Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1911-02-03

OulSt cnurcn, Wnere We turned W INC
left. Keeping the main road, we
passed the creamery and small
combination church and school. An
other turn to the left brought us to
the ford of Williams Creek. We then
followed a southerly course to the
ranch Of c. H. Stephens, the end OF
the road 81 miles from Jacksonville,
arriving at $3.50 p. m.
"The next morning at 6:45 we
left camp on foot and followed the
forest rangers trail southerly, the
trail road wide at first, then regula>
tion width winding by easy grade up
ward several thousand feet through
virgin forest to the Meadows, seven
miles away, which we made at $3.50.
Here the good trail ended and forced
us to pick our way for half an hour
over the meadows to the upper end
of the meadow on the crest Of the
mountain.
We reached the caves on the oppo-
site side of timbered glade, nine
miles from Stephens ranch, at noon.
"After lunch, taking our candle
lanterns, with extra candles pock-
eted, and fastening one end of large
ball Of white twine at the entrance
to the upper caves, we went In. Our
string, which unwound as we went,
served as a guide on the way back.
Without guide of some sort it would
be sheer folly to attempt to explore
the caves, as there are frequent pas
sage-ways on different levels, ramify-
ing in hopeless confusion, and pre-
senting an entirely different appear
ance when you endeavor to retrace
your steps. Deeply did we regret the
limited time at our disposal and the
few flashlight powders to feebly pho
tograph our impressions.
"The combined candle light proved
. much better than we had hoped, as
e the passage ways are for the mos
a part narrow and the ceilings low.
e Ceilings and walls were all care
= fully sculpured, frescoed and tinted
r the work of ages by natures owl
J, artist fashioned drop by drop in lint
e in eternal blackness, awakening thu
e admiration of the most exactini
h critic, and, alas, the ruthless grasl
IS of the insatiate curio seeker, for
e fairly sickened one to approach Il
e wonder some marvelously-forn'e
J. chrysanthemum-s shaped, cream-tinte
< formation and see how the delicat
a points had been needlessly shattere
l. to furnish a souvenir from anon
re the broken fragments, or som
tinted domes blackened by careles
le torches.
" "In one chamber we found a hue
: column in the center, another tin
- brought us by petrified cascades an
waterfalls, while stalactites and sta
agmites of various sizes were ever
where In endless profusion.
III RELUCTANTLY we retraced our WI
to the entrance after several hour
inspection, realizing we had only SCI
trifling portion Of the upper caves.
II Before leaving we went In e
u lower caves for short distance, ha
ing to pick our way along the ed
of small stream.
d ITO see the caves properly o
should camp there over night and n
be obliged to hurry back as we did
late supper. Instead Of going
random a person should have
n benefit of a reliable guide, but ev
hurled as we were and venturing II
one chamber and then another
fancy dictated, down any passf
way that attracted us, taking
4 caves as we found them without 8
4 work expended In widening narr
Il openings or making hard places ca
= save for a few broken-down ladd
leading to different levels, we fol
- our anticipations more than reali
and the caves worth far greater
- fort and trouble than Is necessary
reach them With the trail CT
pleted and the road better konwn,
trip can be made easier and IN
quickly than was made last sunni
and the Oregon caves will ever
main a monument to the foresight
the Oregon conservation commis'
who secured their protection"
It was in the summer Of 1875
Elijah Davidson discovered the d,
way to the Oregon caves. He was
hunting expedition, and a
I chase terminated near the entra
After the animal had been dres
- Mr.. Davidson noticed clear sire
.. and seeing no hollow from whic
might flow, he followed II to the
trance OF the caves. From there
struck matches and followed
stream as FAR as he felt was safe.
Since "Orogons Marble Halle,