Evening star., 1925-05-31
MARK TWAIN'S CAVE IN DANGER
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN

Near the banks OF the Mississippi
River, just two miles south of Han
nibal Mo, near-tragedy is being
enacted. The Mark Twain Cave, IA
nous wherever Tom Sawyer and
Huckleberry Finn are known, seems
doomed to destruction.
The cave is Of limestone formation.
1t is said by geologists to belong to
a series Of caves which run across
Missouri, cross the river near Hanni-
bal and proceed in southerly direc-
ton through the famous Kentucky
cave region to the gulf.
These underground passages are
thought to be the course OF an un-
derground river which flowed through
them in distant geological ages.
Whether the river was as long as
the chain is not known, but all the
caverns were formed by water. The
theory has 1t that the river did flow
through them all and that once .hey
were connected, forming an immense
subterranean labyrinth. This fs mere
ly theory, however, and at tha present
time there are no connections be-
tween them, although at many places
the walls which end the passages ring
with a hollow sound when struck by
q hammer or club.
this series, is surrounded by extensive
strata Of limestone which is essential
in the manufacture of cement. 4
Portland cement company owns par
Of the hill under which II lies. The
cement plant itself is but i mile or
so south of Gave Hollow" its quar-
ries have eaten into hills nearby and
now are in the hill which houses the
cave.
A visitor to the cave who happens
to explore beyond the customary
routes feels the tremors caused by
blasting and at times bits of rock fall
from the ceiling and walls around him.
some of the more remote passa ges al
readv have fallen in. due to the
shocks. and as the quarries come
closer Il is likely that the whole cave
eventually will collapse. This Is where
the note Of tragedy comes In.
The cave Is by far the most pic
turesque natural thing in the vicinity.
II has a glamour OF romance, an air
of mystery about II, Just as other caves
have. plus the immortal touch that
Mary Twain's pen gave to IT.
Five Entrances to the Cave.
II is entered at the base of high
hill through an opening which has
been enlarged to ample proportions
and which Is supported by artificial
arches. This entrance was originally
much smaller: It was hole in the side
of the hill. Then there are four other
known ways in which the cave may be
entered These are holes of different
size that are strung along the hillside,
one very high on 1t, so that one must
v'riggle through it's narrow limits and
descend a steep incline to arrive at the
level of the main entrance.
All of these holes, save the highest
one, have been boarded up to prevent
children from entering and repeating
the thrilling experiences OF Tom Saw
yer and Becky Thatcher. This one,
however. is a serious gap in the pro-
tecting net that has been thrown about
the place. The boys of Hannibal know
Of it, and there seems to be a sort Of
fraternal secrecy about 1t as the guides
attached to the cave have never
closed 1t.
To the tourist trip into the cavern
costs rs cents. He Is guided about the
labyrinth and shown such wonders as
Backbone 1.-THE Ship "The Ele-
plants Trunk" and others. These
formations are dwelt upon In glowing
terms by the guide. Also there is a
room which Is called The Parlor." !"
Here a divan Of rock and a stone plano
are shown the tourist. The latter OBJ
jects, however, require considerable
imagination to picture the articles they
are said to represent. One enterpris-
ing shoe company has shown disre-
spect for 1.-The Piano" by carving an
advertisement on the keyboard.
THE Cross" under which the treas
ure of Injun Joe is supposed to have
been hidden is in evidence. 1t is on
the ceiling at the intersection Of two
passages and is formed by two deep
burrows In the rock at the geometrical
center OF the intersection. A few
feet from It Is The Elephants