CAVE EXPLORATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22203, 5 March 1934, Page 16

CAVE EXPLORATION

LOVERS OF 300 YEARS AGO (From Oub Own Correspondent.) ; LONDON, January 19. For the first time in 200 years, a small party of explorers has penetrated into certain caves beneath the Mendip Hills in Somerset. The exploration, was inade possible by the drought, which has brought the level of the subterranean River Axe,' flowing through the caves, lower than has ever been known. Captain G. W. Hodgkinson, leader of the expedition, describes the adventures of the party to a press representative. "Crouching in a small boat," he said, "we made our way painfully beneath a low arch of rocks by which the river enters the last of the series of. caves that are already known. "As we shot out on the far side of the arch, we found ourselves floating in a cave which has not been visited for centuries. It was once possible to enter this cave by means of stepping stones in the river."

In this case, the expedition made the first of its discoveries. As the beams from powerful lamps played on the walls, they revealed, cut into the rock, a little group of letters and figures: "J. F.' W. 8., 1611." From this cave, Captain Hodgkinson and his party were able to force their way beneath' another arch into a yet farther cavern, the existence which was unknown.

Captain Hodgkinson is now seeking volunteers to force their way along a gigantic " chimney" in the roof of one of the known caves.

" This ' chimney' is, 1 believe, the original bed of the river," Captain Hodgkinson said. "It must be at least a million years old, and may run for miles under the Mcndips."