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About Herald and news. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1942-current | View Entire Issue (July 13, 1958)
PA(Te 2 d ' HERALD AND NEWS, KLAMATH FALLS, OREGON SUNDAY, JULY 13, 1958 n nn n crp ilovo iseos u our .isasv. Varied' Amid Dnterestiinig LABYRINTH CAVE is a good example of the underground wonders to be found at the Lava Beds National Monument. This picture, snapped by Herald and News photographer Don Kettler, shows the cave with the light of a gas lan tern glowing in the background. Forty one miles south of Klam ath Falls lies the 72-square-mile area of the Lava Beds National Monument, site pf. the famous bat ties of the Modoc War of 1872-73. But there is more" to the site than mere batHe scenes no mat ter how exciting historically they might be. Within the monument are to be found spectacular lava flowers, fumeroles, ice caves with floors composed of solidly frozen rivers, huge caverns with -domed roofs and, jn season, myriads of wildflowers, In addition to all this there are over 40 'species of wild life within the monument. Lvine 10 me norm ana adjacent is the Tulelake National Wildlife Refuse where in spring and fall hundreds of thousands of ducks and geese are to be seen. Huge bands of deer roam the Devil's Homestead area in winter when they come out of the high hills in search of pasturing ground. The trip is one well worth the lime to make whether you are an "old-timer" in the country or a newcomer to the desert scene. While no eating or hotel facilities are available at the monument at present there is nearby Tulelake where these needs can, be taken care of. At- the monument there is a campground at Indian Well and a picnic ground located at Fleener Chimney. Ihe area was set aside bv Dresi- dential proclamation in 1925 and was transferred to the National Park Service in 1933. Since that time the roads have been constant ly improved and extended in order that more of the natural beauties of the place could be easily visited by tourists. Most famous occurrence in the area,' of course, was the Modoc War of 1872 which saw a handtul of Indians holding at bay a huge force of United States troops in a last ditch fight. Taking advantage of the rough terrain, the natural trenches in the lava, the hidden springs and their knowledge of the country Captain Jack and his brave band of only 71 fighting men held on until the final defeat at Dry Lake on Mav 10. 1873. The old rifle pits" are -still standing, a few of them, and occasional rel ics of the war years turn up. buried under their dusty covering of rocks and weeds. The scene of Cantain Jack's Cave, reputedly filled with Ihe arsenal and personal goods of the warriors, is still busily sought by the small fry as they scramble about in the lava flows. Of more immediate interest are such items as Dragon's Head and Post oince caves, one of which is located in a chasm over one hundred feet deep. There is Val entine Cave and its var'ing-lava flows. Skull Cave, so-called from the fact that scores of skulls of bighorn sheep and pronghorn an telope killed by Indians in days gone by were found on the floor, has three levels, Ihe roof soaring 5 feet at the dome and the lower level made un of solid ice which never mells. There are. too. the Dictncranlis of Symbol Bridge, ancient art in scribed on Ihe walls and preserved to this day. . It is an easv Inn from Klamath with a choice of two routes. For nhose who are new to the area perhaps Ihe most scenic route is to head south on US 97, cross over Ihe state line road and swing into the monument around Pelroglyph Point. A more direct route is to go through Merrill and turn off, right, just beyond that town. The pictures accomoanvine this article give at least some idea of the various attractions to be seen. RIMROCK COUNTRY on the way to the main entrance I after turning off the state lint road end on the wav to the V the Lava Beds is exemplified in this picture taken just I park. yore YOUNG RUSTLERS ALBERT LEA. Minn. un-Callle rustling is largely passe in this dairy and hog-' raiding section of Minnesota. But, two teen-age boys admitted theft and sale of o hogs to a packinghouse for nearly 11,100.
