The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-09-07
Good Food
Enjoyed in
Dutch Cave
Group of New York Men
Partake of Steaks
in Cellar.
BY HELEN WORDEN
Times Special Writer

~ New Yorker has his favorite
rabbit warren or mole tunnel VIII
liam c. Whitney's pet underground
retreat happens to be the Dutch
Cave beneath al E. 4Oth-st.
Floyd Neale. who lives in Arthur
Writings former studio back Of the
cat walk at 141. took me on an ex-
ploration tour Of the old cave.
Hans Miller. director Of the Con-
cord Players. lighted a candle and
led the way. Mr.. Miller's father. w.
S. Miller. discovered the cave when
he laid the foundations for his home
and carpenter shop on Murray Hill
in 1897.
The Miller's original home was
at 224 Madison-st, near the quaint
inn at Madison and Market-sts, run
by Anton Miller. Hans grandfather.
Old Anton Miller, white-bearded
and patriarchial, liked good food. He
headed a group of men called the
Epicures. Among them were Will
liam c. Whitney. Russell Sage. VIII
liam Dean HOwells, Richard Mans
field. Wheeler of the Standard Oil
and Gen. Howard Carroll.
Their speciality was steak. Tot
ordinary porterhOuse or sirloin GUS,
but the smaller and even more ten
der juicy filet mignons, which An
ton Miller kept hanging months be-
fore he thought them gamey enough
to cook
Cooked by Wood Fires
The steaks were broiled on a rack
set in a wood burning stove that had
been in use at the inn since 1875.
The stove was moved down in the
inn cellar for the Epicures' banquet.
Great kegs of ale fianked the tables.
Winter after winter, the Epicures
took their steak and ale in Anton
Miller's cellar.
Eventually the inn was torn down
and the Millers moved to 4Oth-st
The stove in which the steaks had
been broiled was used for burning
shavings in the carpentry shop.
But father really never forgot the
good steaks and ale cellar at the
inn" Hans Miller said, plotting Mr..
Neale and myself down to the mys-
FERROUS depths Of the 4Oth-st cave.
The start was prosaic enough;
plain heavy oak door on the other
side Of the carpenter shop Office.
1T hasn't been opened in years"
said Mr. Miller, pressing against the
obstinate lock. A wave of musty
ri ctror,t f,oct &c tho dor ctr-tty7c
in.
Our candle fiickered. You lead
the way" said to Mr.. Miller
No, it's all right. You go first"
he said.
The clatter of street noises. the
roar of the Third-av L" and the
friendly, cheerful sounds from the
carpenter shop of saving and ham,
mering grew faint and finally faded
away as We descended into the an
Gent cave.
When my eyes grew accustomed to
the ShadOwy, dubious half-light. I
saw a low-ceilinged. hand-hewn,
beamed room. The stone walls were
hung with Dutch pipe racks, old por-
traits and Revolutionary guns.
Wooden tables and chairs were
set on the Sand-Strewn floor and di-
rectly in front of me. on the stair
rail, rose grotesque black figure.
Idol Bought Drinks
Whats that?" I cried.
An African idol" Mr.. Miller said.
holding the candle close to the
was across from my grandfather'S
inn. When the sailors couldn't pay
for their whisky in cash, they would
give whatever they'd brought back
for drinks. This idol represented a
good many SwigS of whisky"
Once the Miller family got settled
in the 4Oth-st home. Hans father
made the cave his hobby He tun-
neled farther under the house, put
rough plankS on the dirt floor and
fitted cObbleStones around the fire
place.
A couple of years after Anton Mil
Ter had closed his inn. an Epicure
drifted in the carpenter shop to
talk over steaks he remembered.
The old stove revived memories
"Why couldn't We all meet again in
the carpenter shop for another steak
frye he begged.
What's the matter with the
cave?' asked w. S. Miller. Wen
move the old stove down there!"
That was in 1897" Hans Miller
said. We've had great parties
herel William c. Whitney said it
was his favorite hideaway. Boy!
remember those steaks myself"
L bought them" boaSted Otto
LOckhart. Hans uncle. when we re-
turned to the Office. But those
days are gone. w S. is dead. The
old man is dead And We haven't
used the Dutch Cave in years."
Occasionally. persons who have
heard Of the cave call up and ask if
they can rent it for parties.
A woman phoned not long ago"
Hans Miller said What was her
name. unCle?'
Mr.. LOCkhart looked thoughtful
7 can't remember off-hand. She
wears diamonds and feather cos
tunes at the Beaux-ArtS Ball-oh.
know Mrs Stanwood Menken-
said she wanted to give an unusual
party! But We couldn't rent the
cave. It belongs TO our family"