the TexascaveR ATTEND THE TSA CONVENTION Volume23, No.2, 1978 The forthcomming TSA Convention in Austin, Texas, April 15 and 16 is an important event. This year Texas CONTENTS is responsible for the NSS conven tion in New Braunfels. All Texas cavers will have to cooperate to Buffalo Cave . • 19 make this convention the success it Caves as Fallout Shelters 22 should be. Perhaps the best place TSA Convention . • . 23 to find out what is needed for the Valdina Farms Project. • • 24 convention and to bring forth new Long Caves of Texas • • 25 ideas is the TSA Convention. Chuck Cave Rescue Seminar • 26 Stuehm has an excellent series of Bill Steele for NSS BOG • 27 talks planned and there will be an NSS Membership Policy • 27 unusually good Bar-B-Que by one of Magnetic Hole Revisited • 28 the TSA past masters of the art. El Doctor & San Joaquin • 30 And camping at Camp Ben McCullough Texas NSS Convention . . . 32 is alone worth the trip to Austin. Texas is a large state and Texas cavers have diverse interests. ** ** ** ** ** ** ** Austin caves in Mexico. Dallas caves in New Mexico and Arkansas. The only Texas caves where one evere This Issue Edited by Bill Russell meets another caver are Gorman Falls and the Devil's Sinkhole. But Texas Staff: Marie Cole cavers do have more in common than Cris Olejniczak Gorman Falls and the Sinkhole. They share an idea of caving that empha sizes good people going to good caves no matter where the cave is. The TEXAS CAVER is a bimonthly publication If the Texas way of caving is not to be replaced by a less satisfying of the Texas Speleological Association (TSA) 3 an internal organization of the National outing club approach we need to Speleological Society (NSS) and is published show the world what caving is about. And the world will be in Texas in by James Jasek in Waco 3 Texas. June so lets go to Austin to be SUBSCRIPTIONS are $5.00 per year. Persons for them. subscribing after the first of the year will receive all back issues for that year. Single * * copies are available at 90¢ each 3 postpaid.
The TEXAS CAVER openly invites contributors SEE YOU IN AUSTIN
to submit: articles3 reports 3 neWS 3 cartoons3 cave maps 3 caving articles3 and photographs (any size print bZ.ack & white or color print) .for publication in the TEXAS CAVER. Address all SUBSCRIPTIONS and EDITORIAL
material to the editor: James Jasek 3 l0l9 COVER PHOTO: Melrose Dr. 3 Waco 3 Texas 767l0. Lisa Wilkes in the main passage I of Buffalo Cave, Blanco County, When sending in a change of address 3 please include your old address. Texas. Photo by Paul Fambro. Persons interested in EXCHANGES or FOREIGN subscriptions should direct correspondence to the editor. Copyright The Texas Caver 1978 BUFFALO CAVE
By Bill Russell
Access to Buffalo Cave has long Finally the owners eyesight declined been difficult, not due to the rocky to where he could no longer adaquately terrain, but due to the legeno.ary protect his property, and he sold it to hostility of the owner, who would only an Austin bank. The bank was more allow a few close friends on his land. friendly but succumbed to economic He was one of the old time school of pressure and subdivided the land. It shoot first and bury your mistakes. He is hoped that cavers can reach an accom regu l arly patrolled his ranch on horse modation with the new owners. back with a rifle. According to local Buffalo Cave is a long linear sources Lyndon Johnson and Ladybird maze composed of parallel fissure were interested in establishing a passages connected by occasional nature trail along the Perdernalas cross passages. The opposite ends of ~ ver from the LBJ ranch to Johnson the mapped cave are 1300 feet apart, City. They obtained permission for a but in no place is the maze over 90 group of naturalists and secret service feet wide. In the central part men to walk the proposed trail. Even passages are larger and more numerous, though the trail would not cross his with smaller passages extending from ranch the owner didn't want a "nature each end of the central maze. This trail" anywhere near his place and as central section is composed of a soon as the group of trail makers were main passage 12 to 15 feet high and 5 visible from his ranch he opened fire, to 6 feet wide, flanked by up to five scat tering the group. The only parallel passages. Many of the casualty was the idea of a nature trail. passages are connected by a low open -
Martha Meacham views hands thrust through a row of holes in a thin partition known locally as the Post Office in Buffalo Cave. 19 Photo by Paul Fambro LEFT
Main Passage in Buffalo Cave Note the thin fallen slab, apparently an old partition between two passages that are now joined into one.
Photo by Paul Fambro
BELOW
The Attic in Buffalo Cave A low wide area festooned with ceiling pendants. Photo by Paul Fambro
20 l ea near the floor level • This and tend to be composed of strongly joint r oor level of the cave is only about controlled fissure passages. The cave 30 feet below the surface, so numerous drains to the SW and a small stream entrances have developed. Nine siphons at the downstream end. About surface sinks have been connected with 1000 feet beyond the end of the cave ilie known cave. These sinks on the along the same fracturing is a sizeable surface are long linear features spring with a flow many times the small !aligned NW-SE parallel to the cave cave stream. passages. The largest are 10 to 15 The most convenient entrance is a feet wide and 20 to 30 feet deep and up walk-in entrance in the central part of to 200 feet long. A row of sinks to the maze. An easy climb down over dirt the SE of the known cave leads to low covered breakdown leads to a narrow crawlways that probably connect with passage 3 to four feet wide and 15 feet the cave . The cave appears to be 1 high crossing the maze at an angle. In developed where a series of parallel both directions from this entrance joints intersected a very favorable passage, the main passage of the cave bedding plane. This bedding plain is can be easily followed. To the north well exposed in local outcrops and east the main passage soon breaks up appar ently channels water flow. The into a series of smaller passages, but to cave is developed in the Paleozoic the sw it continues past several sinks Cap Mountain Limestone, and these rocks where it is partly blocked by breakdown. in the Buffalo cave area, and commonly These blockages can easily be bypassed elsewhere , have lost most of their by crossing over to parallel passages. ~rosity and permeability during long Connecting with the main passage at burial at depth. Thus caves develop floor level is a wide low area with only in favorable areas of fracturing, thousands of roof pendants--stalactite- Continued page 26
Paul Fambro extrudes himself through a small hole between passages. Photo by Lisa Wilkes 21 THE USE OF TEXAS CAVES AS FALLOUT SHELTERS By William Russell
There are currently 27 Texas caves ventilation as a building. Unfortunately designated as fall-out shelters with a combined the ventilation is not actually measured, capicity of 26,609 persons. The rated capacity but is calculated from a table listing ilia of individual caves ranges from 39 persons in numbers and size of openings. This might Wonder Cave at San Marcos to 7947 persons in be adequate for buildings where resistance Caverns of Sonora. These capicity figures mean to air flow between openings is negligible, that in the case of nuclear attack 7947 people but is probably not adequate for caves. If could find shelter from radioactive fall-out caves are to be used as shelters actual for two weeks in the Caverns of Sonora. In ventilation should be measured. the past food and other materials for the Most caves now desingated as shelters comfort and support of the people have been are unsuitable, and if left on the shelter stored in the cave to be available if needed. list might suffer damage through publicity These materials have deteriorated over the and improvements. In the event of the need years and can pollute the cave environment. for protection, people might actually try to The deteriorating supplies, the potentially use the caves for shelter only to be forced undesirable publicity and the urge to outside, whereas if they had used an adequate "improve" the caves designated as fall-out shelter they would have been safe. cavers sheltr s has prompted the Conservation should review the caves currently classed Committee of the TSA to review the suitability as shelters and try to have unsatisfacmry of caves as fall-out shelters. shelters removed from the list by pointing It is clear to any visitor that 7947 out their obvious inadequecies. Several people could not comfortably, if at all, caves classed as shelters are inhabited by find shelter for two weeks in Caverns of bats. The health hazards from bats should Sonora. Adequate ventilation, space and be enough to remove these caves from the sanitation facilities are lacking. The list. Other caves are inaccessable or lack capacity figures for caves were established the necessary ventilation. Most of the caves early in the shelterprogram and were based now designated as shelters are lacking in on a figure of a given number of people usable space and could not support enough per square foot of floor space. In the people to warrant their use as a shelter. case of caves, all the floor space was To remove a cave from the official list one considered usable without careful has to convince the county Civil Defence evaluation. Later standards are nore Coordinator, at the county court house, that realistic and based on ventilation. The the cave is unsuitable. Cavers should cite Corps of Engineers determined ventilation actual measurements, maps and photographs. to be the limiting factor in the number of Once the county coordinator is convinced people who could occupy a shelter. The the cave is inadequate he will contact the anount of ventilation needed is determined corps of Engineers to have it renoved from not by the need for oxygen, but by the the official list. heat produced by people. Approximately The majority of caves on the official ten times as much air is required to carry fall-out shelter list date from their away the heat produced by a person as to initial listing in 1965. Since then L~e supply a person with oxygen. The fall-out cave information has not been updated. shelter standards were developed for As there has been little interest in buildings where the walls are insulated. fall-out shelters many of the obvi ously As cave walls are cool and more conductive inadequate caves have not been renoved. they could absorb some of the heat produced; These caves will remain on the list unl ess so a cave should not require as much positive action is taken to remove them.
ATTEND THE TSA CONVENTION- AUSTIN, TEXAS: APRIL 15,16, 1978 22 1 C.~m~'~<) 1 \)o.~ 1 BCLt" B(\> Fk: Apr'1\ lS"~ ct-S" fi\Le.+:V\~ ~s HH~, Is\- E:n~ I \.-.v-~tot\1\ C.l..v.v-c.'-' • e 1'\ +~f" Ol"' v....; ~~+is, 23 CONSERVATION: VALDINA FARMS RECHARGE PROJECT The Texas Water Rights Commission Avoids Real Issue: Will the Valdina Farms Project Work Austin (1/13/78) • The Texas Water Long-time Austin caver Bill Rights Commission today concluded a hear Russell, who is familiar with the ing to approve an application by the cave, conunented that "if they build Edwards Underground Water District to the project the first flood will build a dam and diversion channel on make the sinkhole the deepest lake Seco Creek at Valdina Farms Sinkhole, a in the county, and succeeding floods large cave in northwestern Medina County. will just fill the cave with mud. The action concluded four days of u.s. Geological Survey studies show dissention-filled hearings in which that a fault immediately south of the several individuals and agencies, includ cave blocks easy groundwater access to ing the Texas Parks and Wildlife Depart the Edwards Aquifer, and in any case ment and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife all of the water in Seco Creek"enters Service, sought to convince the Commis the aquifer through natural openings sion that the project was inadvisable. downstream. Stream-gauge records The focus of the hearing desolved to show that no useful amounts of water questions of the effect of the recharge get past these natural recharge inlets." project on the Va~dina Farms Salamander, In testimony received by the a sp-cialized blind amphibian known to Commission, Sweet also maintained that occur only in the cave, and the value of increased flooding of the cave would this salamander in comparison to water destroy both the habitat and food sources supply needs. The is now in a position required by the Valdina Farms Salamander, to decided that the survival of the leading to its extinction by a project salamander is of; secondary importance of questionable merit. to the additional groundwater the The recharge proposal also requires project promised to make available to the approval of the U.S • Army Corps of the Edwards Aquifer. Engineers, who must evaluate its Disappointment was expressed by feasibility in the light of a reconunenda the opposing interests that the tion by the U.S. Department of the Commission failed to adequately Interior that the construction permi ~ consider the hydrological feasibility of be deined. the recharge project. University of News release by BITE (Biological California professor Sam SWeet argued Investigations of Troglobitie that the cave is incapable of· transmit Eureyca.) ting the quantities of water which the project will divert into the sinkhole. Water flow is to be increased fivefold in frequency and thirteenfold in volume over the maximum flow ever LOST, 5 Jan '78: observed under na~ural conditions. This increase combined with evidence Chest harness of 2" black presented in a report commissioned by webbing with ascender box. the E.U.W.D. that the cave presently Hidden Cave, Dark Canyon area, fills with standing water led Sweet Carlsbad, NM. to contest conclusions of the project applicants that the increased flow Return to: would result in additional recharge to the aquifer. "If the cave backs up Thomas Reinbold under one-thirteenth of the proposed 1003 Welsh St input who can believe that the project College Station, TX 77840 can produce any benefit?" Sweet later said. "This is an expensive and point PH (713) 846- 1669 less experiment in hydrology which will benefit no one." 24 BUFFALO CAVE BLANCO COUNTY, TEXAS Brunton and Tapa Survey by the BLANCO COUNTY CAVE SURVEY September 1970 0 15 30 60 90 120 150 Drafted by William Russell & Peter Sprouse / F!ET / THE LONG CAVES OF TEXAS By DALE PATE March 3, 1978 1. Powell's (Jack Pit} Cave 16.20km 53,150 Menard 2. Indian Creek Cave 6. 7lkm 22,000 Uvalde 3. Caverns of Sonora 6.10km 20,000 Sutton 4. InnerSpace Caverns 4.5lkm 14,803 Williamson s. Cave-Without-a-Name 4.3lkm 14,151 Kendall 6. Airman's Cave 3.4lkm 11,200 Travis 7. Longhorn Caverns 3.00km 9,850 Burnet 8. Prassell Ranch Cave 2.62km 8,580 Kendall 9. River Styx Cave 2.56km 8,387 King 10. Stowers Cave 2.39km 7,845 Kerr INNERSPACE CAVENS is presently The status of the long caves of the fourth longest at 4.51 km. The Texa3 has been in tunooil ever since I cave was originally mapped from 1963 started caving. Finally, after talking to 1966 by UTSS members and Dallas- to lots of people and digging through Ft. Worth Brotto members. Members of the TSS files I've come up with the top the SWTG surveyed in the cave from ten long caves of Texas. Of course, 1968 to 1969. Since then, several there will be additions and corrections including William Russell, Brian to b'lis list as time goes on. Peterson and William Elliott have done POWELL'S (JACK PIT) CAVE claims surveying in the cave. Potential for the number 1 spot and has for a long more passage is very great as more leads time at 16.20 km. This cave is still are pushed. going with the possibility of many CAVE-WITH-OUT-A-NAME has been known added kilometers, both upstream and for a long time, but only recently Wayne downstream. The owner only allows major Russell has been mapping and exploring expeditions into the cave and this is past the major sumps. He has pushed the one of the main reasons it has been cave to 4.31 km to be fifth longest. mapped to 16.2 km. Hopefully more cavers will try to start INDIAN CREEK CAVE is deemed the following Wayne's lead and get some good second longest cave in Texas at 6.71 projects started with the long caves in km long. This cave has been closed for Texas. several years so exploration and mapping AIRMAN'S CAVE is ranked sixth stopped around 1969-70. UTSS members, longest at the moment with lots of un among others, were instrumental in the explored crawlways still waiting. mapping of the cave. The figure 22,000 Balconies and UT Grotto members have feet is an estimation of the mapped pushed the cave to 3.41 km. This was length and will be used until the exact mostly done from 1971-1974. figures can be tabulated. LONGHORN CAVERNS is presently ranked CAVERNS OF SONORA is the third as the seventh longest at 3.00 km. It longest at this time at 6.10 km. Most was mapped in 1971 at a TSA project and of this mapping was done by Abilene was continued by the Dallas-Ft. Worth cavers and the UTSS back in the late Grotto to its present length. 50's. The figure of 20,000 feet was PRASSEL RANCH CAVE was mapped in arrived at by estimation and will be 1969- 1970 to its present length of 2.62 used until the actual notes can be km by Roger Bartholomew and others. This tabulated. Unfortunately, the cave makes it the eighth longest at present. has not been totally mapped and the RIVER STYX CAVE ho~ds the nineth present owners do not allow anyone off place at 2.56 km. It was mapped by the commercial trail. This is mostly many people from 1963 to 1975, but Mike because of the delicate helitites Walsh and John Graves got the informa found throughout the cave. tion together for publication in 1976. 25 Long Caves-Continued Buffalo Cave-Continued The tenth longest at present is like projections that were not deposited STOWERS CAVE at 2.39 km. It was mapped but left behind by solution. The flood by Roger Bartholomew and others in the water entering the cave has established late 60's or early 70's and completes a gravel-floored streamway through this the top ten long caves of Texas. section. Finally the large passages Several caves are close to becoming end, and to continue one must follow one of the top ten and perhaps this will the low crawlway into which the cave prompt different people to get the work drains. This crawlway soon narrows to done. As more accurate information a small mudcovered tube, half filled becomes available it will be relayed to with water and organic debris--the anyone interested by means of the Texas Black Death Crawl. Only one person Caver. Meanwhile get out there and map. has ever entered the Black Death Crawl and he reported that it did not continue. He has since committed suicide, and whether or not the Black Death Crawl was a contributing factor, the crawl is not recommended. The spring entrance along the same fracture is passable, but only by getting wet FIRST NATIONAL CAVE RESCUE SEMINAR and has not been pushed. Considerably more water flows from the spring than the small trickle entering the Black Included in the February Internal Death Crawl. This spring flow Organizations Newsletter of the NSS, and indicates that a large area of lime printed on the official NSS letterhead is stone outcrop is drained underground, the following: The NATIONAL CAVE RESCUE and perhaps there are more caves in the COMMISSION is pleased to announce the vicini ty. FIRST National CAVE RESCUE SEMINAR. This seminar is to be given right here in Texas at the School of Medicine of the University of Texas San Antonio, June 12 through 16, 1978. The annoucement notes that the seminar is given with the assistance of, among others, the National Parks Service, the Appalachian Search and Rescue Commission, the International Cave Rescue Commission, and the British Cave Rescue Organization. Subjects to be covered include the Underground Environment, Organization and Management, Tools and Equipment Medical Management, Extraction, Evacuation and Hauling Systems. Following the Seminar there will be trips arranged to local wild caves for the further enrichment of students who wish to continue their experience. You can participate for all five days for $95.00 or observe for only $50.00. Deadline is May 1, 1978. Send money to: Terry G. Jones Deputy Director National Cave Resuce Comm. 16240 San Pedro #257 Know how to find the North Star San Antonio, Tx 78232 It might get you safely home on a cold winter night. 26 BILL STEELE FOR NSS BOARD A NEW MEMBERSHIP POLICY FOR THE NSS 1978 is a crucial time for the Bill Steele, an Austin resident National Speleological Society. Increas when he is not caving, is a candidate ing numbers of members are critical of for the NSS Board of Directors. Bill the organization and feel they have little has a wide range of caving experience, in common with the rest of the member and feels he can represent all Texans. ship. The quality of the NSS News has He has provided the following informa declined to the point where knowledgeable cavers discuss whether an expanded tion. William Steele NSS 8072F, Austin, Canadian cover or an NSS sponsored Texas. 29 years old. BA Indiana Inside Earth Magazine would be the best method to bring quality reporting to Univers i ty. Began caving as Explorer Boy Scout in 1963. Was active with the American Cavers. Western cavers, with their fragile caves on public land, CRF in Flint Ridge from 1968-1972. denounce the NSS for what they see as Beginning in 1969, held the office of reckless expansionism, encouraged by Chairman (twice), Vice-Chairman, commercial interests. These are not Correspondi ng Secretary and Editor for problems that can be "solved," as they the Bloomington Indiana Grotto. Was are essentially differences in life the Vice-Chairman of the 1973 NSS style. The NSS board does not need Convention in Bloomington Indiana, problem-solvers; it needs leaders. mastermindi ng such facets as the The identity of the NSS has long Possum Roast and the successful Auction been somewhat vague. Should the NSS be of Speleo-Memorabilia. 1977 recipient a group of persons united by their strong of the NSS Lew Bicking Award. Currently: sustained interest in caving, or should Editor of Inside Earth, Board Member of the NSS try to organize all who ever the NSS Vertical Section, Member of visit caves? This conflict is basic to editorial staff of Association for many of the problems of the NSS. The real Mexican Cave Studies. Active expedition strength of the NSS is the knowledge, caver--organized and led the 1977 Mexico dedication and common interests of its Expedition that reached the sump at members. These could be greatly streng mnus 859 meters in Hemisphere. Camped thened by making the NSS less of a mass 36 days underground in the past year as caving organization and more of a group of a part of the exploration of the deep dedicated enthusiasts. The following caves of Mexico. Have spent the last changes would be greatly beneficial to the four summers in wilderness areas of NSS: funtana exploring and surveying various 1) Make membership in all grottos avail alpine cave systems. Have caved in the able to non-NSS members. the following states: Indiana, Kentucky, This is now done in student grottos and Georgia, Tennesee, Virginia, West is an excellent way to reach people and Virginia, Missouri, Montana, Utah, and would legitimatize the defacto policy ~xas . Have been active caving in Mexico of many grottos. for a decade. Consider myself well read in caving literature. Maintain a regular 2) Reinstate the endorsement policy and correspondence with speleologists both list in the annual membership list w~thin the USA and abroad. Am well pub below each member, the names of a l l new llshed with writings in most major US members they have signed for. caving journals including the soon to be 3) Encourage grottos to advertise their Published Proceedings of the National Cave existence through methods designed to M~agement Symposium. Am active in the reach cavers, such as registers at caves, Planning of the 1978 NSS Convention in rather than to recruit cavers from the Texas. Chairman of the Exploration general public. Session for the '78 convention. Bill Steele can be an effective 4) Enrich the NSS News with long articles spokesman for Texas cavers and would on exploration, and do not spend like to talk with all interested cavers scarce resources printing publicit y for at the TSA meeting. Let him know how new cavers. You feel the NSS can be improved. Continued page 31 27 THE MAGNETIC HOLE REVISITED Compiled by Sheila Balsdon and Bill Russell Many years ago at a caver party Bill John E. Barlow, contractor to the United Russell was told the strange tale of Von States army and pioneer ranchman, in Streeruwitz's Magnetic Hole. It seems that 1886 began to dig a water well on his early settlers traveling across the flat des property about midway between Eagle Flat ert of Transpecos Texas would follow a and Allamore in Hudspeth County, and compass course from one mountain pass to north of the Texas and Pacific Railway. the next. However, in a small area east of The first 30 feet was mixed with the present. town of Van Horn their compass caliche. The next 20 feet was foliated no longer pointed north and they learned to limestone and so hard that it became ignore directional readings in this short necessary to use hard-rock drills and section. When the first geologist for "single jacks" to make progress. West Texas, William H. von Streeruwitz, With no idea that anything weird was arrived in the area, he was asked the about to develop, the men quit work la~ cause of this strange phenomenon. He ans one evening leaving their tools and a wered that it must be a magnetic anomaly quantity of loose rock at the bottom of llie caused by a body of magnetic ore at a shaft. The rock was hoisted out the next shallow depth. Acting on this information, morning and the drills again brought into enterprising locals decided to sink a play. Only a few blows had been struck shaft in the center of the magnetic area. when the drill suddenly sank to its head. Digging was started but at a shallow depth The surprised drillers pulled it out. they broke through into a deep void. They Through the hole, which stared at them were unable to reach the bottom with all like a malignant black eye, poured a swift the rope they could assemble, and gave up rush of air. Lengthy conferences at the the project. Von Streeruwitz later visi- bottom of the shaft were manifestly use ted the site and wrote a report. It was less. The men were brought hastily to ~e information from this report that was re top, glad to rest their feet on good sod layed to Bill at the party. Severa 1 years instead of hollow sounding rock. later an account was published in The A man was dispatched for a few sticks Texas Caver as amusing anecdote. The of dynamite. The long fuse was lighted, only real fact remembered at that time and with a dull explosion that became an was the unforgetable name of the author echoing roar the charge shattered the rod of the report William H. von Streeruwitz. bottom. Where there had been rock there After the account was published, one was now nothing but the black empitness of the Aggie cavers from Houston remem of a cavern mouth. bered reading in the clipping file of Up from the depths came a steady the Houston Public Library an account of draught of air, an eerie sort of blowing a Magnetic Hole near Van Horn. Sheila that did not tend to improve the poise of Balsdon checked out this report and those gathered at the top to peer gingerly found the following article from the down the shaft. Houston Chronicle, Feb. 28, 1932. BOTTOM NOT FOUND TEXAS UNFATHOMED PIT MAY BE WORLD'S BIGGEST CAVE But how deep was the thing? Ropes were collected. A weight was "A seemingly bottomless pit, which attached to one of the smaller ropes and more than 4000 feet of rope failed to the others were knotted together until, plumb, underlies a part of Hudspeth County, by measurement, there were more than 4~ which is a region of mountain peaks and feet of line, with the heavier ropes at we open valleys, according to Horace T. surface end. The weight was lowered through Chilton of Beeville, who has the infor the shaft into the cavern. Bottom was not mation from one of the two or three per touched. The long line was brought up ~d sons who know of its existence. He tells lowered again to make sure that it was the story of its discovery, recites that swinging free and that the weight on the the entrance has been sealed for more end was not resting on anything solid. than 40 years and notes a number of curi Still there was no bottom. All the rope ous angles connected with it in the follow in that part of the country was in the line. ing article. No more was available. Continued next page 28 Magnetic Hole Revisited- the report, printed in 1889, only a few copies remain, but J.S. Barlow has a care The measured depth of 4000 feet indicat fully preserved set. In it are many refer ed it was one of the deepest known caverns ences to the elder Mr. Barlow's various in the world. There remains the possibility properties, and among other things it con mat it is the deepest. Only a well-equipped tains a full page plate of the Barlow expedition can determine that. family grouped on horseback at the foot Then another strange thing was noticed. of the Sierra Diablo. steel tools which were in the bottom of the AIR CURRENTS LAID TO UNDERGROUND TIDE shaft when the first blast of air rushed upward were found to be highly magnetized. Mr. Von Steeruwitz, who spent con The rock drills, for instance, would pick siderable time at the shaft, attributed up their own weight in steel. It was known the air currents and their reversal of positively that they were not magnetized direction to tidal effects,but the younger previous to that time. That led to another Mr. Barlow does not recall just how that investigation. was explained. Unfortunately, no one Any steel object held in the out-draft thought to observe the air currents at of air became magnetized almost at once. night. Mr. Von Steeruwitz's opLn1on was Shovels, knives, tools of all kinds, and that the magnetizing effects of the out even a pair of scissors belonging to Mr. ward air current were due to the presence Barlow's daughter were equally affected. of a large body of magnetic ore somewhere Then the air current developed even in the cavern. more peculiarities. The out-draft contin These two theories admittedly are ued steadily during the morning, but dwin open to argument. Scientists to whom the dled toward noon until it ceased. Then it questions were put were unable to advance reversed itself and the air poured down satisfactory explanations. If, as some ward into the cavern all afternoon. Steel held, the air currents and their reversal objects held in the downward air current were due to differences in temperature were not magnetized. Only the out-draft inside and outside the cavern, then there held that power. is no way to explain why the reversal This is not a legend. The facts given occurred at noon, a time when no change, here were furnished by J. S. Barlow, widely under the temperature theory, should have known consulting engineer of Dallas, and occurred. son of the late John E. Barlow, who made The extraordinary magnetizing effects the discovery. of the out-draught left the scientific J.S. Barlow was present while the men at a loss. But they did not agree at all with Von Steeruwitz's theory. shaft was being dug. He was there when the dynamite charge blew the bottom out If Von Steeruwitz was correct in of the shaft. He watched the vain attempts assuming the air currents were due to to measure the depth. He has held steel tidal effects, then they, in truth, were tools in the out-draft and tested their the breathing of a giant. resulting magnetization. It was he who It had long been noted that water held his sister's sisters over the shaft. from seasonal rains, often of torrential llie sister, who, in 1927, when the writer proportions, after flooding down the long first heard of this thing, was living in valleys from the mountains collected in II • k" h th h El Paso, was also there. So were other a s1n near w ere e s aft was dug, members of the Barlow family. so, too, and disappeared into the ground in an were various other persons who happened unbelievably short time. Contour lines on to be in that then remote section at the the Von Steeruwitz topographic map show time. In 1927 one of the men who helped the location of the sink and the sweep of sink the shaft was still living in that country draining into it. region, and although very old, he The sink itself is roughly egg-shaped remembered clearly all of the details. with the small end to the southeast. It A comprehensive report on the sur is five miles long and one mile wide. It face geology of that area, together lies between Arispe and Eagle Flat on the Texas and Pacific Railway and Grayton on ~ith extensive topographic maps, was made ln 1886 by W.H. Von steeruwitz, at that the Southern Pacific Lines, and is in the time state geologist for west Texas under angle formed by the junction of the two the geological department of Texas. Of railroads. It is 4500 feet above sea level, and is surrounded by mountains. 29 Magnetic Hole Continued- EL DOCTOR AND SAN JOAQUIN, QUERETERO, MEXICO Discovery of the cavern seemed to Thanksgiving & Christmas 1977 explain where all the water went. Whether by Patty l4othes enough of it had collected through the ages in that gigantic cistern to appreciably Roy Jameson and I first went to the show tidal effects and by its ebb and flow El Doctor area about 60 miles west of Queretero create the air currents through the Barlow Mexico in November 1977. To the best of our shaft will never be known until explorers knowledge we are the first cavers to have investigate it. It may be the cavern is visited the area. Large dolines on the one of the largest as well as one of the topographic maps led us to believe that ~ere deepest known to man. would be caves on the 3000 meter hight Anyone is privileged to make his own plateau. guess after considering the following brief After 5 days of busy hikinq w7 had dropped items which may or may not have a bearing 8 dead-bottomed pits. One other p~t, Sot~o on the subject. de Rincon, went about 100 meters deep in 5 Drills Strike Other Caverns. drops, and ended in a mud plug. Figuring Ninety miles north, 35 degrees east, lies the northern portion of the area would yield the famous Carlsbad Cavern, reputed to be little, we left it unchecked and went to San th~ largest in the world, and the end of Joaquin, which is 4 miles east of El Doctor which no man has ever seen. Sixty miles and at lower elevation. southwest of carlsbad and on an airline The first evening there we found between it and the Barlow cavern the Sun Oil Sotano de los Herreras, an arroyo cave wi~ COmpany attempted to drill an oil well at the a horizontal entrance, and mapped and foot of Apache Peak in Culberson County. At photographed the first 300 feet up to the 250 feet the drill went into a seeminlgy first drop before heading back to Austin. endless system of supposedly connected Roy and I returned at Christmas for caverns. Two others are known to exist one week to finish Herreras (89m deep and on the same airline. North of Sierra 510m long). We also discovered and Blanca and about 30 miles northwest of began mapping two new caves. Cueva del the Barlow shaft another oil test-drilled Sal to was mapped 600 meters horizontally and across a cavity at 1100 feet, through which 144 meters vertically to a large mul tileveled on some days there was a strong outdraught, stream passage. Most impressive was the and on others an equally strong suction. 90m cylindrical pit located near Salta's wruk The old Barlow shaft could not be in entrance. Another cave (unamed) trends plugged, but it was sealed with rocks and down dip and has been mapped 100 meters. ~th timbers. It constituted a menace to the caves continue. safety of livestock and occasional range We discovered 7 more caves in the riders. It has not been molested since 1886. vicinity of San Joaquin. Topgraphic and The first thing whoever enters it t~ geologic maps and air photos show numerous find out why a draught of air can magnetize sinks and closed valleys to the north and steel and to delve into the grander aspects east of San Joaquin. Return trips are of nature's subterranean excavations must planned for March and May, 1978. face is a known drop of 4000 feet straight down into a more or less terrifying darkness. How much farther he must go to reach bottom he alone will be able to tell when and if he returns to safety and the clear light of day at the top. With this additional information and a What did the daddy jurnar say to relatively accurate location only a few miles the mother jurnar? from Interstate 10, the magnetic hole, if it does exist could undoubledly be located. Do you think ours will be a left Perhaps an air photo would be a convenient or a right? way to look for the tailings pile from the shaft, which should be visable even now. The area is underlain by about 500 feet of potentially cave-forming Finley Limestone. THE END (FOR NOW) 30 NSS Membership Continued- 5) Change the Ralph w. Stone award from providing research support for a graduate student to provide research support for a non-student. Graduate students in the field of speleology have access to many sources of support. The NSS should actively encourage scientific activity among non-students. Adoption of these policies should strengthen the NSS by creating an organiza tion of those unified by their devotion to caving. The NSS should not attempt to be an exclusive organization; it should stress· that all are welcome. The message should be: If a person has a strong sus tained interest in caving then he should join the NSS. These views are not to my knowledge the views of any candidate for the NSS Board, but only express my view- point. William Russell ,----·------, NSS '78 CONVENTION PRE-REGISTRATION FORM Mah check payable to: 1978 NSS Convention Mail check and completed form to: Karen Kastning Registration Fees: prices will be higher at the gate: N.S.S. '78 Registration Chairman P. 0. Box 13165 No. of Fee persons Total Austin, Texas 78711 Name Non-NSS Member 20.00 Address NSS Member (13+) 15 .00 City State Zip Children (6-12 years) 8.00 Phone NSS No. Infants & Toddlers (- 6) n/c PRE-REGISTRATION DEADLINE: JUNE I , 1978 (Deep in the Refunds: lfnotitied by June 1st, full; Between June 2nd-15 th, Patch Karst of Texas) 2.00 Y2; After June 15th, none. Name Tag Information (Please Print) Field Trip Deposit-Biology 10.00 Names NSS No. Affiliation Field Trip Deposit-Geology 10.00 Grand Total To assist the Convention Committee in serving you, please advise: Will you need transportation upon arrival by: plane , bus , rail , none_ _ Do you plan to stay at Compground , Hotel Faust In case of emergency, contact: (see above) , Bring R V ? Would you be interested in participating in a group breakfast ( ) plan? Yes , No ___ MN~an~1e~------~Ph'o_n_eL---- 31 The Texas Caver BULK RATE 1019 Melrose Dr US. Postage Waco, Texas 7671 0 PAID Forwarding Postage Guaranteed Permit No.1423 Waco, Tx. 76710 PRE-REGISTAR FOR NSS '78 CONVENTION Pre-registration deadline: June 1, 1978 While no one should have to cut up their Texas Caver, if you dont have access to a copy machine, cut out the NSS '78 Convention pre-registration form on the back of this page and pre-register for the New Braunfels NSS Convention. This is the first Texas NSS convention in a long time and everyone should be there. By pre-registration you save yourself money and at the same time give the Convention Committee money they need to pay expenses. This will be one of the best NSS conventions evere, as Texas is a place where cavers from across t~e United States (and Mexico) can meet. With the increasing cost of imported gasoline there might never again be a convention to rival the Texas New Braunfels convention. This is the chance of a lifetime-dont miss it. ATTEND THE TSA CONVENTION-AUSTIN, TEXAS:• APRIL 15-16, 1978