, quail, deer, antelope and
the coyote There are also many evil
denceS of the previous occupancy of
the red man. and almost extinct buffalo.
Indian arrows can often be found over
the range and old camp grounds To-
Gated. Recently an old mine was dis
covered north of here; so ancient as to
possibly have been the work of the
AZtecs.
How Cnve Was Located.
Nearly four years ago, when this land
came on the market as state school
land it was readily siezed by home
Smith of Stephens Ark. One day,
while strolling over his eight sections
he stopped 10 rest on slight eleva-
ton near two large rocks standing per
pendicularly side by side Idly knock
ing his cane about it came in contact
with an aperture between these rocks.
The stones being removed disclosed an
-
admit the body of man. A closer in
spectfon revealed a cross cleveriy CHS
eled on one Of the large rocks guarding
the entrance. as though placed there
for the future Identification of this
spot
The settlers were naturally curious
as to its interior. SO lantern and
rope were secured and Jim Mills and
Harry Harper ventured in and descend
ed to depth of 200 feet, the length
of their rope. Their first drop was
into 4 subterranean chamber, in the
corner of which was a deep and ap-
parently bottomless pit, while exits led
to other adjoining chambers.
But horror of horrors, upon the
cIammy rock floor lay the skeleton Of
q man. with its hideousIy grinning
skull. This they brought with them
TO the surface, and Mr.. Smith has kept
il as relic of this cave of mystery.
Cave Entered Second Time.
A few months since N. L. Mcdonald,
Mrs. Wills and a visiting geologist VEN
tured into its interior, the men also
going down this weird hole of Egyptian
darkness about 200 feet. and as no bot
tom could be discovered. and the rocks
being easily dislodged and falling dan
gerously near, they returned well salts
fled to leave further investigation to
others. Many have been the conjectures
as to the history of this spot. the So
luton of which appeared most i'm
probable as few cared 10 face the dan
gers which might therein be encoun-
tered
FL Paso Explorers.
One night A. D. Hudson, Jim A Alex
ander, Hayes Miller and Frank Frick
elton. of FL Paso, arrived In Plateau,
bringing a camera. batteries. wiring,
etc, for incandescent lights, carbide lam
terms ropes and other things necessary
for a thorough exploration OF this much
talked of enigma
Plateau people greatly admired their
fearlessness. and eager for a solution
of this deep problem quite a number
Joined them in the trip to the cave.
which is only about. three miles east of
this place. l. n Welty and Roy Lea
veil however were the only ones who