Year: 1866

I


a long article about two Portuguese


arriving in town from prospecting


tour, bringing rich specimens with them.


The direction they had been is indicated


west by south of Shasta, where they


had seen much snow, many deer, bear


and other game. They made a discovery


of a vast cave, and endeavored to pen


citrate it with pitch pine torches, but


their light gave out before they had


discovered its extent. The marks of


various kinds of animals were distinctly


seen as far as they went, and, being


curious to find a termination, returned


to make preparations on larger scale.


Of the second attempt at exploration,


the Courier says:


"Arrived back at the point from


which they had started, they determined


to pack small mule they had with


them with blankets, little provision,
and great deal of pitch pine, and,
fully arming themselves, again started.
Thus equipped, they resumed their
search more leisurely and with renewed
confidence, and were soon beyond the
point of their former exploration, and
at least a mile on their subterranean
travels. Close examination of the trail
they were on satisfied them that the
place had been travelled by Indians, and
hence they came to the conclusion that
there might be an outlet somewhere in
advance Of them. Soon their progress
became more difficult, the passage mar
rowing in some places so as to make it
difficult to squeeze the little mule
through, and then it would open out on
a scale so grand that their lights failed
to reveal anything but walls of darkness.
As yet, no living thing had presented
itself to disturb the monotony or the
darkness, and the poor fellows began to
think that they might be on the route
to the lower regions. Soon, however,
on turning an angle in the trail,
glimpse of daylight was had, and, after
a few minutes, scene burst upon them
such as to strike with wonder and awe
the beholders. Even the mule mani
Tested surprise at the scene presented.
They stood on the bank of a subterra-
mean stream of great volume and rapidity
of current, as wide as the Sacramento
at Waugh's Ferry-or about two hun
dred feet-and of great depth appar-
entity. The bank on either side was
sloping. and covered with rank growth
of rushes and coarse bunch grass. The
scene was lighted up by an aperture in
the mountain overhead, seemingly some
hundred feet above them, and to the
eye apparently no larger than an ordi-
nary mining shaft. The opening at the
base seemed from forty to sixty rods
the whole presenting the appearance
Of vast funnel inverted. Lying about
them were the bones of animals that
had evidently been killed for food by
Indians, the indications of old camp fires
being plenty all around. The water was
pure and pleasant to the taste, having
no unusual flavor. Finding no road to
travel onward, nor a boat for internal
navigation, they returned to the place
from whence they started. On their
return, they examined more closely the
sides, and, when they could, the top
Of this wonderful opening. They found
the walls Of hard granite, occasionally
of shelly or broken character, but
generally so firm as to cause no fear
of its falling. They noticed several
quartz veins that were cut by the vast
tunnel, but saw no great indications
of wealth about them. In fact, they
say they felt somewhat in a hurry to
get away, and did>not care to spend the
time necessary to minute examination.
They will return about the first of May.
and say they will take pleasure in
showing to the curious the wonder they
have discovered"


The location Of the above cave is
supposed to be in the vicinity of Yolly
Bolly, almost directly west of Red Bluff.
At least, cave was discovered in that
locality by hunter, last summer, who
explored it as far as half a box of
matches would carry him. An Indian
who accompanied him tried to dissuade
him from going near the cave, stating
that it led to the everlasting hunting