The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-09-11
MOUNT MANSFIELD CAVE
Cave OF the Winds Explored for the
First Time.

TITbl ! ifncs
The Cave OF the Winds, on Mount
Mansfield was explored one day last
week for the first time, no records
showing that man ever set foot in its
deep recesses before.
The cave is on the east side Of the
mountain wall. 1t is approached by
turning to the right as soon as the
Second Lip is passed and descending
a steep and rocky trail along the base
Of the cliff for 20 or 30 rods.
The cave evidently was made by
some tremendous CONFUSION of Ma
ture, ages ago which tore apart the
rock foundations far down into the
heart Of the earth. Very likely many
OF the great masses OF rock to be
found on the top and slopes OF the
mountain which are similar in forma-
ton to the lodges were torn from
their original resting place by this
same great upheaval.
The entrance to the cave is a great
cash In the side OF a high cliff, per-
haps IL or Is feet wide. but narrows
gradually. II is possible without
much difficulty to enter for several
yards, down steep slope until
large rock is reached. wedged tightly
between the sides OF the cave. For
lmer visitors have contented them
selves with peering over the rock into
the blackness beneath and throwing
stones into the cavernous depths be-
low.
A few days ago, however, a party
decided to make an investigation OF
the nature OF this mysterious cave.
THE party consisted OF w. L. Stan
nard OF Springfield, Mass, Professor
Burrows OF Burlington, Irvine Nit
Ichell OF New York city, r. H. Hoffman
OF Boston, Charles A. Bruun and son,
James OF Kansas City. Stout ropes
and electric flashlights were secured
and Mr.. Mitchell was the first man TO
descend, others OF the party following
him, being lowered by means OF ropes
II ia about 10 feet TO a landing place
where one descends a little way
along an incline and then II is neces'
sary to use ropes again, the distance
to the bottom OF the cave being 20 or
80 feet more.
II was found that the cave was
simply a cleft in the rocks, the aver
age width being about four feet but
! in places Il is six feet wide. The
height varies from % or 80 to only
few feet. The cave extends In two
directions from the entrance and Is
probably about 225 feet in length, the
distance one may travel In one direc
ton from the entrance being abou
twice that which may be traverseC
the other way. The bottom OF th'
cave is largely ice and for n part o
the way the walls are encased In ic'
that evidently remains there the yea
|. around. Whether the bottom OF TIT
cave Is earth or rocks covered by ice
or is nothing but formation of ic,
OF unknown thickness, cannot be told
AZ the bottom near the main Ell
trance an axe and watch wer
found. II Is known that the wato
was lost last summer. having slippe
from the pocket Of young man wh
was leaning over the boulder at IN
mouth OF the cave. II Is estimate
that the depth OF the cave from IN
entrance on the side Of the mountm
>, Is about 100 feet. The bottom Is nc
!" level and Il IL necessary to climb owe
rocks and traverse steep grades Coz
erod with glare ice. A current OF a.
can be felt In the cave and II Is b'
lieved that there Is another openin
= which may be a smaller apertuI
found farther down the mountal
aide. The cave narrows down
II small. however. that the only possib
= entrance or exit is the opening use
Another descent into the cave We
&c made the following day and the az
was chopped out and recovered, ligl
being furnished by kerosene lantel
The axe bore the name OF ~
Brook. Brooksville.
Two days later a third visit WI
=, made some new visitors making u
- descent including two ladies'. A rol
IL placed under the arms OF the pc
son descending and the other eI
+ around the body Of the man at u
entrance who let's Il out slowly. a
other rope securely fastened at u
ton and containing knots at treque
Intervals Is lowered and the pers'
desoendlng or ascending by usli
II this assists In lowering OF raising hli
- self. The original exploration