The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-07-28
GREER COUNTY HAS
SOME LARGE CAVES
THRILLING STORIES OF THE AT.
TEMPTED EXPLORATION OF
HUGE UNDERGROUND CAVERNs

Mangum. July 27.--Greer county
has its mammoth caves which are
sources of interest to many travellers
in that part Of the country There are
several OF them and as far as known
none have been explored 10 their
full depth. 1t is doubtful il they ever
will be-
Enough is known of the caves to
say that one in particuar, tine Jest
er cave" entrance to which is gained
some feet below the level of the
ground extends in an elevated posi-
tion opening near the top of the
small mountains. Openine iu laterals
through the main opening are many
smaller openings which lead to no
one knows where.
Millions OF bats make their home
in the cave and some euterprisiug
folks make their way a shor. dis
tance into the cave, gather the ma.
nure and sell ii for fertilizer 1t
brings good price. There are
many pools of water in the cave,
some OF them being 100 yards long
ana 200 yards wide The depth has
never been fathomed. These lakes
are said to be stocked with fish.
Exploration of the cave is attend
ed with a great degree Of danger
People who have visited it on sever
al occasions say that each time they
90 they find where rocks have fallen
during their absence and again they
will find their usual path lost in
ii large body of water
The most interesting story of the
attempted exploration OF the cave
concerns three boys, Marion North
cutt, Farford Dodson and George
Hall, ranging in years from II to II.
Last August the boys were visiting
the uncle OF one of the party and
one Sunday morning hitchcd mp the
horse and went to church.
When services were over the boys
decided TO visit the cave and find.
ing lantern i'm the buggy. lighted
it and began the trip through There
We're many pools of water and as
the boys were wearing their Sunday
clothes they decided to take them of
and stripped, they again began the
trip of exploration. Their clothes
were left outside in the buggy
There was much slipping around
on the mouldy stones. and much chat
tering caused by wading through the
cold water. Several times the light
flicllered. but the boys went on. They
wanted to go through it all A stone
wall reaching to their waists stretch.
ed across their path and water lay
on both sides of it,
over this stone the boys climbed
and the one carrying the lantern
slipped. The lantern went into the .
darkness. With the realization of the
the boys decided the only
thing to do was to find the opening |
and they climbed back over the bar. /
rier holding each others hands they .
CROPPED about seeking an opening.
Following their feeling of the wall .
they found themselves in several OF
the side openings, which ended ah-
ruptly, and they backed out Several
hours OF cropping and the BOYS be.
came chilled and exhausted and find
ing a dry spot sat down to rest
They soon fell asleep, but do no;
know how long they slept.
In the meantime their absence oc-
'asioned great alarm and when morn
ng came a searching party was form
I'd. Search in the vicinity of the
'hurch brought to light the horse,
buggy and clothes. Lanterns were
quickly gathered and a search of the
ave began. After few hours the
,oys We're found, still cropping around
he walls. Beyond being badly fright
med and chilled they did not show
my effects from their Imprisonment.
But they have decided hat If the
ave is ever fully explored none OF
hpm will Ia fo,,nJ ;p thu ,,art,.