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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (July 21, 1908)
EIGHT PAGES. DAILY EAST OREGONIAN, PENDLETON, OIIEGON, H'JCKD.W, JIXY 1008. PAGE TUBES. S OF Mil W. I Crlssey writes the following highly entertaining article on the wonderful caves of central Oregon, which rival the Mammoth cave of Kentucky: Few people In Oregon, to say noth ing of our country in general, are aware that In the southern part of this state Is to be found a series of caverns second only to the world-famous Mammoth cave of Kentucky. Indeed, the Oregon caves mijy one day be granted first place, for no attempt at thorough exploitation has .ver been made, though the main passages have been penetrated to a UlHtance of more than seven miles, with no Indication of the end. It was In 1874 that Elijah David son, out hunting In the mountain, followed his dogs on a fresh bear track to find them baying before a dark opening In which the wounded animal had taken refuge. From tho cavern rushed a stream of limpid water, through which Mr. Davidson had to wade In entering. A few feet Inside the bear was dis patched, but the discoverer had seen enough to fill him with wonder and curiosity, and as 'soon as neighbors could be enlisted In the expedition the party returned. Made Sun to Open Caves. The country being thinly settled, It Was some time before the caves were sufficiently known to attract visitors from abroad. Then a party of San Francisco capitalists became Interest ed and decided to develop them as a commercial enterprise. Men were hired to cut a trail over the moun tains, others worked Inside, enlargln mall Dassages. that they might be more easily traversed, a big hotel was planned and all was bustle an activity. The promoters themselves camped at the entrance, spending many hours dally in the caves. Cards whlled away the time and games for princely stakes were played in a chamber still known a the "Gamblers' Hall." At the close of the summer the capitalists departed, with assurance that money would be sent to pay the workers, but the paymaster never appeared. It was a creat disappointment to the sturdy mountaineers who had worked for a small wage and then lost that. ' Squatters "Frose Out," After several years had elapsed two voutik men built them a cabin and undertook to establish their residence there, so that by "squatting" they would be given a title to the claim when the government surveyed the land. Several bridges were construct ed over the mountain streams, more work was done on the trail and the boys worked bard, but seeing that the longed for survey was Indefinite and uncertain of accomplishment, they re luctantly abandoned their cabin, Within the past year the United . States government has recognised the. caves as one of the scenic marvels Of its domafn by withdrawing the spot (torn entry and designating It, a na tlonal park, a fitting sequal to its ro mantle history. - "The Marble Halls of Oregon" lie In the midst of the most .picturesque mountain scenery . imaginable. De scendlng into a little valley over rug ged granite boulders, the forest-cov ered mountains rising on every side, one comes to Cave cree&S which bursts from the foot of a perpendicular gran ite fall 100 feet In height Nature has draped the white facade with lux urlant green moss, in beautiful con trast to its uncovered portions. It is like a grand overture introducing the theater of wonders to follow. Entering a low passage by follow ing the bed of the stream,' one grad ually ascends over rugged rocks to the upper levels, leaving the water below. A hundred feet and the real beauties begin to disclose themselves. The walla are of creamy whiteness, while slender stallctltes depend like Icicles from the celling; stalagmites rise from the floor; fastastlc formations of the same soft white abound on every hand. - Darkness absolute and Impenetra ble is but Intensified by the candles as one moves through the large cham bers. Silence as In a vacuum reigns not a sound of life exists In the air or water. Every stalactite has - its drop of crystal liquid, yet it never seems to fall, and the caves are In most places remarkably dry. The air Is pure and fresh, the temperature remains at 60 degrees the year around. The Marvelous Rooms. One of the first rooms Is the "Queen's Palace," At the sides, ris ing In tiers like the seats of an am phitheater, are shelves, couches hung with fairy tapestry. It is a royal apartment 111 very truth. Not so large as some others, but unique In Its attractiveness, is "The Organ Loft." Down the center hangs a row of enormous stalactites of dif fer tn lengths. Struck gently with a bit of stone, they send forth mellow sounds like deep-toned bells, the pitch of the different pipes sometimes vary, lng as much as two octaves, yet no two alike. These reverberating chimes give an Indescribably weird and beau tiful effect In thellent chambers. "The Ghost Chamber" is modeled on the grandest scale of all, though so Irregular in Its outline that dimen sions convey but little meaning. Emerging into this great salon, one is startled by a gigantic shadowy white outline lost in the obscurity of the further end. .Unlike most of. the. other rooms, OifuJ'host Chamber" Is hol lowed ouf bt a brownish rock, and the stalactite formation only appears in one place, where it covers the vys.ll like a, crystallzed waterfall, producing the spectral effect ' that names the room. The dome is fully 100 feet In height,' while the length of the room must be as much or more. . . ; Many Secret Passages, Idea of the Intricacy of the caverns and the danger In attempting to visit them alone. Occasionally some one goes in by tying a string at the en trance and unwinding the ball to serve as a return guide. Dozens of these cords have been left in place, and they give one the uncanny feeling that If they were but followed to the end there would be found a dead man, for so seldom are the caves vlKlted at certain seasons, and so Isolated Is the locality that this might easily happen to an over-daring explorer. Soon after the discovery of the place the complete skeleton of a bear was found in one of the Inner rooms and If brute Instinct did not serve to j liberate him from that terrible maze, there would be little hope for a hu man being. "The Golden Sjalrs," a wonderful natural flight, lead out of the Ghoul Chamber and ascend for many feet, , sometimes through a passage so smull that one crawls on his stomach or stays behind If Inclined to embon point. Appropriately enough, "The Chapel" is soon reached, and here Is a charming little lake of the coldest, clearest water, lying at one side of the room where the wall and celling ap proach to within a couple of feet of each othes Hollow stalactites, like clear glass reeds, connect them, and where these have been broken away to allow vis itors to drink the delicious water, the remaining fragments carry many a feminine tress as a reminder of fair visitors. Dangerous to Enter. On and on, 'now cllmblrig a ladder or descending by clinging to the rocks and stalactites, until the guide star tles his charges by whispering, "There must be someone else In the cave." Far, far below, in a seemingly bot tomless pit, glimmers .a candle. It Is but a stub left by the guide in the Ghost Chamber, and we are on an upper level, near its dome, where a single misstep would mean a fatal ac cident. Climax of beauty and grace is the "Pond Lily Room," most difficult of access, richest in its adornment. The ascent by long ladders and sllpery walls Is fraught with danger at every turn, yet the risk is well repaid. Covering the walls of this room, as though carved In wax, are stalactites shaped as Illy pads and blossoms, while from the celling hang immense fluted chandeliers of the most delicate formation. Everything in the room is of dazzl ing purity and whiteness. As though this were not enough' to enchant the beholder, dainty marine shells are found In strata near the floor, pre senting an interesting problem to the geologist 'faoly of .Holies" this room has been called by. later visitors and certainly It does inspire reverence lomewhat lessened when the guide gives his version of the name as "Holliest of Holes." Some of the names bestowed are almost as picturesque as the rooms themselves "Old Nick's Bedroom," Klncald's Dancehall" and tire Shark's Mouth." At one place Is an immense pillar the thickness of a man's body, reaching from floor to vaulted roof; again, there is a broad shelf covered with minute crystals re sembling the' tracery of frost on a window pane; here the floor lies in Uttle ridges like sand on' the beach as the tide goes out, and so strong Is the likeness that one involuntarily stoops to take a handful. Four Distinct Levels. There are four distinct levels to the caverns so far as known and an upper entrance has been uncovered and enlarged, perhaps 200 feet up the mountain, which makes it possible to avoid the waters of Cave creek alto gether. Night and day are as one In these vast underground galleries, whose perfection must have taken century upon century. Not the slight est change In even the smallest ftn lactlte is dlscernable since their dis covery, save where vandals, have broken them In unreasoning quest for souvenirs. There are two ways of reaching the caves, both Involving a start from Grant's Pass, whence stage Is taken to either Williams or Klrby, then a supplementary Journey on horseback or afoot The Williams route is the shortest and the trail is being con stantly Improved; by Klrby Is consid ered a little the easier Journey. No man Is so familiar with the labyrinth as John Klncald, who was the original explorer of many of the passages and worked In their . improvement for three whole months. "Johnnie" and his "bar" hounds are familiar figures the mountains. Thirty-five miles distant from Grant's Pass, this very remoteness from the beaten lines of travel adds immeasurably to. the zest of this outing. . A whole week spent at the caves would bring fresh en joyment to hundreds and thousands to visit this marvelous natural museum. A Year's Sip cripii to the mm. will be given absolutely free to any boy securing subscriptions to the Daily East Oregonian, delivered by carrier n V4 Here's your chance to get a large, interesting and beautifully illustrated Boys' Magazine without any cost to you whatever. It will only take you a few minutes tdme---just comply with any one of the following requirements and the magazine is yours for a whole year. 1 . Bring us one new six month subscription to the Daily East Oregonian, by carrier, amounting to - $3.75 2. Bring us two new three month subscriptions to the Daily . East Oregonian, by carrier, amounting to , - - each $ 1 .95 . . 3. Bring us three new two month subscriptions to the Daily East Oregonian, by carrier, amounting to - - each $1.30 4. Bring us six new one month subscriptions to the Daily East -Oregonian, by carrier, amounting to - - each 65c The First Halional land PEHDLETQil, OREGOII Report of the Condition, July 1 5, 1 908 To the Comptroller of Currency. CONDENSED It's easy to reach North Beach Take Steamer POTTER from Portland Women might be quieter if they wouldn't talk so much, but they ouldn't be nearly so amusing. . Scores of passages lead from the "Ghast Chamber", In every direction, yet the fact that but A' single ' one leads to the outer entrance gives an KIIP YOUR HIAD UNCOVERED. 1fc. Onittit Wearlas Jf a Hat Prepe sjates Daadrefl Germs. There are many men who wear their hats practically all the time when awake and are blessed with a heavy snort ol hair; yet It the scalps of these same mor once became Infested with dandrijR germs, the parasites would multiply all the quicker for lack of air. Baldnext would ensue as the final result New bro's H.rplelde kills tbM germs and stimulates unhealthy hair to abundant growth. Hrplelde,ls a pleent. htlr dressing as w.ll aa.jsV dandruff cur. snd zonulas not an atom of injurious sub stance. Sold by leading dmriri.ta. Bond Me. in stamps for sample to Th. H.rpl Me Ce.. Detroit, Two slkes 10 cents and I1.M. , ,.Jl C Koeppea A Bros. Resources Loans and discounts $ 946,679.06 Overdrafts 13,960.86 IT. S. Bonds 190.000.00 Other bonds, warrants, etc t J7.120.29 Real estate (bank build ing) 20,000.00 Cash. Cash on hand 143,049.71 Due frQm banks 371,381.84 Redemption -"" fund 7,000.00 621,431.66 Total $1,718,191.24 Liabilities Capital stock $ 200,000.00 Surplus and undivided profits 74.866.87 Circulation 108,940.00 Due to banks 40,412.24 Deposits 1,298,982.13 Total .31,718,19.24 I, George Hartman, Jr., Assistant Cashier of the above named Bank, do solemnly swear that the above statement is true, to the best of my knowledge and belief, GEORGE HARTMAN, Jr. . Ass't Cashier. Subscribed jpd sworn to before me this 17th day of July"l908. Cv K. CRANSTON, Seal Notary Public for Oregon. lie East Oregonian is eastern Oregon's represeatatiYV paper. It leads and the people appreciate it and show it by their liberal patroar aft. It is the adrertiafoa medium of this sectiosv ace now transferred to tit railroad at MBGLER, fourteen miles up the Columbia from TJwaoo. Ttrto eliminates the new My of teamen waiting for the tide, and Insures prompt aad regular Summer Schedule. - S-eesasveJb-J The Steamer T. J. JPOTTER. leaves Portland every morning except Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 o'clock. Saturday only at 2 o'clock P.- M. Remember the Summer rate on the O. R. & N. is $13.15 from Pendleton to all North Beach points and return; good until September 30th. North Beach is a famous, beautiful place the most perfect beach on the hole North Coast. There are accommodations galore at prices to suit all tastes; camping facilities without equal perfect bathing conditions; all sorts of amuse ments and diversions. Come, have a good rest and a Jelly time. Let us send you our new summer book, and tel 1 you all about NORTH BEACH. F. J. QUINLAN, Local Agent PENDLETON,! OREGON Wm. McMURRAY General Passenger Agent, Portland, Oregon. Byers' Best Flour Is made from the choicest wheat that grows. Good bread is ed when BYERS' BEST FLOUR Is used. Bran, Shorts, Steam Rolled Barley always on band. PENDLETON ROLLER MILLS W. 8. BYERS, Proprietor. a. e
