New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-07-28
A New Goal for the
American Tourist

4 MID the wilds of Southwestern Ore
~ gon, almost unknown to the world
at large, according to Popular Mechan-
ics," is situated
"a series of underground chambers and
passages remarkable for their size and for
the beauty and unusual character of their
decorations. Within the last few years
they have been made national monument
and are now known as the Marble Caves
of Oregon.
"They were discovered in 1874 by Elijah
Davidson, early pioneer, while trailing
a wounded bear down the mountain side.
Owing to their isolated location and high
altitude they have remained almost I'M
known even to the people of the Pacific
Coast.
"At the present time visit to the caves
is no small undertaking. From Grants Pass
Medford thirty mile drive takes one
to the camp at the end of the wagon road
The rest of the trip must be made on foot
or muleback up a steep trail ten miles in
length. During the summer months the
Forestry Service stations a forester at the
caves as guide and caretaker
1.-THE caves consist of three and a half
miles of marble passages and grottoes,
ranging from one to four Or five stories in
height. In places the connecting corridors
are so low that one must crawl on all tours
for a considerable distance. Elsewhere the
chambers are so large that the opposite
walls and ceiling scarcely visible in the
dim candlelight. The largest cavern meas
ures over 500 feet in length, and it's
arched ceiling is 100 feet above the floor.
'Throughout the entire cave the stalac-
titc formations are rich and wonderfully
varied. In some chambers the ceiling is
mass of small stalactites, from the points
of which hang starike glittering pendants
drops of water. In one superb room the
roof is covered with gigantic inverted white
tulips; in another folds Of massive dra-
peres cover the walls, supported by immense
futed columns. Here staactites reach
down from above, and embrace their stall
agmitic sisters, thus forming pillars of sur
passing symmetry and beauty; there min
iature Niagara stands outlined in white
marble, beyond which a magnificent Solo
mons Temple is carved deep into the heart
of the mountain.
Through the lower levels of the cave
flows clear stream of water, the River
StyX, over which visitors travel for some
distance a narrow plank foot bridge.
The pipes in the Organ Loft when struck
with a wooden mallet sound weird tones
which can be heard in the adjoining grotto,
| Old Nicks Bedchamber, with it's four-poster
| bed of stalagmites.
ain Windy Passage the candles are gen.
orally extinguished by the current of air
which constantly sweeps through, and, for
once in their lives visitors know what real
darkness means. Fat Mans Grief, long,
low, narrow passage, is almost impossible
for those who weigh over 200 pounds, and
great is the laughter which greets the
heavyweight of the party he slowly and
painstakingly works his way through.
"The climb to the upper cave, 200 feet
above the lower chambers, is very strenu-
Gus The first obstacle to be encoun-
tered is the Devils Backbone This is a
long, sharp ridge with yawnng chasm on
either side, and the only way to cross it
in safety is to straddle it and hitch along
few inches at time. The rest of the
way is up ladders and chimneylike crevices
in sem-darkness, for the few candles car
ried by the party seem only to accentuate
the gloom and to cast shadows where light
is most needed. Exit can be made from the
upper opening, thus avoiding what would
| be very tresome if not dangerous descent
back to the lower cave"