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Wonderful Grotto, Filled with Beauti ful Formations, of about one hundred and thirty covers while driving a drift following the are A very narrow passage leads downward, through which the the visitors truistelamber, but the wondrous and beautiful creations cl ing to the depths below amply replay for the trouble Following our guide, and holding for protection the cubie which has been iineee the drift to the deasent is ‘ubderisken,” Uduie down ened as we provendet, we were soon into a large chamber which was only one of several that connected together, etc, by the dim light afforded by our candies, appeared the first of the intricate network of lime Torna tions which invagi causes those who have been so fortunate ae to view them to meat delicate wath of nature, oh one side of seed wan ate e where the wral from the vein had aided in mal ‘a beautiful effect, a Springing up from the floor or jutting out from the wall were the same curious forma tions which had assumed the shapes of trees, shrubbery, ferns and grasses, as if they were all coated over with ice and snow, and it was easy to imagine being in a frozen bet. Cascades, with the very spray frozen, that tumble down from the walte help to Gil out the picture. Minate groves, with branches intertwining are bunched to gether eight or ten feet high, all of the same virgin whiteness, or tinged with the most beautiful color. Coral growing in the sea could not be more beautiful, and it resembles our grand scale nothing «0 anch as the “tree” that is formed by suspending a piece of zingip cvration of lead. They do not form as in other caves which we have visited. Where a ataloetite hangs down, formed by the dripping from the roof and a stelagmite raises up from the foot to meet it where the drop stries it, but the formation is one 4 er reulization. Perhaps the cave has been filled with water, bulding in solutins the time, which was deposited in such beautiful formes. The imagination can easily work up many forms besides tooge mentioned. Cinewall has the appearance of being thickly st with ellow sponges, each sponge being tpped with white rosettes. Some of the statuettes, as they are called, are most beautiful in de sign, and finer than the finest Mligree work ever wrought with human heads. When we reached the farthest end of those wonderful unter-ground chambers, or guide informed us that we were 290 feet from the bottom of the «hand had descended at an angle of forty five which placed us ‘about 840 fet from the surfies, Tr tx pnt thought that all the caverns have been visite ‘ed, #6 creVices, through which a man Gionet Paes, are found and they may connect with other rooms equally as magnificent. In fact, one prteage tat leads to the grandest cham ber find to be opened with «© bheg of giant powder. If easy of nevers, the cavern would become ‘a popular place of resort, but the doom of all thig splendor is not fat in the future, and to» sre therm in their glory they must be visite t soon. The bénefite that active to the mine by these openings must be seen to be appreciated. If the hand of man hid hol lowed them out it could not have better aided in the working of the mine and indeed, it is a question,as it is not the work of human agency. The startling question is propound ed: Can it be the last Padre mine? Tt has 2 er seston not does the cave occupy in the ealtananet usually Ties, ‘= in several places, directly in the ends of ore bodies of ore just as if the workmen aero would not have re ceed, a tania born in a mind that it has been more than two hundred years since, as claimed by the legend, the Padre mine was closed up by the infuriated natives, and limestone crystalizations are quickly de posited. What Me. Urquhart ie oe' mn from one ary Pols, ya 3 pieces to the theo At any rate the cave has intrinsic value beyond its curiosities. A tunnel is being driven at the base of the mountain, now in 230 feet, which will trisect, 150 feet further, with the lowe openings discovered ; then it will be a comparatively *any matter to bane dle the ore that lies above f. Ims will pee the removal of Fougos FB I in Mee ee 5: ' visited ihe, cave and povicen one Ane dull, the roe her, will idreaaree: tha it was found hh mite taken by an electric taht orea The fair held by the ladies of the Presby terian Church clined Thursday night with « ‘Christmas tree and ay auction, The ladive be relent ” tie successful, i Lie 4
Newspaper Details
Las Cruces Rio Grande Republican
Las Cruces, New Mexico, US
Sat, Dec 26, 1885
Page 3
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Anonymous
USA 05 Feb 2026
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