Cañon City record., 1911-02-16
TO Be.
EXPLORED
FURTHER

Evidence is accommodating pointing
TO the existence Of a large cave in
the Royal Gorge and several we'll eq-
uipped exploring parties are planning
to leave here next Saturday morning
to endeavor to locate it There is
some uncertainty whether the COM
mittee from the Business Mems asso-
citation found the ent ance to it a
few days ago. although its members
discovered a cavern OF considerable
size which may. upon further inyesti-
cation. furnish key to the solution
OF the problem That a great fissure.
or true cave. is 10 be found in that
Immediate vicinity seems to admit
Of no question and its discovery with
in short time is almost certain
Jas z. Laws states that Mr.. Shell
don, former locomotive engineer in
the employ OF the Denver 81 Rio
Grande railroad company, and at one
time superintendent OF the ChafYee
county poor farm at Salida. with a
companion, entered the cave for dis
;ance of more than two thousand feet
some twelve or fifteen years ago and
describes IL as a cavern OF immense
size. ornamented everywhere with the
most beautiful stalactites hanging
from a high, vaulted ceiling that Gin
tillates and giisten when illuminated
BY torch light Mr.. Sheldon's discov-
cry was the result OF railroad wreck
In the Gorge and his experience may
result in the relocation of the lost
cavern. which. he says. rivals in
beauty. the famous caves in T-auray
county. Virginia
while waiting for the wrec<ase on.
the railroad track to be cleared away
and traffic resumed. Nr. Sheldon and
another gentleman whose name Is
unknown. climbed the mountains on
the south side of the river. and. in do
ing so. came upon the cave quite un-
ezpectedly. Providing themselves
with extemporized torches, made from
a rinion tree close at hand, they eau
tiously entered and made their way
back from the opening FOR a distance
OF more than third OF a mile. hut
did not reach the end Of the cave The
aoor was almost level. and. in places,
the cavern expanded TO n great width.
They broke OF many beautiful stall
agmites. which they took back with
them to Salida. many of which they
save TO their friends in token OF their
discovery
4 year OF. so afterwards Mr. SHIELD
on and two or three friends made
second expedition to the site OF the
cave TO make a more complete explor-
alton and to procure a still larger
supply Of the staiagmites. but were
unable to locate the entrance to the
cave. the entrance OF which had. pre-
snmably. been blottcd out by an av-
blanche Of rock and rubble from the
hills above.
on his hrst visit Mr.. sheldon noted
an immense hole. almost circular in
shape. IN the floor of the cavern that
seemed TO be almost bottomless. as a
stone dropped into 1t gave back no
echo of its Judgement for seven or
eight seconds From Mr., Sheldon's
testimony it IS apparent that the en-
trance to the cave Is dangerous. ex-
cept to those provided with torches.
ropes and other essentials for such
exploration.
Mr. Maddox. Of the Business Mems
association. will endeavor to ascer-
tain the present whereabouts OF Mr.
Sheldon and endeavor to obtain from
him further information in relation
10 the cave and the possibilities OF
It's being made picnic and pleasure
resort during the summer season.
Other people are coming forward
with statements about the existence
of great cave in tho locality allud-
ed TO by Mr.. sheldon and there is lit
tie likelihood OF its remaining hidden
from the knowledge OF the public very
much longer large party of high
school students are arranging to Wis
Il the locality next Saturday with a
view of uncovering Its hidden en-
trance