A Deep Chasm | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 16, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 39.

A Deep Chasm.

A WONDERFUL chasm has been recently discovered in San Luis Obispo County, and the San Luis Republic gives the following account of an attempt to explore its depths:—

"Saturday night the Alpine Club held a meeting at their club-room and resolved as a Committee of the Whole to visit the lately discovered chasm. The club's stock of ropes and candles was overhauled, and 1,000 feet more rope ordered. Sunday morning at 5:30 the caravan started. The captain took the lead, followed by the quartermaster, leading a loaded mule. On arriving at the foot of Bishop's Peak, the mule was unpacked and pegged out, and his load divided amongst the members of the club. They mounted the hill with their usual rapidity, keeping well to the right, and reached the opening at 8 o'clock. A piece of timber was thrown across the gulf, and the boatswain's chair swung into position.

"Here the question as to who was to make the descent was brought up. To decide this a ballot was taken, and the captain, having received a majority, was declared the winner. He took his place in the chair, stuffed his boot-legs with candles, hung a lighted lantern above his head, stuffed his pockets full of oiled paper, and, making sure that his revolver was in working order, took a lighted candle and gave the order to lower away. One thousand feet of rope was paid out; another followed, and a third was almost gone before a signal was received to slow up. The walls, all this depth, preserved a uniform distance apart, and were dripping with moisture.

"At 3,800 feet the walls suddenly separated, and the captain found himself swinging in mid-air with nothing but intense blackness surrounding him. Lighting a piece of oiled paper, he held it aloft, and the grandest sight of his life was revealed to his wondering eyes. The cavern had widened out about thirty feet above his head and was most beautifully arched. Cream-colored stalactites hung from the ceiling. The sides of the arches were lost in impenetrable darkness. He lighted another piece of paper and dropped it. Down it went, but faintly lighting the immense cavity, until finally it burned out in the mysterious depths. He then tried the echo. A shot was fired from his revolver. The effect was magical. The one report was quickly followed by a perfect volley of musketry; a roar as of one-hundred-ton guns followed this, and then came the more distant reports, re-echoing from unknown distances. Shot after shot was fired in the hopes of being able to count the echo and so form some idea of the size of the cavern, but all were unavailing. So rapid was the return of the echo and so long and so continued the sound that all attempt at a tally was useless.

"Finally, with his paper all consumed and his revolver empty, he reluctantly gave the signal to haul up. At the opening of the well hole he stopped and detached one of the smaller stalactites, which he carried up with him, and it may now be seen in their club-room. He had been nearly 4,000 feet into the bowels of the earth, and the time consumed was something over four hours. The club returned to town with the determination to explore the marvel if it takes all the rope in the country and a donkey engine to raise and lower it."