Lost River - Karst Information Portal

2007 NSS Convention Guidebook
second and third rooms. Beyond it is a shelving
rock, 25 feet long, and from one fourth of an
inch to 2 inches thick, holding some 5,000
stalactites. Many have broken off, perhaps by
an earthquake, and as they fell they lodged
among others, and have been cemented to
them in many different positions.
“The fourth room is entered by ascending a
ladder. It is smaller than the others, and the most
interesting object it contains is a huge stalagmite,
8 feet high. One half of it has been removed by a
small stream of water, so the present specimen is
only a part of what was formerly there.
“Mr. Borden has labored industriously
to improve the cave. He has made and put in
place a ladder 54 feet long, by which the cave
344
Dick Hughes preparing to descend Bordens Pit.
Photo by George Jackson about 1938.
From the John Benton photo collection.
is entered, and also put up three smaller ones at
places inside. He has graded some of the rough
places, and is at present engaged in opening
a narrow channel through there in a strong
current of air. The cave is worth a visit from all
who enjoy subterranean rambles.”
The accompanying map, prepared during
the fall of 1969, tends to shrink some of the
aforementioned dimensions, but it also shows
the sole fruit of Mr Borden’s work involving
the narrow crevice with the air current. He
began his assault at point A during the early
1870s and blasted out ledges and floor for 15
feet, finally reaching the top of the pit (point
B). This work did not increase the air flow, but
it did provide an entryway into the 14-foot pit
and the adjacent 8- by 13-foot room. A few
blows with a hammer in a squeeze (point C)
yielded the walkway in which the encouraged
explorer wrote “Borden Discovery—1878.”
The right branch of this short walkway led to a
clay fill and a low ledge (point D) from which
issued the elusive air current. On a winter day,
Ted Wilson descending Bordens Pit.
Photo by Chris Schotter.