CATAMOUNT CAVE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2682, 11 December 1909, Page 1 (Supplement)

CATAMOUNT CAVE.

(By Joseph Rudd.)

Just how it was that Catamount rock had received its name no one in W 7 infield knew. Unlike many rocks in the V 7 hite Mountains, where it stood, it did not bear grotesque resemblance to a living thing. Nor was it a crag that wildcats sought for sake of the cave within it at any season of the year. The neighborhood assumed that once it had really been a den of catamounts, although from the difficult approach to the Role in its precipitous side they could see no means of entrance or egress. Looked at from below it appeared to be quite inaccessible. It was this mystery clinging about the rock which attracted Jesse Corbin a fifteen-year-old farmer lad of. the neighborhood. He had a theory that the cave in the rock must have lead 1 -* ing into it some passage which led from the surface of the ground, and by which, in earlier days, when the country around was unpeopled, it was entered by which used it as a lair.

At the time of our story Je.sse had made up his mind to see the inside of the cave. Slyly he began preparations for the exploit. He studied the face of til© forbidding rock and decided that if he could-reach a point just above the cave—a feat which looked possible •—he could let himself down to the hole by means of a rope fastened above. With this in view he hid behind the barn all the pieces of rope he could lay hands on, and tied them together. One afternoon, when his mother sent him to gather blueberries, which gre.v in a pasture near Catamount rock, he decided to test his. ability as a mountain climber. He managed to slip away from home unobserved, carrying with him the coil of rope. Excitedly ho crossed the intervening pastures and reached the rugged highlands which lay towards Catamount rock. Ills plan was this: He expected to get at the cave by going around it in much the same way that a spider might try to reach the centre of a dial by crawling upwards along the rim of it, and tying his thread to XII. to drop down by. All went as he had planned until he found himself opposite the famous hole. There he found to his dismay that there was not the slightest projection about the entrance to afford liim foothold. Breathless, alarmed, he bung helpless a few minutes, dangling between life and death. In a flash of memory he recalled a picture he had seen, of Antwerp bellringers, and thought at first that he could imitate them by swinging back and forth like a pendulum until he was able to throw bis body into the cave. But dread lest the greater strain on his rope would cut the strands of it where it- held the crag above, made him reject the plan. Just then he espied a jutting ledge beneath him, and immediately he began to let himself down, hoping to land there. But alas Before he gained the ledge he reached the end of his rope. It was fully three yards too short. Bitterly the unhappy boy repented of his rash adventure. He thought of his-father just returning from the fields, of his mother preparing supper. How ’ lie wished that he had obeyed them and kept away from Catamount rock. Now that he was almost within reach of his long cherished dream, all attraction of the illusion vanished from liis view. He had come within a few •feet of the -coveted cave, had passed it, had even looked into it with lus own eyes. Now he realised how crazy and profitless was the curiosity which brought him there. He was about to slip from the rope exhausted, when he caught sight of a stout bush projecting from the rock where he could manage to grasp it with his Swinging, feet. He took new heart of hope and managed to draw himself close to the rock and stay himself for an unsatisfactory but blessed period of rest. The necessities of the situation forced liim to cast aside gloomy regrets and seek some means of deliverance. He remembered that he had several stout cords in his pocket, and though it w as difficult work to fasten them to the end of the rope, obliged as lie was to cling to the bush and the rope itself for safety, 'he finally was successful, and by means of his lengthened ladder be was able to reach the platform of the ledge below him. As hope revived in his bosom his old foolhardy dream returned. Once more he was swayed by an ambition to reach Catamount cave and see what it really looked like and whither it led. He reasoned that on the upward climb he would have to pass the cave anyway, and that it would from a good resting place if he could manage to get into it. To aid him he cut a long hazel stick with a hook oh it, and fastened it to liis body so that it would not interfere with liis movements. He found it no easy matter, tired as he was, to draw himself up, on the rope. But he had practised f«-r a long time climbing the lightning rod of the town house with this end in view. He made pretty good headway because he had the knots to help his hold. When he came opposite the cave he thrust out his hooked stick, caught hold of the rock, and drew himself toward it hand over hand -until he could ga.n the opening. Then, letting go the rope, he scrambled into the famous den. His thrill of elation at having gained his quest was at once chilled by the sound which he heard within the cave. '"A 5 half wail, half groan, as of some creature in distress, greeted his ears. He had often heard about the sound which & wild cat makes, which is so like that of a crying child that often people have been deceived by it, and approaching have become victims. This

sound did not exactly, answer to the description, but it was sufficiently alarming for all that. As Jesse lay on the floor of the cave gathering his strength together, and staring with frightened eyes-into the darkness which was beginning to engulf the place, he regretted bitterly his folly and disobedience'. The noise continued and his fears increased. Fearfully he stared into the depths of the cave and saw two fiery eyes. Beside himself with terror he reached upwards in the darkness began to let himself down to the ledge below with what strength remained in him. Meanwhile 1 grave anxiety had taken possession of Farmer Corbin’s household.

A. search was started. The party had gone about half-way to the mountain when they heard repeated cries in the direction of the dreaded cave, and recognised Jesse’s voice. An answering shout that help was near rang through the darkness even when despair filled the minds of the rescuers because they well knew that nothing could be done until morning. Jesse’s poor father had a night of agony. It was hard enough for him when he could hear his .son’s voice calling, but when the cries ceased it was harder yet. As soon as the dawn came rope ladders were brought, and more assistance, and the anxious rescuers pushed their way toward Catamount rock. When the sun arose Mr Corbin and his friends could see Je.sse's line hanging down the side of the precipice. They climbed to the crag to which Jesse had tied his rope, fixed their own ropes there, and thence descended to the cave.

The boy’s father was the last to go down. Until now the sturdy father had led the way, but he felt that he could net be the first to look upon the body of his dear boy. The expectation that Jesse was dead became a certainty in the minds of the rescuing party when careful search showed that the boy was not in the cave. The men found there only a poor starved dog with broken bones that had fallen, while hunting into seme hole in the surface of the ground that led into cave.

But soon a shout from the foremost of the party who had reached the ledge below announced that the lost lad was found. He was lying, almost hanging, on the ledge of the rock, living, but unconscious. He had had the presence of mind to xasten the cord his body before he fainted rrom exhaustion and fear. Carefully the man lifted him and bore bim to safety. Humanely the party took the wounded dog with them. And when Jesse was himself again; after a serious illness, and the dog was also well, they became inseparable companions, and Jesse named his pet Catamount, after the famous cave.