The Cape weekly tribune. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1914, 1914-04-10
FOX DEN IS
THE HOME OF
ODD PEOPLE
Queer Being Caught in Steel
Trap Causes Investigation
Which Was Interesting
RADTUM LIGHTS THE CAVE
Walls Collapse and Adventurous
Searchers Barely Escape
With Their Lives.


full spot located about two and one
half miles south and west Of this
city. Situated as it is, on the bank
of o quaint little stream which winds
its way in serpentine curves and
meaningless memberships, here broad
ening out into shallow ripples, and
there closing and forming into deep
lazy pools as it aimlessly works
its winding course, the explorer is
brought into sudden realization of
his new surroundings, and in appre-
citation of the wonderful works Of
nature he grows forgetful Of his daily
cares, and all his troubles are sup
planted by feelings of bewildered
fascination. Emerging from wilder
ness of gnarled and twisted vines,
matted and interlocking underbursh
and shrubbery, interspersed with pro-
life growths Of giant ferns and wild
roses, all overshadowed with gloom
made dense by the heavy foliage
of the overlapping boughs of giant
oak and poplar, the visitor is sudden
ly confronted with an abrupt cliff
leading up for many feet in direct
contrast to, and at almost perfect
right angles with the profile pre-
sented by the opposite bank This
perpendicular promontory is known
as the Fox Den, and it's face is per-
forated with numerous orifices giving
the appearance of the ancient ruins
OF the prehistoric race known as the
Cliff Dwellers, proof of whose past
existence is found in New Mexico
and Arizona.
This charming spot is the property
of Hon. Louis Houck, and while he
owns broad acres of fertile fields
surrounding it, he has never permitted
the natural beauty there presented
axeman's hand.
Its impenetrable gloom affords an
excellent retreat for the few wild
animals now remaining in this sec
ton, as we'll as paradise for the
itinerant trapper whose spirit OF
venture is unrestrained by the vigil
lance of Mr.. Houck in his efforts
to preserve the virgin wildness of
this forest remnant.
Last Sunday afternoon q gentleman
from St. Louis and guide from this
city were fishing along the stream
that flows past the fox den. While
resting and partaking of a lunch,
their quiet was suddenly broken and
they were startled into alertness
by the shrill and piercing screams
of a woman who seemed to be in
great distress. Hurriedly forcing their
way through brush and bramble in
the direction of the agonizing sounds
they soon came upon the object OF
their quest. 1t was a little weakened
and wrinkled old woman, writing
in pain and frantically struggling
to free herself from the cruel jaws
of an immense steel trap into which
she had inadvertently stepped. She
was not more than four feet in height
clad in short, sleeveless, loose
fitting garment, which upon close
investigation proved to be coarsely
the silk found in the milk weed pod
Her coal black hair hung loose
over her shoulders, and in its dis.
ordered condition partially concealed
her facial features, Overcome with
terror and suffering she swooned
and sank into state of unconscious.
ness just as her rescuers reached her.
While busily engaged at the task
of prying apart the unrelentiug stec
jaws that they might set the cap
tive free, their establishment was in.
creased by the sudden appearance
of an old man who came totterinl
down the path leading from the
cliff. While he betrayed great emo
ton over the distress of his mate
he showed no fear of the strangers
and appeared to realize that they
were acting in friendly spirit. The
old fellow was greatly excited and
when he viewed the bleeding and
laeerated limb after it was extricated
his grief was pitiful to behold, and
the manner in which he caressed
his suffering partner displayed 6
devotion the sincerity and intensity
of which commanded admiration
He was about the same size and
height of the woman, and was clad
in a breech clout of the same fabric
as her dress. His hair was also Ions
and black Their compilations were
coppery and they appeared to be
very old.
The injured leg was bandaged witt
pocket handkerchief, and aftcl
sba he'd somnwhat revived the ole