242 E. L. Furlong — Exploration of Samwel Cave. 



there. The ladder hung free from its upper fastenings to the 

 floor below. 



The deposit in chamber two was also sectioned off and the 

 dirt removed section by section. Specimens were frequently 

 cemented by stalagmite to the hard floor at the bottom of the 

 deposit and had to be freed by the use of gads. 



The discovery of specimens imbedded in the surface of a 

 stalagmite-covered slope led to the excavation in the southeast 

 grotto leading from chamber two. A low tunnel 20 ft. long 

 was run through this deposit in a southeasterly direction. At 

 the farther end a space 8 ft. high by 4 ft. wide was hollowed 

 out. Falling blocks of stone and the danger of a sudden cav- 

 ing in of the loose dirt above made a discontinuance of the 

 work at this place necessary. 



With the object of ascertaining the distance of the tunnel 

 workings from the canyon outside, Professor Merriam made a 

 series of measurements with compass and a tape line from the 

 far end of the tunnel to the top of chamber two and through 

 the winding passages of the cave to the canyon grotto outside. 

 These measurements indicated that the small cave at the base 

 of the cliff in the canyon was but a few feet from the inner 

 tunnel workings. Work was then commenced in the floor of 

 the canyon cave. A shaft was sunk 4 ft. square by 10*5 ft. 

 deep, at which depth a stalagmite floor was encountered. At 

 this place a strong draught of air which made the candles 

 flicker was noticed coming from a stratum of gravel in the 

 cave. A drift 8 ft. long was run at right angles to the shaft in 

 a northeasterly direction. As the drift progressed the draught 

 had perceptibly increased and become so strong and cold as to 

 make working uncomfortable. On continuing in the same 

 direction an opening was made to a series of two sealed grot- 

 toes. The surface of the deposit slope formed the floor of 

 these. Signals bad been previously arranged so that a person 

 knocking against the walls in the tunnel from chamber two 

 would be understood if heard by those above. When excava- 

 tion had reached the sealed grottoes, signals could be distinctly 

 heard close by. In moving about the floor to locate the 

 signals from chamber two, we suddenly heard a voice below 

 warning us to move carefully or we should break through. It 

 was found that a distance of only about one and one half feet 

 intervened between the tunnel and the grotto above, and a 

 moment's work with a shovel opened communication with the 

 chamber below. 



Fossil Remains. 



The deposits in chamber one contained a relatively large 

 quantity of material. Teeth and bones of extinct species 

 were found on the surface. Many complete bones were taken 





