Cañon City record., 1911-02-16
P A R R I II: S
L0CA TE
CAVE CAVE


Harry Maddox, ]. F. MARI, A. E Will
son and Frank ?. Smith started out
Saturday afternoon to find reported
cave which was said 10 exist in the |
Royal Gorge. They left here in autos
and after a. diligent search, during |
which they followed directions given |
them by G. A. Anderson of Portland,
Oregon, they found the cave 1t was
a difficult piece of WORK for the par
ty, who are not used to such eIer-
tions every day but they were all
game and by 4 persistency which
wouldn't permit them to think Of any
thing like tail-they found the cave
Kr Mari, one of the party, gave a
very graphic description Of the trip
In search of the cave We left here
the Royal Gorge road as far as the
/ lass bridge, about g mile this side Of
the Gorge stxtion- We left the autos
there and descended onto the D. &,
kR- C track and walked about three
miles and q half to the hanging
n UEtQkE. M AndtlGO1E 0lt<Ll4oA<E<
which we bad with us, stated that.
the cave WAS in the irst draw this
aide OF the hanging bridge ON the op-
lpoe5te side e6 the river. We found
the draw bu1 in order TO cross the
river We had TO walk back mile to-
where a shzzy suspension bridge
constructed OF cables and wire, was
strung across the river. This bridge
was about as riekety rackety as any
loont-aption have ever seen The
/ cables were old and rusty and the
base of the bridge was constructed
OF wire over which we're laid cast-off
boards from the pipe line. See that
j scar on my LEFT hand7 got that
crossing tina. bridge
After we got across the river ~e
found ourselves directly up against
. solid rock formAn With the pipe
line winding along above US. To
reach this pipe line 1t WAS necessary
20 climb a ladder nearly as wobbiy
as the bridge and made OF the same
materials The ladder leads 10 a point
directly under the pipe line and IN
order to get on top We had TO reach
out and pull ourselves up By the aid
OF the slaves.
After we gained the top Of the pipe
we looked down and saw the river d.
rectiy below us
We crawled along the pipe, some
times having nothing but the river
below us, and then, again, We came
to places where the pipe was support
ed by adjutting rocks when We
came to the tunnel which is just this
side of the draw in which the cave is
situated. We found we could get
through il either by crawling on our
bands and knees on top or by going
along the side OF the pipe. standing
up. The latter method gave very lit
tie room. however. and we were fore. ,
ed to drag our fee; through one after |
the other.
Going up the draw was anything |
but pleasant mountain climbing. We
reached the entrance of the cave and |
crawied through into small. beauti- !
full room. The walls OF the alcove /
were dry but the floor was quite |
damp. Our progress was somewhat |
obstructsd by large quantities of rock |
which have fallen at different times.
From the small vestihule we crawled
on our stomachs through an opening |
which gave to our view a beautiful |
dome room. This is large apart
ment and well worth a climb to see
From this portion of the cave we no.
ticed small openings into other parts !
which were inaccessible because OF |
the fallen boulders. II will take |
three or four men FIVE or six days !
to clean up the interior and ge; the |
rocks cleared away. then Royal Gorge
Cave will be ready for the sight
seers."
Although the PROCESS of the ex-
ploring party was difficult, their ex-
perience has shown them many easier |
ways OF gaining access to the cave !
and the best way will be devised so 4
that tourists and others will not I
have much trouble in seeing the new
place OF scenic interest No action 7
viii be taken until the next meeting
OF the Business Mems association.