Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-09-22
AShlandeHS Visit
Famous Caves

am writing you something of our
trip to the coast. We left Ashland
with what in middle west parlance is
known as a prairie schooner. We
had a bed in the back and a tent,
two army cots, sheetiron stove etc.
Our destination was the Josephine
Caves, the Redwoods and the Pacific
ocean. We have arrived. The only
things we have lost are a currycomb
and brush, piece of bailing wire
and the ladies compilations. Our
party is still intact-consisting of J.
A. Schoenthal, Mrs. Schoenthal, their
daughter Fac, Mrs. E. G.. Richards
and the writer.
We learned some things on this
trip that might be of use to people
who have never made it. We were
told that to see the caves we should
go by way of Jacksonville and the
Applegate and would have to pack
in six or seven miles. This is a mis-
take.
Our first night was spent in camp
just over the hill from Jacksonville,
our second at Stevens brothers ranch
on the headwaters of Williams creek
having passed down the Applegate
to Provolt and from there up Will
liams creek. Going up the latter
stream we stopped at a ranch to get
water and found that we were at a
place occupied by a brother of the
Messrs. Yeo of Ashland.
AS we nesred Stevens we began
to inquire about the distance we
L.
stantly varied, but in general in
creased to eleven miles. At Stevens
a sign put up by the guide read ten
miles, but Mr.. Stevens said he knew
it was eleven at least. Mr.. Stevens
is truthful.
Thursday morning with one saddle
horse and one pack horse we started
up the trail at nine and arrived at
two. This pack is about the same
as from Ashland to the top of Mount
Ashland. A wagon could be driven
about two miles above Stevens, but
the road is not good. On part of
this trail we were accompanied by
Mr.. Davidson, discoverer of the caves,
who trailed bear into them in
about 1873.
OOOn uLICI at INC CdNCo
Judge Watson and Prof. Winchell
and party came in from the south
and we had the pleasure of the
Judges company through the caves,
which we entered at six o'clock, oc-
cupying four hours on the trip. The
caves are quite wonderful but their
beauty is marred by the filtered soil
and smoke from torches. Beautiful
stalactites and stalagmites, pillars
and lime rock waterfalls abound An
underground brook is crossed at one
place.
AS our knowledge of underground
caverns was limited to the robber
caves we dug in boyhood, the cham
bers of these seemed small in gem
eral, though Joaquin Miller's is
and the ghost chamber is about one
hundred feet high. One of the most
difficult passages is Paradise Alley.
1t must be two hundred feet in
length and for the most part has to
be traversed on hands and knees.
We emerged at ten o'clock at night
feeling that it was worth while.
Dick Rowley, the guide employed
by the government, is most accom-
modating. He has one fixed rule,
however, and as we have had several
anxious inquiries on the road con-
corning it, | announce it here: "All
ladies must wear overalls." The
next day we descended to our schoon-
er without mishap, camped that
night down Williams creek and Sat-
urday night camped at Chastelin's
place near Love Station for a Sun
day rest.
We had learned this-all people
going by auto to the caves, and all
driving from Ashland to Crescent
City and expecting to see them,
should go by way of Grants Pass,
Kerby and Holland to Miles place
and pack in from there six miles, un-
til road is made up from Williams
creek.
On Monday we passed over the
beautiful country to station five at
the foot of the Coast Range and on
Tuesday crossed the range to Cas-
quet. This road crossing the range
is a marvel. The road around
Flounce Rock in the upper Rogue
river is an infant in comparison. 1t
is seven miles up and nine miles
down, then six miles up and seven
down to Gasquet.
During most of this twenty-nine
miles the road literally hangs from
the cliffs and in some places is at
least thousand feet above the Illi-
nois and Smith rivers. 1t is won
derfully rugged, the scene constantly
varies and in places one can look
down for several miles and see the
road over which he has come. The
soil of the road is for the most part
brick red, the hills have few large
trees and are very step, while at