The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-06-18
WOODSMEN SEE
STRANGE SIGHTS
in TITANIC CAVE
Weird and FearsOme Things
Greeted Them While
Traversing 1t
ABOUT 20 MILES LONG
AND HALF A MILE WIDE

SEATTLE. Wash.---Johh VI. Gil
gore and Robert Reic. woodsmen
came to Seattle to report their discov
cry OF gigantic cave In the heart
or the Olympic mountains, In the
northwest part or the state
They describe the cave al being
about 20 miles long and half a mile
wide In places. with large rooms filled
with amazing things. IL has an Gu
easy OF access.
The woodsmen were cruising OF
measuring standing timber. when they
found the entrance to the cave on the
south side OF small mountain. Pro
curing lanterns and supplies, they ven
tured In and spent IA hours wander.
ing from room TO room, finally com
ing out into daylight 20 miles further
south and about one mile lower In
altitude.
They say they are the first white
persons to enter the cave, although
Indians or prehistoric men may have
lived there. for there are numerous
human skulls and bones in one room
near the south entrance.
The entrance il high enough TO
permit man to walk In direct. Once
inside Gilgore and Reid found them
selves In a room with low ceiling.
but which glistened like glass. and
was cold and damp. They found the
room TO be studied with stalactites, ~
to 20 feet, protruding from the sides
OF the walls. The floor was composed
OF damp. red sand. and near one side
was small stream worn out OF the
solid rock.
Myriads Of Reptiles.
Fifty feet further the low room
spread out into q court and another
larger room with high ceiling. Over
the floor and under the fat rocks ran
myriads Of lizards and snakes l,
appeared to be the wintering place
for all the reptiles In the Olympic
mountains. The lizards were Of every
land species and OF every size.
Hurrying through this cavern, GIL
gore and Reid. holding hands for mu
tual aid. and to assure each Other
confidence, entered wonderful no
| tunda. with dome and walls Of
| white silica or lime rock They esti
mated the length OF this room to be
close TO 1000 feet, and from 1000
TO 5000 feet wide. The ceiling ranges
from so to 100 feet on the sides to
several hundred feet In the domed
center.
The light from the lanterns would
not penetrate TO the top OF the domed
ceiling. This room was bare as far
as curios were concerned. II ie-
minded them OF a monster ballroom
awaiting guests. The floor was level.
A Yawning Pit.
Following the general trend OF the
cave, the men worked their way Tor
two miles over rocks. across abyss
and around pools OF water OF un-
known depth, until they came upon a
yawning pit. Here they filled one
lantern with fresh supply OF oil
and threw the empty bottle into the
pit Reid counted 80 before the bottle
was heard striking the rocks on the
bottom Of the pit.
Once around this deep black hole
the men found easy going and came
upon another room filed with a
strange odor. This was believed TO
be produced by sulphur-bearing rocks
In the formation OF the walls. II was
very nauseating.
Believing that they would have TO
turn back because of this gas, the
men suddenly emerged into another
room, I'm which they felt fresh air
blowing In strong current through
the cavern. They we're unable 70
trace its origin. but were fairly car
ried by the current into another sep
arate room, where the lanterns were
not needed. because PHOSPHORUS
rocks made everything as bright as
day. The air was fresh and sweet
here, evidently coming from an aper-
ture In the sides Of the mountain.
Like An Inferno.
Wonder after wonder opened up
before the two explorers as they hur-
ried through the natural tunnel. Az.
ter traversing many miles OF the
caves they came upon large room
filed with every conceivable noise.
II was q veritable inferno. Screeches,
howls, meanings and sharp reports
like explosions rent the air continM-
ally There was not a thing moving
10 produce the sounds, and II was q
terrifying mystery to the woodsmen.
Ten minutes more brought them
into room where many skulls and
human bones lay In small piles. as
II the room had been used as a vault
for the dead Stone arrow heads and
stone mortars were observed.
Hand In hand the two men hurried
along, and after more than Ia hours
came upon straight. low-arched
vassageway. and saw daylight through
81 1o0kAA 70 Lnv
hole The hole was really the south
entrance OF the cave. and the discov.
erers found themselves In the noun
tains again and fully 20 miles from
camp.
With a party of students from the
state university they will again visit
the cave and obtain pictures and
drawings