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TEXAS SPELEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Vol o 1 . Neo 3

TIIE CAVES OF UVALDE COUNTY

PAR'? I

Edited by '1Ul9• Ro Reddell

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A PublioBtion ot th• Toxcc S,elaologtoCll. Asaooi ation

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(;. oi ur,1 .l.41>t:n t • lo

( a,...tCJ;; 'lf • l · A., H!on

veld" Count.y 1u 1 an S'\"~r·•g• i'.' inu.al :rair.fkll of ~L'>D:t·ox1• ntt-ly ,:.1 iri ''~ 11

t1 oraoipitat1on ie of t en tcr:·..,ntial o Ita e..nm1s l ofi8':'1 te.nt1trature iB 'C"U '

,.. th t lie t1l)tteet; mtmthll botng July ond A.i~ufltt EiU~ tJ,,. U"> la"et t-ec~b~ri~ .,.r., • orthern halr of thr ·~ouuty h l'.lh1:seote o by riu "rou1:1 1n1.ct"lllitt.., t.

•.• lt n rough topocrL,.,hyc- -o:>t ot t.he(jl! ot.1 ea-:-.o nr u in .hC" nor .t e r 'l<>· outhwa.nt ln lllf!8.rly ov.rnllel COUT'l5"Co The a<ru .. h·rr. l1A'\f 11! ·Hi.r .. -,r

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f'.Q1D. S.?10 l1t!l) b~~Ut 50Cl f~et },11'eT t;hl\.11 the tJ.Or·~hl'~ •,lf1 l1ei\.Un '1 fl' f"''-• •

•. n t...n~n a.reB 1111 s,H~h1'o Th Cedina River and ~h• Leone R1T~r ara t he ouly ~ereDn1 al ~trea:n• ).D tr~

county which hllTe continuouo nowe rram th~ir eourcos to their mouths .,. U-valdo County is dirlded into 2 r,reat gt-Qllorphic nrorlnooa by the Rd concs

o .:at-p:nent" This esc arpn;ent 1e the re:aul-t of' tho Balc onee fault zone which t)lxtmci.e r1.c1 osa the cot\tl't;y :ln an eat:itwwost d1reationo The northern half 1B topographical cy hle;he't' nod atratigt"aphioal l y lower than the southern halt due to t.he zone of eaat wast trendinr, norr.ia'l faults downthrown to the aouth and also to the highly resist~mt Edl7al"dG limeot onc which outcrops OYer- most or the northern part"

'l'hone upper Creteoe oua and F:oeene formations which cover nearly all of the southot'll onrt ot UTal de Co\.U'lty consist prima.rilv or sandstones with some shnlv and '1arlo The 3xception occura in the Routhwcstern and eastern parts ot tho c oWlty \Mere the hnneacho l imestone cOTer e a large ar~a. Even it, h(JIJIJeTer p i s interbodd~d with nu inaroaeing amount o! marl frosa w~st to east t o that the probabil i t y of c~~6 Ll3 cJiLi.rJ~ahed to so:::ie extent; 11.s one proc eeds in thst di r eoti ono It is uenti oned i.n ' jCI .i. tornture (Sayre,. 1936) a& beinp; aon:ew~at. c nv ttrnous in t he Se.binal areo. bl.\t.

., fat .10 caves arc kncr.m from it in Uvo.ld i;, County. That the .AnQce.cho can produ'-'e J"d cti.vce ho'17evar io prcv~ by the exist.moo of Marguaritc Cl\VC in .lledi nGl. Count::y

Tho l.ONOI Crot ... c~ouc E,dwc..rdn lim6Dtone is by fer the predominant co.ve•:f'Ori;:icr fo • .., the ca.v"s are uoncGntrntod in ;;h~ northr.irn half of' the eountyo In the

'"'l ll h!!.lf p1 edorJin:.urt"ly cov< rod by non·"Onvernou.e formations 11 a few cavtrn do c ( ftnn:..bl.ef\ C'l. 1 y~ P !1'\.: J ... e:;o110. 1?:..v"JJ" Sink) hut even the,se are in f P.ultcd b lo..'l

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Tr· r ... ~.ci: ts o.n ~.hcellant or.:ve fo,.'?lo?' for trio reacone.,. t'irot end rar; ... t n .. n" it :!n 1 ..,ll hi~· .... 11·· .d. o.l.. It oonsists o!' rr.2~5ive. m.'lr1ne b~d or

• .l<A i;.t • ~ .. : !'lw! r,rau::~d u1.n.:o.lly nonfos$1l1f"roue l:\.most:>ne... Itn ;tre:t-th:..clm ·fs J r11i:;0Ei :lbout; 600 f.,e-t;., Evr.m whnrc it. 'l.O O:X1JO!lcid to ti""' 1;n11•! "!

is nee tc u1~.;La ~~ ... ..,e:i i.t a 'll.'l.ckncss sufficient fo~ fairly· larBe c votJ l.\r1;;1.us oxc.ci ,t tl•e ,J", r,111e alor.g He nol"lllal cont.act; y;ith th~ ur.dc1lyi.D'

i t :~ ... ::.11/ 1 µ 3,,..1Ge:l •nvc:o b6oause of the l:n?er.'!lco.bl~ oley lc,y .o ~1'uw t"'r ... c la. • .... '1'!.e neturnl reohc.rgc of rain \7ni;m· that it r+.>c~1vea "ti, •• ou .1: .... :at ... e.at ~.co ir.mnent stroruno ts 3topped whim it -:-t- t"hes • .. ,.-_rtcr. .. l'.; ik c~ .. ~ C-t. t:.on nir.r~tez; nlonr; th'l passag6WCl.Y8 of e;.:htiD~

~ J.n6 ~· .m'l "lt !'1rr1.: L •u r 10·11 ones ill 11.~c <SO\U"De throu~h embryoni<. c:c;:.vcn l Lo~

.. u this • sp ~ct tho C' ves of Uvu..ldei County Oi'3 of' ._rm.t econmio im,,orto.ns._ • . i:hc~· '!Jl't"•Vide cto1·ege tanks for wg.tsr in an are;a where nearly nll of the 1.Tct r

to~ i.ndustriel a.n.<i private ueo is obtaine-d from ·.rella. 1n th~ vo.lleya of northerlltl1>8t. Uvalde County there ooour exposures of two

= oth6r' f'orrr..a.tionri o The Coma.."'lche 0e~~c U.o8etcne whi"lh im:nediately underlies the F'ch·:errls s.nd thG Glen Roeo limestone beneath th~ Comanche Pi-ak~ Nf!ith"r of the15€1

' <l?'O 51gnificBnt as oe.vtl•fo~neL""a... The Comanche Pol\k ia t hin and. lithologioally 1

its upp6r part may be considered the baee of the Edwarde . The Gl6n Rose ~ nenrJy t-.vice as thick a& the Edwards. is a sort. thinRbedded 1 chalky to arg1llaceous l\J:~etone w~th alternating b~ds of JDArlo

Along the Baloones fault mue, in that area between the Edwards lim.esto::1-., and the sandetone11 of upper CretacC90US and Eoctinc age. there is 11 dense~ mc'siTe f!.nd rosistent limestone known aa the 3uda. It could support small oo.vee a~.thouGb.

it is not very thick ( 50-65 feet) and one would han to find an a;-en wt-~oro only a am.all &mOWlt • as been eroded e.way.

~he~~ are parts of Uvalde County that are relat1Tely virgin to opelunkers and fo which there is a high probability of large oaves. Reference is ms.de ospeci ... ally to that area along tho northeast border ~djacent to Kinney County where l argo coves have been rumored and to the •outroT"st corner of Uvalde Countyo

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-- )l I \I lJVALu~ Xfa..

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,, 'Jt·~: 1 .i..on tc.;ioh Gavo 'ii" 3 1.. Uto J'\.n 0 .n 5c C"l.tldi<tl C .w 60 Lou.aabound Sholt or Cnt-e 7 o lioroollhOG Bcmd Caw 80 Cs.'t"O Holl~ Ca~ 9c. L'r:?., But Covo

lOo Fri~ Owl Ca'VC ... ., 0-.fl Cn.vo Plt l~ Gu!'nor Park Cavo

C:arnGr Park Fh::rure i/. l 111 o Ctt?rn::>r Pe.rl: F1acn.1Ts -,~ 2 ~.$ ... Garmr Pa.rk FirHJ1.a-e -;;.:, 3 v'., Gm-n«9r P~k l''it.HJ'1!"G i; 4 7 n G.n;.'l.1"1" 'P1lTl': F1ernure :J!: 5

• b Gsr aer Park 1"i-esure ·fl= 6 .L9.. G:.-.r.ier Perk Fissure :i~ 7' ;?C ,. Dry ii'rlo River- Ca.v!· ~1" Bri.oooo Roro Cavll 2'" ~ono. River S:i.nk P C.er e;yle Cav.i 2l Re:lbie'~ Ce.vc ~~a Grating Cav~ ,!( Burial Co.v'1 2 CtC•ent C~vo ~., Indi.a.n C:.·c~k Cave ~ J-!li~abeth'a Cs.l}l~ Lndder

Picttn-c Cnvo {r l ~O El1c~bcth'o Cnblo L~dd~r

. · ictw ~ C~w 7,; 2 ~'I 6 Pr of anity Pothole ~ \J::1 .. 1~!Jd caw ~·) , UnnaT.ad c•.lw

1 • Yi ind C:r..if.:i ') J Jre.ckbon·y Ce.ve ;r Nor th Woll Cin·~ 37 c Co.•e Spring Ct?.vc

Gonzru.cc; Co.vo 1/: 1 ;~ Gonzcln G Cr.~ -Ir 2 4) Silverl&ko Rr.n.oh Sinkt.ele 4~ hlon~~11 ShGlt~ Ca~c

~ #.~ J;RS A.NIJ DOUBTFUL CAVER 4

Do It YourooH' Ys:.'llce-e C9.vo T'!_ ,, ~ave

':o .. 1; Trap Co.~ I. C1· ldig Ge.vo

.•r. ·n ·on Sbal:t; er : "l > Sholte-

~. •.J. ioaid Shal tei.· t. ::r4 Rn.noh ShQlt~·rJ

'l.:. 1 :::.. ~ Sh.;lt~r

l tJpia lj ~op:io. Utopia Utop:.o. Con Cen Ccm Can Con Co:a. Ca!l CiiUl Con Cim. C.:on Cmi Co-1.1 Clm Ge.me>." Sto.ta l>ark Gt\roer State Pui·lc Garn~ State Park rra1-ner Statct Park Ge.r?li.'!1' St~t" Pal"k Gttrrar Sto.te Pm·k Garn.S"" StP..tl:S P1U•k l~~r Stute ?e.rk U~ld8 Uv:ildo Uvald.11 Uvalde Uvalde Uveldo Uvald3 Unudo Uw.lde

Uvo.lds

Uw.ldft U~ld..,

TJv:.--.ldc UV't'.ldo Uvnld0 Urudc Uvoldo Uv~ldo

U'"mldt: Uw.ldc Mru~ll Montell

Ccn Cs.."l Co,n Can Ccn Can Cou Cl\Il

50 50v 20' 400' 50' }5' 5011 7

67'

3ooe 2;o11

2000 (?) t 50' { 1) 5-0'+ ? 1209

200'+ 1509 .,.

15007

,;oo• }:)V 1\. 25' 22.000•

10'

25' 50' 50• 10• 300• ( 7} 150' 500• 1 'I ?

10' 70•

152

20• 15' 20•

40 ? ? 10 ;> 1 1 ·tuC.li?

~} ;v· !0 ? 1.0' 25' 1009

lO'l 60~ lOOiy 40 609

35e 25• grv ,;o' 40~+ 5~

200'

10' 60~

4oa 609 1:~5: :?.<P 90' 0' ffl' 60" 1:• OP

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21· 18 18 18 lf

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=.-s 20 6 8

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l . Jt '! .. f. ,;.· 5'i· ..-t t:r•

l} o \1&llu Shctl'-e!> l!ontoll

J .. nmindal e R!meh Caw - Frio Bat Ca'N Bui~ Ramh CaveG 1-3 - Stocktcu Ranch Cavea 1-3 Florea Cavo - Frio Bat Cave Frio Cu.w -· Ii\-io Bat Caft K~dy Cnw - Leona Riwr Sink Leone. River Ca.vs -- Leona Riva Si.rile l.Ionull Creek Shelter - Montell Shelter Co.ft Uontell Shalt•~ -.. Montel l Shelter Cave N:i..gger Nanl - Ra.mb:to's Cave Scot~ C~Te -- Rsnbio•• Cave Uvalde Cave - Cargyle Caws Frio Bat Cavor Rambi.e' e Cav. Verdi Cn\--u - Frio Hat Cave

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vo-aport Hill 15 8 Qucdro.ngle

Onn~r• Dolph Brieot)eJ Foremt.ns Roy Luoe

Decoripticns The entrance to the cave 18 located about 2/3 ot the way up the •t•c ot a tairly st9p hill. and oonsbt• ot a 2 ' "1.de, 5' long o.raok. The cntrnnoo dropa 35' into a roam about 20' wide and 30' long. F.quS.tnent i• neeesaary te gain entrance.. To the n~at a 4' drop. followed by a 6• drop lead• to a passage about 40' long, 3~-5' high and 3• ... 6• wide, ending in m&Hiw breakdon.., To the northeast, holes in the broalaiom~tlo.-ed roem drep a t•tal ot about 25' and may be eadly ol 1ahtui0 but nothing leada ott trcm the bottom. Numeroua animal bone• are to be tOUDd iJI the caw• most it not all recent. At the tep ud in ••.,..ral ot the holo• leadinc dOllJI. traa the roCllll a\1118rou8 human b01Wa were toum. Sewral h'lllMlJl 8kulla w.1.. touad and reowd by th• o.. .... nporta and by Bill Saith 1'ho owned and worked on the ranoh eonral yeara ago. Amang the bone• rcm•ved, all Indian., 'RN those ot aa intant., No anthropologS.oal work haa •• yet been done in the oatt but bonea taken trmi it were identified by Dr. ·r. Wo lioKem ot the Uninre1ty of Tuu Anthropology Department U lndiano Explorat!e wu .rwie 1n 1961 by Philip RuaHll and Jllllea Red.dell ot tlw UaiTeraity ot Texu Grottoo Fauna obaerwd in the oaw included oan cricket•• iaepoda, md har-re•t­meno The oaw b tormed iJI the F.dwvd• lime atone ot CretaceCNe age o

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BURIAL CAVE UTalde County ( # 26)

Description.! This oaTe will ~ diecueaed more t\ally in the forthcoming SURVEY N ... port on the Ce.we ot ln.di1n Creeko Br1et'l7 • the oa..-e ooneiata ot a 40' or deeper 1ha.tt currently being exoavated by the ownttro The oa'ff ia tha repo•itory ot nw.• rous Indian akeletan•o

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CADDEL CAVE Uvalde County (-If 5)

Utopia 15' Q~drangle (?)

Oml•r• John Caddel

De~oription: The can 19 entered by a shallow dnk in u outcrop ot t.be Edward• lhiostone about 3~ ot the TnfiY up a hill. A oedar pol• waa found in plaoe at the entrance which i• undorcuto The oaT• 1tselt Oort9iot• or a aingle roam about 30' long and 20' wide, with the oeiling abou.t 7' higho The left wall ot the caw i• ocmn-ed with brealaicnm, While the right aide ot it i• oompoaed ot wa1hcd•in 111 t and guano, with obunka ot charcoal trom to.rah•• ot early d&7 ccnrl>oy exploratione o Several amall leada exist but are tM amall to negot1&teo The oave wae explorod and llll'lpped by P. E. ,.Reb" Howard. H. Ro "Doc" Jaokaon. and G. "Slim" Spu:rlin&o (See map, p&ge 8)

BibliogrAphy: Spurling. Sliao "CCSS Viaita Now Caving Area .. " The Texae CaTor_ Vol. III,. No. 2, page 17. Mar-Apr 1958• -

Ref's CCSS filH

O..mfli9 1 Jamos Eugono Drico

Descriptions The cavo5 loo•.t ed 1.a it i o in the oen ... er of the oity ot U"Yalch5 hae been f or many yea?'O the playground of l ocal echoo ' ohildreno Originally the 0 ._w oon.ciet~d ot one (lllt,rlilJloe in the LeODA ~orma.tian_ • gravel depoait ot Plei•~oo•n.«1 age 11 with the can itaelt ill the Edward• limestone (:t" Crettaceoue age 0 A aecond m trwic• waa opened when the Cargle Brother• dug • 1- 'Jll in 1908 wh1oh hit t hti OllW o Fred Maeon" wb1m. a boy. entered the oan and re..01"ta that it then oaoa1r.oted or a aer1H ot rooms aIJd orawle. but of no knowa great '-'l'.:"tont. The ,,ave wa• ~enled ae~ral yftara ago to prewnt ohildren entoring the oaTe and possibl y be~ coming loat or treppedo In a"empt1t to diaconr if the cu • Jli.ght be witabl• for CiTil Det~so purpona the well entrance was re-opened L. 19€>1 and L1ember11 or the UniTere1ty ot Texas Grotto explored am partially mappe: th• oan0 The vral l entranoe drops 8 ' to a small room floored with rubble and i.. q.ah thrown i>i :,0 the asve o A narrow fiaaur•. almoet bloobd by the tra•h. extend• .., the nor-th• eaat down a alope formed "by the traaho About 61 - 10' consists ot th'" l oo•ely conglomerated gravol ..,;hile the rcudndor ot Ute can ia in lt.z.,atone o ;:-,.O!ll t.hf" narrow riaaure the can extend• dO'lllll abo1.1t 10' and hori&Cllltally about l~· to a roCGl c:bout 20' wide Gd 30' long ending in a dirt and trash till oorre•l>OL ~"R on ths aurfaoe to ' · hole e.t the eide ot a house into which aauch water .tram .. "'\rd MlllOo The nocr ot the roam i• ~cnred with massive breakdown and eenral dOA

•rtmid up to the gravelo A ore.wl to the right 111111ediately atter entry is g1d.nod to the room extends about 70' where it interaeot1 a oroa1 paasag•o Thi• paaaa&o in "turn l eads ~co ~ pa11age to the lett paralleling the tir•t md atter about 708

re-enter• th., main roOllL ot the cave. Several crawl• nre lettt unexplored "beoauee of a high oo.'loer.tration ot oarbon dioxide which made breathing quite diffi cult and pre"'fent•d lighting or a matoh o Apparently the main part ot the cave extends from the eppoaite side or the well , bey-ond the rubble tillo A oave about 200 ynrd• 1"rom t he "'911 ha• bee t'eportcd recently and may conmct with the n• bloolce c1 pt:rt of the tJaTe, but tho r •port ha• not •• yet been inTeatigatedo (S.. •p11 page 6)

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CAVE HOU.()'{ C!\VE Uftlde County ( #· 8)

Shut.» In 15' <~uadrang le ( 7 )

Owner a unlm:Mn

Dosoriptic:ru The oaft hae not been visited by oanre but 1• deaoribed by Vaughan ( 1900) H boin t; 200 yard• lcmg" 50• - 100• wide, am 50' higbo It i• .. bat rooat with 1111.&Ch guano r.nd tho entrance :t.o uead aa a oamping grcuudo The oave i• formed on the south oide ot Cave Holl.Jlf, a tault-oontrolled oreeko

Hi.bliof,raphys Vaughan8 RuHell T <> "Deaoription ot th• Uvalde QuadJ>angleo" Geolog1o Atlas ot the Unit ed S~teu Uvalde Fol10 11 Texaa8 page• 1 0 5-70 United State• °CCOl ogl'O.r'S'UJ"'fty o 19i o

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CADDEL CAYt:. UVALO~ CO., "TEXAS

COMPASS t; TAP£ SURVEY BY P.\:.. \..\OWARD, \ .. U(. JAC.\(SON.{ G. SPURL\~

'TA. J\ 511 t ___..,.....--;..., \ "" <;RA.Vt .. \.. i:'ILLi;:'.D ~ \ \ ~-

\ \ (/ J

\ \) ( BRl:.:b.\<.­OOWf.J

t ,..,,,.-----, I ,.----- \ ; I -\ \

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0 3C>F'T. L_z 1.--1

CARGYLE CAVE UVALDE CO .• TEXAS

BRUNbN F. TArJE SURVEY

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DG c:d.:ptimu The cave~ ·~as disow.,red quite a f~ yearo ago When it oon5i1rted cf stping l.C~uing from a oava entrnnceo Sino• ther.L tho ~tming has been blockod by conor·fdte and the WG.ter issuing from the caw channelled into ft &Stock ts.nk., Thtt

~ C&V$ ie f'Ol"mod 1n the &ivfarde lizle19toM C£° t.he P.ret&OOOtl.8 ageo Reri Fred Mn•on~ Jro

L'valde Caiunty (.; i>7)

1leacript!ons The ent:.."ance wa.a cJriginslly ~ small 1..>iroular h..,b dr-O'P!'~~ &11 fc:"11 fci&t;

tOi a block or clay fUlo Tr~ <Mnel' «> lar~d t.hl!l ~tbr111.10• "°" l"tttQ~ i;be ob· fill to a d•pth ot about 6° where a horizon~al paa•a~• wa• •x~avatt&n fg~ .~,~~ 2511 ~s a 5' high" 7' wid• p&5•age., Bec&.u.e ~r the alnnttmc• ot olilf t"ill ~~ n~ i.nd1.Gnti on Of an air ... f1J.led ~Hage 9Xl)&Tat.ion ha• l;ee':'l 9tep}ll8do

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)f{! Fil.IO JllVKR CAVE

l'-1:11.,;;t~i pt-.t.on: 111Thtt 'Writer., in company wi tl1 Mes11r• o st.,phensm t.ld 'TiJ:rri"t' 0 looQtoed oaw in the bed or the Dry Frir. Ri"t't!lr just belO¥t th~ Uvalde .. Lealc.y' road oro•iai~·

ingo Thia caft wn& ii.bout 18 inch•• lmr; ani 8 inohe• wide at th3 entrance ·~ ~~ndod downwa.'d a distmc• 11t 40 to 5l> feet,, beyond llhich it aould not b6i follC1:"Wd with th• ey"So It wu ap}ZLrl!lntly ?O'f'Y ertenai"N11 aa indioated by ·tho faot tmv.t a ourrent ot ct>ld air iHued fl'Om the ~peaingo" (Sa~11 19~) An iitt8111pt; m1J.de in 1960 to looa:te the oa'ft wa• uni;uooeH.f'ul., and prerlm111 att.:a.~ptl! by Frod Lta.{1on and Qrady t1ahkf'f'ey to looa.te crevices and ozve• 1n thtl bfcSd ot w Dry Frio Riv~r renalod no ~aw wcm 11.11 described by Sqreo At th• appr~xbet.i lceation givun by Sayre there 1• IUl extenai11r• graftl ba1"11 1nd1oating tlJAt the can in probably intermittcitly oOTered. tmi UhOOWred by ohenging ue.nl 1*!-lo

The oav• iD in the Fdwal"d• lueatom o

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c - l • . Uvold CCi ·~ {

Uvelde 30' Q.uGdrangle

Deaoriptiona Thia 1• a 60• pit. de-nlol*l along a tairly prominent joint in the Edwar'de U.mt'8tcmB. Th• joint otri.b• api:roximately NllE! Entrano• i• a amall hoJ. halfwa.¥ up th• hill th• caft 11 in. 'rb.e pit dz-op• fairly tightly 11 about 4 x 5 teet 1n air.• to a ledge abo\lt 12' do;m. At the bottom th• pit 1• alight~ enlarged al~ the jo1ntt torming a mnall rOGlllo The cave waa explored in 1960 by Eli&aboth Kel1'1Jf&litA• Bob Ben.ter. Milla Tcaq0 ud TOJllll1' Eftlla. The nuae or th• oaTe ret~r• to a picture ot Elisabeth lellwy Smith ae 8h• de:<-.ol!ll14ed a oable ladder into the pit.

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ELIZABETH'S CABLE IADDER PICTURE CAVE NO. 2 UT&l.d• County (:ff 30)

Owners Fred Uaao:a.. Jr.

Desoripticau ~Thie 1• a em.U oaft clnoloped alone th• aame joint and abO\ii-t 250' trcn Elisabeth•• Cable Ladder Picture Oaft No. 1. It 1• about 25• long and runs NNE. It 1• 8'-10' de.p. The entrance 1• on the north aid• ot a small gulley about 60• belOft' the antranoe t• th9 pit and 1• about 10' x 4• o The joint 1a mineralised with Umanite aimilar- to Xelq' • Vein in Indian Creek Ce.wo The enlarged tieaure paHage haa a height ot about 8'-l2'o 'l'he oaft iG dry Wld no tauna wa• obaernd. It la d1ff1oult to get .·ut ot the •igbt ot do.y ill winter midday. It was explored 1n 1960 by Dick Smith• Elicabeth Kelley Smith, Bob Benter. !.\illa Tandy. and T~ EvaDJJo

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FRIO BAT CA.VE {FRIO CAVE) (ANNANDALE RAUCH CAVE) (FLOREA CAVE) (UVALDE CAVE) (VERDI CAVE) Uft.lde County ( 7J. 9)

Shut-In 15' Quadrangle

Owneri Al UoQuOllD

De•ori.pticxu The main entrance to Frio Caw 1a a large hole about 50' wid• on the aido ot a hillo It 1• down thil entrance that a road hu b"n built by gum• minor• in the proceea ot ti.tr guano-mining operatiouo A second entrance to th8 lett of thi• entrance ia a low wide hele u.ecl by the bate in th•ir tl1ghtao To t ho right ot thl main entrance a third amaller ontrcac• i• found, and yet two more ontrance• aro enoounterecl tarthttr into th8 oaft in thl form ~ ahatta oonnaotblg th• larg9 entrmo. roca to the •lrtaoe. Fra:a the main entrance a road S-curwa dawn through the large entrmoe rOCID am into tM main roca ot t.loio oaveo Down the middle o.t thie roOill are tbt 1'9mZlanta ot a puahoar railroad which wu usod to haul gumo out of the oafto Rmnanta ot tho railroad alao exbt in tbe pa.Hag-9 back to the "warm" room.. Tho entrance roaa ccmaiste ot a 225' wide. 80' long room through which the road winds. A low wide tiasur• to tho lett ot ti. room •%tcld• about 120' wber• it enda, being connected to the right once again to the main roam ot the cave by two tiasur••.. Numerou• orawla cmd a rumrocl pit to an exton.a:iTe lower lewl exist in thia areao The entrance» r.:>ac is oonneoted to the main rocm r>t tho caw by two larp paea•~•a on ea.oh •1do

-11.-of a huge pill _. ot rooko Tho tloor ot the ontr!lnoo roam and oormeoting pr.s~c.so:a slop9&1 ate•ply down b.to the main chamber of the oave am 1• floorocl l'fi t1I le.rgo rocka liUld guanoo Th9 main rocm ot thQ oavo 1a a hug• chamber about 3()0 ' l ong" 200' - 300' wide. and 40' or more hi gho Two largo r ook pillar• aro le1't standing in the roomo An alOOTO along tho right wal l ot the O&V11 caztonda abcut 100' ~cm:l the en.4 ot the room betare it eme. At t.hB end ot t ha ro am and to the le~ a 400 alopt l eade down a elope about 15' below t he f loor ot th• maia ohamboro Th.is opens up into the "warm room"• which 1a about 100' long and 50' wid•o Temperi:.t ure i n t his r oom 18 much groater than ill any other psrt of tbei oaw and it io her~ that the baby bat• ar• born. Guao carer• th• tloor about waiat deep am abounda in small black beetle• and red m1teao Guano baa till•d the room until there is only about thre. t~ ot ceiling olearanoe in most ~ the room. From thie rooza a narrow pa••ag• sxtend.11 tor about 100' where the paeaag• bend• to the righii 0

oontilluea an additiaa.al 60' where it ope• into a 60' long. 30' wid• r oomo The oeiling on om •id• of' th.18 roam •ll"llt• downward until it l•aws an irregularly defined on•- to two-inch horl&ontal apaoe abow the gu~no.. The poaaib11ity exiets., theretc:re ot more pe.Hag• lying beyond thi• room but it so it 1a tilled by guano ..

Geol ogy and Meteorologys The oaft ha• formed in the Edward• limtaatone ot the Cre­tao•oue ageo The &trances to the oaff o.r• apparerntly th8 result ot oollapoo following tm interaeotion or the main oaw ohamber w.l th the O&J2\VOD cutting into the caveo The tloor of the oaw i• cowred with lvg• boulder• wbioh haw t'allen trom the oeiling and poesibly wall.a and which are now largely ooverod. with great accumJlat1on• or guanoo In July the temperature in the main ohambe&"" ot the oa.'t9 wa• 71op. and eaoh room waa aucoesaively wanner U11til the teJll:P"rature waa 86° in t he final roomo At 11100 P.M. on July 13. when most of the adults had l ei't the oave tor the o"ftming tlight the temperatures ot tm .. rooms were one to t hree de­grees cooler than at 1:00 P.M. that afternoon. Although ohange in 8\ll"taoe temp­erature may have atteoted the oa.vo tamperature slightly the abaeno• 0£ the heat radiated by the bat• themselvee i.a believed to be the primary taotor in l owering the temperature ot the caw rooms. In Daoembor the rcoDlilll were f'our to twelw degrees coolero Relati'" humidity was between 82 and 100 per oenti> the dampest atmosphere being that at the last roClllo ( Ccmetantine. 1958) On December 29:1 19559

the main chamber temperature wu &:J°F. am the humidity 70 per oent while the "warm" room temperature waa soeF'o and the humidity 96 per oento The only air Hm.ple available 1• that made in April 1952 11hen QJllUonia waa only slightly de­tectable to thl oltaotory eenae. The air aomplea from the "inoubator room" sher.red m ammonia ooutent ot Oo017 per oento At tine, ho.eyer, th& ll1lllllcmSa contont or the room 1e so high that it la onrponring, and when th• oav. wae mapped bl June 196<> the air in the warm roan and rocn beygod it would not support oombustiou tor carbide lightao Thia, however. 18 the roault ot either a high oonoontrati cm of co2 or a lw per cent ot oxygen in the atmoephereo

Bi ology• Th• amount of intensive biological work that ha• been dcne in Frio &t CaTO ia ocmaiderable and as a result all of tho data that ha• betm obtaizl9d oannot bo inoludecl iJ1 tM• repaot. but it i• believed that th• following W1J1D1U7 io •• campl ot1) a report u hu been publiehed. ~r•o Work done cm bat rabie• in the &Ullllera of 1960 anci 1961 by Dro llemt.J' Canatantine ha• not yet been lftlblishedo

Xnvertebratees Frio BRt Cave teem with invertebrate llt•• e•pecially during tho eumner month• when. the huge ooloniea ot Fr..-tailed bate inha.bit the owe. Among theae anillal• t.he moat strilclng le ths l>ermD•tid boetle. DtrDDatea oarniTOrUso Theeo beetlM live 1n the oan by the million.a and their l8.!"'Ya9 teed on hli•n bat s ., They are able to completely 1kel<ttord1e a tallen bat in minutelS and their numbere atte•t to a hi gh bat mortality. The adult dermeetid• intl.iot a sharp bit on human• o The moGt not1oabl0 among t he other inTertebi'ates o.r'1 the mitGh

obu :ti "'• c;.on bl f nt-;-Iiig tll~~o '!hey ntm.b r in. tho nillions 0 d in th9 BU!m:Dl" th :y

o plotoly 0:>vor ony explorer veuturillg into t 110 back part ot the caveo At l cacrt one tiok~ Ornithodorus atagor1, inflicts a palnf\ll bit• cm hUlllln bainga0 but no inatanoe Of relapsliig feTer ha• been reported tram the oaY&o Numeroua speoieo of internal paruite• ha"Ye been found in TadarSda mmoana bate taken f'l'arn this oaw. but •inc• they are not actually aeeoo!ated With tlie biology of the cave they haw been ~itted. fl"ODL the taunal list.

Uormoopa mDgalophflla senioula. the old IDIZ1 bats In October 1955 and Jamiary 1956 D. Ko Jamson and Ro w. llttohell observed Mormoop• at Frio (l"latldn•. 1956) while none were preaent in AJril l9fJ'I, indioating tha.tthe oavw 1• used primarily aa a winter retroato "In February and early llaroh. 1955. the oolony wae at tull etrength. Toward the end of Maroh and throughout the ausuer none could be fcnmd in thie looation. September 16. 1955. a dozen or •o were found and by November 16, 1955, the colony was approaching its mu:inaam aize." (Ead•• Menzie•, and Wia~ 1956J The colony range• in nze trom 6,000 to 10,000 and live• in the "warm room" o Constantine obeer"f'9d that the ~o n oora ot rooms containing the Mor­moops oolony were quite W9t and no dermaetida and lower oonoentratione ot -anmonta were preanto (Constantine, 1958)

Myoti• wliter inoautu•, the oave bats Thi• apeoiea 1• pre•eut ill the thcu•ud• in Frio during April, July am August, inhabiting the tinal. roam ot the oafto Thouam da ot Jlyotia retreat through the epaoe abow the ~o in th.11 ro Olle indioating that a rOOZI my lie beyond. (Conatantine. 1958} In Ncnember thr" Myoti• 1Nr• tound hibernating Qn the fissure juet inside th• entrance. but none were Ob8'!.·l"T9d r.·leewhero and none were toUJ:d in the oa.,. in Dloembero Ia July and Auguat the J.•wu aggregation waa eet1.mated to 'bo about 9 11 000, while in April it wu eatilia eel to ~ 20,000. A• with the Tadwida atypically light.=> coated cpeo1mlma were found, having undtl)rgone bleaohmg bi 8Dlllania gaa and high humid1t7o (Constantine, 1957e 1958)

Tadarida braa111en•i• mexio~ the l~exican tree-tailed bat: Thi• 1• by tar th• largest populat!cm ot 'bat• be found in Frio, numbering in the m1lliona during the au:mnero Intenf!lift bat baniing in Frio and other or the large Ten.a ba1s oa"YOa ha• shown that the tree-tailed bat m1gratee into Mexioo or Central America

for the wtntero Tadarida u8U6lly bog1ns it• retum to the oave in late February and reache:;1 a peik {i Uq. The entrance room, ti•sure ocmneoting to itg md. tho eeoODd, main chamber• arc ittegularly oooupied by Tadar!dao In Aprila no Tadarida vror• rowd ill the entrance room and in November none were tound in the oavw. In July the 8mall room to the left ot the main chamber wu ooau.piec:l by young bate. Tho adult female bat• oooup1ed this room until July 12 when most ot tha W8r9 in the main clhamber, returmng GDly to euokle the young b&teo When th• young bats beoO?De old enough to f'ly thq join tb9 adult batll 1n the main room ot the oaw. During 8Wllller dermatid beetle• and their lBl"ft.9 1.ntlJ.,.. trat. and blmbt the rele.t1wly dry gumo ben ... th Tad .. 1da oluateno The pr-eacmoe ot the beetle a 1• uaooiated w1 th aoant to OTft'pomtring oonoentra­tiona ot amnania in proportion to the aiz• ot the beetle populationo In tha winter fR beetles au:\ only a ali&}lt odor ot anmonia 1• tr•MDt• (Conatmti.n9• 1958) Bat• examined 1n Frio were found to haft undergone prenmmoed bleaching or the pe lag• by tbe exosaai•• mm>C1Dia gu mid water npor in Jllloh or tb9 oave. (Constantine, l9fJ'I • 1958) Bata banded in Frio Bat CaTe have bee oapturecl in Wilson'• Caw, Kerr County. and bate banded in Merrih .. , Selman'•• Connor'•• and Viokery Cave•• Oklahoma, 1n the aUDner,rot 1952-1956 wen recoTered in Fri• Co.n 1D Mq. The bat11 are pr eyed upon by the duok hawk, Falco 5'.revinu. anatwa. 1k\mlm, owl 1, boboata • and probably numeroua other an Ima - •• ID recent

..

,,

.. 1;:. year the Texas Public Roal.th Dopartment baa devoted con.tliderablo ~ttention to Tadarida •z:ioana because or tlw aaaooie.tS.o:n ot the rabies viruo '7ith thi& 'bato Thi• work wu lugely precipi tated aa a resul t of the dl'jath b:f rnbieD ot Georg• Co Menzies an January 4. 19560 He had daited Frio Bat Ca'Ve en Novo 15. 19551> end had probab].y rubbod a ohr oni o ek.f..n eruption on hi• nook with contaminated gloves whilo working with bat s in the oaveo Booaua• ot thia aJJd the death ot a Calif'ol"Dia mining ngineer • who had dlod from rabiea w1 thout ha-rlng been bitten by bats but who had wcrked 1n oloee oontaot with the. Dro Denny Oon.tantine wa• aa•igned to .-tud¥ bats am the possibility ot contrnoting r abiet by inhalatlono Frio Ca.,.. wu uaed by Dr. Oons'tantine 111 his studios

md in 1960 he plaood dog•" domestic oat•. racooone. ringtail oats. coycrtea" r;rey roxea • a.Ill one striped skunk 1n the oan in 'tdr• cage• in euoh a way that they .. n H.te tram both the batt aJll the eotopar-.•aeit.t living an the bo.tso One WHk a.tter being pl.&oed in tho caw one tax. two coyote•, and ono r ingtail oat died ot rabie•o The rewlta ot thi• and other roaeerch during 1961 by Dro Ccmatentine ha• not yet been publi•hed. AlthoUgb ti. 1nd1oat1an• are euah aa to indicate the probability ot oantamination without aotualq being bitton by a bat the poHibility ot suoh a oantract1on ia •lighto Thi• i• •Tidenoed by the frequent visiting or the oaws cmta1n1ng large bat populationa by hundred• ot people without & •ingle reported in•tanoo or rabies ha"ring ~·11 ao oontraoted ..

Faunal Liat ot Fri• B.t CaYOs

Paeudoaoorpiana Dinocheirua stercoreus

Blaok acorrp!ozu Vejovi• mexioanua

Harveat-raan ap1.ders Leiobmium tawnaend.1

Runnfug aprders !!!°Plllu• blaokwalli

111 ten a Acantophrhiriu• lotfa Ddeilo&•aua ro~• pe• Ichor~•au• robu•t1!9• ~erlsc ua •trandtmanl Speleocoll!. tadaridae (chigger mite) S'ptntumix Trounb!cuYa SJ>•

Tien• Jntricola coprophilua orD{thOdOt"OS concanen81a ornithodoroa etageri

Crloketa Ceuthophilu• oun1cular1•

1"19a•a Ceratop*llua ooahuilcnaia• D•8P• • (host ia Petrodhelidm. fulva £all1da) Uyodopq la coiiLia! (boat b :;:i~• veliter) L!jodopay!li t;enfli!a (host i• • veiiter) Myodopqlla inaipia (host ia Jlyotis Teliter) Rhynchop;Jllua megasti!lt& ( atioktight flea) Sternopsy1a texana (hos Io To.darida mxico.na)

Bed b~· PJ"imioimex O&Ternis

..

Flieas TriohobiU8 ~er TriohoblU8 ep aeronotua

Beetleei Alphitobi ua di aper1Dua Alphltobiua l aeVlgatUa 1'ermeatea oarnlvorus (oe.rn1vorue derm1at~d boetle) EiDbathlon murloatuii Rhad De, Do8po Trax wberoaua 0wrr­

Hawka Falco pereizinua anatum ( duok hawk)

Cave 8Wallow or Coahuilan clitt 8'Wallows Petrocbelidon ttllT& pallida

Opossum Bates

~ raalo~lla •enioula (old man bat)

e er cautus ( oave bat) er -sraail!ensla mex:S.eana (Mexioan tre .. tailecl bat)

Striped aktmk1 1'ephiti•

BoSoat

-14-

HS..torya Frio Bat Ca'ft ls one of the beat known oavee in Tezaao Its history goea back to the early a.ttlera who uaed the ca'ft to obtain badly needed tertC i:er0

their wagon• being driT.u into the ca-.. and loaded with the nitnte rich guano. During the Civil War guano wu remared trcm the oa-.. and uaecl to make aaltpeter tor wse 1D gunposder. Prior to 1879 tha Ten• Guano Campany was organized by a llro Hu.rtsall for nm.ov1ng the gumo tram Frio. lie removed ~10 tona eaoh day, ahipped it too Galwston tre& 11he>.<:e it waa •hipped to Sootlando A traara1' wu conatructe(" upon which were run caJ•a or carte with a oareying capacity ot about om ton eaoho At this tim the hats took ' hour• of continuous flight tor the morning and evening bat .t'light11. ae opposed to a.bout 45 minute• todayo The 1nd1oatlon8 are, theretoN, that a11 enormoua aa the pt"esent population ot Frio ie, at this time it must have been oonaidf)rab~,. greatero In about 1918 th• oan wu worked on a large ccale and two systema ot cable wa;ya were built to rem9" the guano, and a rotll'y kiln conatruoted at the entrance to dry the guanoo After thi• a oab1- rallwq wu built into the interioi- ot the cave to remove the laat ot the large deposit. ot guano that had been aoCW111lating ner •ino• the bat• began inhabiting the oaTeo Sinoe that time oomparo.tiwly small ammmt e ot guano han been reJDO'f"ed tram the main room ot the oafto Wbcm mining waa dme the cable railroad wae powered by a trao'!X...-T-ane wheel b91ng replaced by cable drumo Thie gwm.o required mch labor to extraot, ainoe what remained wu that between roolcao Enn though the cheapest poasible labor waa used fflff ot tlw OI>CJl'tP tor• made a PJ"Ofit••&o• being toroed to flee with their traotcrn just ahead ot their oreditorso In about 1958 Twin Star lnduetriea ot AU8t1n invoatigated tm oaw tor nit?"ate depodta by drilling 3 or 4 holes deep into the breakdown .tloor ot the O&'fto A road ~• oonatructed onr 500' into the oaYe to enabl• the drill.1.ng r ig to reaoh taVO!"e.ble location•, but the hoped for mineral.a were not faund o At i;reaent moat of the work done in Frio ha• bee ot a rather negligible nature. with little guano removed. The oave has been viaited by hundreds of peoplo duri ng the hiatory ot the cave, and hae been thoroughly explored by qualif i ed oavera. Rumor• to the e f fect that a TS.at labyrinth ot rooma and passage• on a lower lewl o:data have been pretty •11 prown talee or 0leo the entrance t0

INOh a labyrinth ha• O..n olosecl by rock tllll or .tilled with gunn•o Th orno hA• provecl innluabl• tl'Olll th• biological at.nd,.int am ita M.•tory. cmly roughq and baocapleteq aketohM i.re. i • cme ot thl zaoat 1.ater••Unc abapt5r& 1n tbD h 18'tory of T• za• apel•ologo Th• oll'ft wa• mapped 1a June 1960 by Bill Ruaaell• Jolm Zudc. and Bob Beater ot the Uni•er•itv ot 'lau Gfftte tor the Tem Warde Plmt Food C•p1117. At tho.t ttat 2, 7l:r/ feot ot can wu ••ped., moat ot i t boiD& a o irouit &rCNDd the .mat.a r oom ot the oaveo It hu alao been •ppecl by Bill Orq and other 11Sber• ot tm A1- Grotto. (See ..,. pap )

B:lbl1ocrapb7• Anonymoua. "Bnar• ot Bata." Tille. Volo 78. No. l'• pap• 50 & 52. Sept. 29. 19610

AllClll)'JIOUao •Fr10 Caw." Tau Almanao mid State Industrial °"1.d•• 1947-1948~ page 575., Ano.vqlllOU.8. "N ... ot the Gi=OE\Oaa llao<riOffO." th• Sn.a c ... _.. Vol. n. l o. 2.

pap 200 Febo 1<)61. -Azump1oua. "Repert an th• CoU.uilan ClUt Snllaw." The Tezu Caftl'. S.pto 1956.

pag•• ,.4. -An.On;fllOUllo "RuaHll Gurnee'• Vialt Tau." ~ '?nu Oa'ftl"• Vol. II• No. l • P• 7 o

Jan-Feb 1957• AnClll1JDO'Uo "Swallow• that Neat 1A !nu Caveao • P.SS ;;-• Velo 15. Noo 1 0 PP• 6-7 o

Jan 19570 (Repri.ntecl troa The Tau Cawr. Sept:'); • PP• 3-4) AllotqJIOll8o Uftl.CS. U5'lreo Prier tO 1'8'19. quoted in Cu:p1-11. Bate. M:oequitoea ,!!!.

Dollar•• ~. "Blolo~oal Note•o" The Texu Ca"Nr, Vol . II. No. 1. p. '· Jan- Feb 19570 Blair. w. Franko Bate ~ tb9 Ea1iVd• Plateau in Celltl"al tau." Tua• Journal ot

Soieno•• Vol. 4. No. 1. PP• 95-98. -Campbell• Chal"l•• Ao Ro Bat•• Ko.qultoe• ud Dollan. oppo PP• '6 and ~a PP• 16~

and llf(o The 81:rattor4ceiipm7. Bostcm. 192;. Conatuitine. Dezm;r G. "Ble aohing ~ Hdr Pigmmt in Bata by the Atlll8spher• in

Cave•o" Journal ot Munalo~. Vol. 39. Ho. 4~ PP• 513-5200 Bew. 19580 Constmtini• tJiUiY-i1. "coioz- ariatiOD. and Uolt 1n Monaoop• •galopbfllao • Journal

ot ••::!o"n:,,:;1• ~. Noo 3. PP• ~347 o Aug 19;8. Coiii'tm • G. "Coloz- Variatlan and Molt 1a 'radarlda bruilieuia and !zotla

wllter.• Journal ot Vmmelof• Volo ~. Boo 4. PP• '461-466. HG'f' l957o ConstmtrJ. • l5i1iUi lie -.<&'•at Bi Colmie• Attran Preclaterao • Tb9 C&Y9a or !nu•

P• 100. 8'111.eida ot th• Natoicmal Spel9ologioal SeoS.ty. We.--m. 1Pf1119Zi!. Cooley. Ro A •• and GlG 11. l.ohlao "PUrtlt.er II• SpeoS.a ot Ornitbodoro• fr«& bate

(Aoal"inaa ~uid .. ). " Publio Health Report.• Vel. 56. Neo 17 • PP• 910..9150 April 25. 1 •

Crt-.n. Bart and On•man• Bebo "Litter• to the Mltor.• Th• Texu Cawr. F•bo 1<)56. Ead•• Richard B. "Bat••" '?au Game a: Fillh. Vol. 14. No. I.PP• S:9 8Jid 28-29 . Ee•• Richard B. "Eotopariil&•f'r'Cia-s'ftII'ow B•eta., .with the Ds•oripticm ot a Bew

Ceratophyllid n.a." ~ Journal ot Paraaitolol:. Vol. 42. No. k. PP• 7}-750 Ead•• R. B,.. J, s. WiaGWl• and d. ?:" Uemles~ * rfttiona Ccnoerning the Med oan Free~Tailed Bat. Tadarida mencma. la 'fexaaQ" The Tnaa Journal of Soi•no.a Volo IX• No. 2• PP• 227:<2!.'2, Jlme 1957 • - -

Ead•• Ro B•• J. s. 11'1Hman• and Go c, Mend.••• "N .. Looal1ty Reoori• tor Texa• Battto" Journal of Mumalos• Vol., YT• Ho. '• P• W.,o. Aug. 19;6.

Fo'leom. milii. Eip orlng Aurioan Cave1. Page• lo6 and l6o. ll .... Yorka 1956. Glasa. Bo Po "Additional Returil• tram Fre ... Tailod d&t• Banded in Okla." Journal ot

1'IU111aloq. Volo 40. No., 4. PP• 542-545• New 1959• -H&iiLlq • Willi ... Ad'ffn.ture .!!, Umtergrcnmd., plate 38. pagea 153-16oo Harper & Brothor:ie

N• York. 19~· !Iutohinaon. George ETelyno Sur!!y !!!_ Cont•pwaq Knowledge !!. Biopocheaist!Z. •

"Can OuaJlo iJl N. Am." Bulletin ot tb9 American llu1eum o.t Natural Hi•t9. Vol. 96. Po~. 19500 -- -

•

11UO Oir.u CAVE

RoZO\C"lleS; p, '70 430lr. Jmto la 101~""

R~l': TSS tilec

Uvm.lcb C~<;y ("ll 10)

D~eot·i~i®' Ths c c.vo i~ f;;.rmeti. t'!2 Ci!l~ lti"v.:i::..~ o:..aej.a; . .,~~{:.: of n ;5\ 6ez; oiuk '~o n z· :: It ic dry oxc~pt c.rtw:. r. i·e.in end ic uc;;d "iG ;.a owl roc:::;t. IZil;l·t.ncc :;·oqui!" :..r.i ;;o~ f' 1 'd r{I ' ~ l · ·1 " ... ~o ~ . .,o.;· ~~,..c-~ ~i_QOf - I<-. i'"' °'O"' .. -~.~:~ O · .!.tlO. tl' 0!' l"OPO • &.Ct:~~. ~::igc,,. c~ . .,.. -~ .:~ 'JC a '1 ... °" ..., f.u-v ;·;\,& - - ~ ., "' - -~

i.n tha Ecl!i7;:;;· ii:J Hr.w~';c::ich ! t -:;:::~ c::p1N: ~- ;:. .. 1. A~'gust J.960 h~r s·::n ff'.:1.ceoll of '..ili~ UT (h~r .. t;.tQ •

•I

•.

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l( . TH~

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. ....._

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GARNER PARK CAVE (GARNER PARK CAVE # 1)

UtopiQ 15' Quadrangle

Onners State ot 'l'oD.8

Uvnldll CO".mty ('fl; 12)

Deaoriptiona The ontrano• to the oaft i• 5' high, 4' wide, and in the dd• ot a hillo A 20° •lope leada into th• eingl• room oonatituting the oaveo Thin room 18 20' wide, 30' lcmg, mid 8' higho Total l.n.gth ot tho oave 1a 67• o Although it must at one time ban been quite beautitul the only formation eurri.ving -nn­dala 1a a 3' 1n dimn.eter, 7' high whit• oolumn 1n the center ot tlw rocmo A trail in the park lead• to the oaveo The only fauna ob .. ned in the oan •re oa"N crickets and apid•r•o The cave ie tonned in the Edwarcla limestone. It was TI.sited and mapped in March 1961 by Gru.ham Bell, Eugene Blum, and JemH Reddello (See map, pap )

Rett TSS tiles

GARNER PARK FISSURE NOo l (GARNER PARK CAVE # 2) Un.ld• County ( ./f l~)

Utopia 15' Quadrangle

Owner: State ot Texaa

Deecriptiona Th• cave i• primarily an enlarged tiaeureo A number of formation• 1.1.re tound back into the oaft, past an area ot ore.wllng am squeezing through small holeao The oa'ft ia tormod in the F.dwarda limato:ueo

GARNER PARK FISSURE NOo 2 Uvalct. Ccnm.t," (://: 14)

Utopia 15' Quadrangle

Owner: State ot Texu

DHoripticru The oav• ia about 100 yard• long. and ha.a a wry high oeilingo It ia entered at the bottom ot the tiaaure where it ia 2•3 teet wideo By ohimneying about 30' up , there 1a to\llld a orawlway running the l•ncth ot th• oaft o The f.w tormatio:ua toun.d in the o&ft ... re deado It enda in breakdowno

GARNER PARK FISSURE NOo 3

Utopia 15' Quadrangle

Owner• State or Texaa

Retr Orion Knox

U..-alde County (# 15)

Desaripticma Th• caTe is entered by a 15' drop to a }-6 toot wide paa•ag• about 75' long, with brealaiomi about 30 ;yarda trcm the entranceo At the end of the pu•age 3 fissui·ea lead ott • th• one atraight ahead blocked by breakdOllD and the other two. which take ott on opposite •idea ot the passage, quickly become too emallo lmnediately &tter the breakdown. nearer the entrmoe41 a small bole on the lert drop• 10' to a amall ro<X11 16' x 10' l: 5i• higho Only a :i;ifl torma­tiona wa~ found ill the caveo It wu explored in 1958 by Orion Knox. Erneat Kaltermann. Leonard Hill" and ht&turo Soliao

Reta Orion Knox

...

GARNER PARK FISSURE UOo 4

Ut.pia 15' Quadrangle

Ownera State ot Te:ue

... 19.,, UTalde County (:/f 16)

Deaoriptiona Th• entrance to the tiesure is about 10' at the top. with boulur• wedged at point• Alang it. The total depth or the tieaur. ie about lOOo The cave to the east lead• to a et.ep elope up to a point wb9re boulder• haw blocked the paHage. At this point, which ia prcbably no more than 21)• below tlw eurtao., light may bo ••en tl'Ont a hole in the csiling. To the net from the entrenoe the puea~ i. ad• put a hole in the floor to a point where it •!•lits int• two narrow tie.urea, rapidl7 beocming too narrOlf'o The hole in tho tloor lead• to a call roam abcut 20' doe.o There are a tn tormationa in th9 ceveo

Bet• Orion lnm

GARNER PARK FISSURE NO. 5

Utepia 15' Quadrangle

Uvalde Cousty (# 17)

Desoripticma Thi• i• nothing more than a •mall orevice beoCllling too narrow at the en4 o Nothing mare ie lalotm o

Reta Orion Knoz

GARNrll PARK FISSURE NOo 6 U-nld• County (=If 18)

• Utopia 15' Quadrangle

Owner• St.te ot Tena

Deecr1pt1mu The oaTe ext.ma about 20' before it reaohee a 6o• dropo Nothing of any extent lead• oft tram the bottOllo Nothing ure i• knowno

GARNER PARK FISSlRE NOo 7

Utopia 15' Quadrangle

Owners State ot Tex&•

Reta Ori.cm Knmc

Uvalde County (#19)

Descriptioru Thie ca.'ft b mtered by a nrtioal drop ot 20' o Arter a short cliatcoa a Hoom 1~·op ot about 100' 1• encountereda It waa not explored on the trip on whioh it WU toundo

Reta Orim KnOCllC

GENERAL NorB 00 THE GARNER PARK FISSURESs All aeven or the abcm> oa~i?Je are looated in a high blutt in the Garner Stat. Park. They haw all probably b~n, larf.;9ly explored but the ezact" nature and extent of the tiaaurea i• unlmomt.; Although they appear to be aloughil'lg otf' trOD the bluf't the preaeno• of oaw f'or1113t1om 8

roama 11 etc., 1nd1oatee thAt they aro more thm eimply talu• oaveso More work is planned tor the tu~ on thi• are&o

I

Ovm.eri Dalph Brisco.

...,20 U?a'."i.. de County ( # ~3)

DetJor1pt1.oiu This 60• shaft has been dug out by the Uvald• County Wat.r Diatriot, ... in preparation to'f' itm u..e ae a reoharge sit•. but before exoavation ooul~ be

utazidri beJcsnd the 60• lewla change in ownership prevented my turthM' work• s b 01ng done OD the cave. TM same holds true fw tho tallowing O&'fte A ruu r eporl cm both this and Gonzalea Caft Noo 2 will appear bl the Cane ot Ind.in Creek.

GONZAI.ES CAVE R'Oo 2

Uvalde 30• Quadrangle ( ? )

G!Jn.erc Dolph Bri8COe

UTald• Cwnt;y (# 39)

Desoriptlmu This 1• a 6o• ahatt. blocked. at th• bottom with breakdcnr:ao See Gcinsalea Cave Hoo- lo

GRATmG CAVE Uvald• Camty ( # 25)

Uvald~ 30' Quadrangle

Desoriptiozu Thi• 300' long ormrl'WG\f ie about 30• deep and 1a looated b. th• be4 ot Indim. Creeko It has been cannrted into a reoharp 81 to by the Un.lde CoUnty Water D1str1Gto A full report md cl4Jsor1pt;1cm will be inoluded in the Ca'ft• •t Indian Creoko

Reta TSS tilea

HACKBERRY CAVE Uftl de COUDt;r (fl: 35)

Uvalde 30' Quadrmgle

Do&OZ"iptionr Tho oave oonsiete of a eer!Ate ot rooa coiroling a 12' d"P brealaiowa a1Dlc. 20' ill dirmoter. A crnl to the northw9et lead• mto a 15' z 20' room aepao ~ted trma a emanbat 8llal ler room by a 6• in diameter. 10' high stalagmlteo ~ Tery tight crawl$ pa rt1&1.ly opwecl with a rock hammer. lead• tram thi• room iuto an 8• high, 20' h diWHt•r room. To tho eoutheut a eloping crawl leads down 1.Dt" 11. 25' 111idea 15' lang 0 5' high room with no outletao An upper lewl orawJ. directly abcmt trui..nor-thweat paasage laadas tfn: ab«i"t 30' betfn:e 1 t dead­Endao The only tormations 1n the cave arr& the atalagm:lto already" deccribe410 ta. f im 10' high oolWlll and many 1' .. 2• long soda stra.wso Moat ot the f'crmat.t.om ~ .. ~ dive and a •mall pool is roum at the bue or Ule large aU.lagmiteo 1'lw oa'\"8 i s formed in tho upper pcrtion or tM Edwards limeatoneo 'llw skull ct a !'tSoently dead goa.t wam reaowd from the upper level orawlwayo The only fauna in tho cave -nre oaYe crickets m d D.UJ'D9rou.s aurfaos-type boetle)•• It was dia­ooverecl in 1923 by !i'zogd Maeon am pm-tially •xplored by him th•no It wu not r-evisittid until December 18. 19600 'by Bob Benf"er, Bud Frzk. Graham Bel1 11 Philip Ruase!l, end J&DJ& Reddoll ot the U'? Grottct. Thio eua grCNl' mapped the o~wo ( 86~ map. p.\go 21 )

R3f: TSS tiles

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0 2!:>J:"T l..w,L_ I J

HACl-<BERRY :"...AYr UVA.LOE CO .. TEXAS

Bl<Ut..!TON ~ TAPE SUR'i[Y l2-~8- 1~0 BY Bt::LL I BENF£R I FR~NK ~ REDO~LL

c.

HORSESHOE ;)END CAVE

Utopia 15' Quad.rc:a.gle {?)

Onners John Caddel

.... 22 ... Uvalde Co\lllty ( # 7)

De1criptio1u The oave b formed along a bedding plane and in a aott and crumbly haneyoombed limestone. Entry was toroed into two or the roome, whioh were w.t and contain 11.,.. tormat1onso The entrano• 1• a •hallow sink, which leads into a small, 01.rcular room.o Small holes lead into rooms an either aide or the entrt.nos roomo The noor ot these rooms ii largely covered with waahed-in •ilt mld guanoo Total length or th• oave doe• not exoeed 50' o

Bibliograpeya Spurling, Slim. "ccss Visits N.,, Cartng Areao" The Texas Caver, Volo III, Hoo 2, po 170 Mar-Apr 1958. -

Reta CCSS tile•

INDIAN CREEK CA.VE Uvalde County {-If re)

Uval &t 30' Quadrangle

Onnera Fred Maaon, Jro

Deaorlptiona A full report on this oave and other ca-..a in and near the bed ot Indian Creek will be published aa a SUZ"'ftY report cm the Caws ot Indim Creek at a later date. The OB.'N ia a recharge a1t. ot the Uvalde Cotmty Watsr District and ia the langeat SUl"ft)"ed oave in Tszaeo Enterod by a 120' aink broke into 5 leftla by' ledge• and upper level•, a t~al ot 16,400' ot paesage hu M.n surveyed. with an additional one mile ot passag• explored but unsurftYed.o

Reta TSS files

LEONA RIVER smx (LEONA RIVER CAVE) (mmEDY CAVE) Uval de County (/I= 22)

Uvalde ~· Quadrangle

Onera Kenno~ Eata1»

DesoriptS.azu The original entrance to Leona Ri'Nr S1nlc was described by Langford ( 1942) as being '5' deep and 9~ in diametero From th• bottom the oo.ve ie reported al consisting ot two large pueagea extending out at or near a straight angle to eaoh other. The oave wu explored prior to thia by a n.wcbor of local people and geologiata, including Frank Welder, an early explorer ot Indim Creek Cavoo A tn years ago the Uvalde County Water Diatriot placed a grating over the cave to pre"'9!1t trash blocking tho oaw Cld to thua 1.mprovo it a• an underground water­r•oharg9 Bite. Arter acne ti.mt the OW11er ranoved the grate md filled the caw with gravel. The first tlood completely waahed away the gravel, but sin.oe that t1zm aubaequent flood• haw filled the oa•• with trash and gravctl to "Ytithin 20' -25' ot th• aurtace. At the preamt the entrano• to tho oaw, which lies in the oenter ot th• Leona River bed. may bs described a• a 7' aquaro bolo aurrounded by concrete which has b8fllh aet in f'luoh with the r1 TI1r bed. Arter about 6• •olid rook 1• meto Eere the cave is &bout 4' wide and 7' long and drope about 15' to the present "tloor" o~ the cav.o A ne.rrOPT craok, too plugged with debrie to enter., extends to the eoutheaet out ot the "bottom" of tho sink. At this t~ mm:iber• of th• UT Grotto invostigated. the eave and found it 1a dosor!.bed. They obseM"8cl three ribbon analma., thouaand• or moequit~•• =- nllllk9roue sp1ders0 eave orickcrtaa

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o.nd aurrace•type beetles living in rotting logs r.t the bot.-tan of tJlo ont r ancec The cave 11 which its in tho Edwards limestol'lfJ, v:i.ll probably hit the Wt\ter t ab1o 5 which is fairly shall<JR in this areao The county is in the prooese of building a dam d0\1?111tream from the cave to trap and hold wator rO!" a recreation l('.kec When this iG done a ooncr•te dam will bo ereoted e.rowld the ce.ve entranoo to prevent lose o.r the wat;er ond to cntch all flood water ror recharge pur poseso

Bibliography: Holt, Charle• Lo R .. , Jr-o Goolotg and Gound .. Water Reaourcs1 ot Ucdinn County, Texas, po 680 TeXl.l.9 Board or vlater Engriieers Bulfetin 56010 Aug .. 19560

La.cgfordl> otheU Fo Collapeed Caverns na Ltodifiors or Older Structure• in the Vicini&'. of th~ Baloom• Zone or F'aulte fu UTaldoCounty. •rexaes ppo J'{ ... ;s; Unpubl hi'CT ~Thea!11 or thi"U'iifverdty Of Te.xaso August, 1Mo

LOUSEBOUND SHELTER CAVE

Utopie. 15' Quadrang.le (?)

Owner a John Caddel

Ref; TSS files

Uvalde County C4fo 6)

Doscrip'tioru The cave io entered by a shallCM' ainkJ> which in turn leads to a f'b:tc roofed breakrlomi-filled ?oom that sh~a evid•no• of recent i'allao Thero are aotive fcrraationa on the lett dde of th., room but the rest of thecave 1e dry llJld dustyo The roan ia about 35' longD 15' v:ide" and 15" higho It is looated on a aaddle 1.n a ridge taoing up a ~\vinct and ie t'ormd in the Edward.a limestone o

The cave 111 used aa a aholt~r by goats as ie e'ridenoed by two slcullo in the cciveo It is hea'rily infested with liceto

Bibliographys Spurling, Slim.- "CCSS ViSita New Caving Areao" The Texo.o Caver i.> Volo III, No.., 2 11 Po 17 o fJa...-Apr 1958 . -

Refg CCSS tile•

uo:~TELL SIIEL'rgR CAVE (iiONTELL SHELTI!Jt) (UONTELL CREEK SHELTER) Uvalde County ( # 41 )

Bnrksdale 15' Quadrangle

Owners Ray Uillel"

Descriptions The fill on the shelter floor 1a about 65• abOV"e the adjaoent stream bed ot Montell Creek0 while tho highest point of the roof 11 about 95' above· tha same level o The total l9ngth or the opening parallel to the bluf'.f ie 609 D md the maxinum depth 25' o A aeoond shelter ot similar d~nsione o.nd at the aamo level ie about 200' upstreano The bedrook floor of the shelter is covered by uncemented debris oonaistin~ ot pebble- end boulder-else rook spalla f'?•om the ahe lter root and retuse ot animals IUld man '9hich have ooeupied the sh•l t~ o

Depth of excavation reached 1405' before the project waa olosod m. th bedrock ctill not reaohedo In the procees ot excavation, near the bottom. ot the present "floor" level the entrance to a ·~·eocmd chamber waa foundo Exploration reveals~ a small chmnber 30' long and 2a• \video The floor or this room io breala:iown am further exploro.tian tll.Ult a"ai t remaval of thi• debriao The cave has boen mapped by Glen Evans and other ~mbera or the start' of the 'le:&a.!J J.!emorial t~useumo ( See r.ic.p 0 pae;e 25}

ll.rche.eolo~•;y: Evidenoo of· hummi h&.bitation iG i'ound i.n 1;b.e f'ol"m of pa.in"tiilgs c:in -the back wa.ll of the eave £:Il.d :i.n n\ll!le1·ous ru."tite.cts end buried fiN pita in th$ loos0 fillo Up t~ th9 present tim.9 about 250 brokan end oompleto e.i-tif'aoto huvc baon oolleoted from t..'tie ehel~~er t.nd if the oe.ve should be f\illy excr..vat(ld they would probably nulliber in ~o th0".1ocnda. Iu addition to 'the more oonmon t.flMia" fJUoh aa errcm' o.nd dart points 11 found wore ·i:;wo pain:tod pobblcc aimilar to thosl.9 of the Pecos River Culturoe, end E:lti'ft>ral partially compl~te bon~0 wood,, :md antloi:"' implemcate. A bndly rustsd piecl3 of' D'iBt&l, possibly ·l;M tip of a lEU"'ge :ll•on spike, was found in the!! upper zone. Thio indioatos th11t the J.a-l;sr Indian inh.nbio tani:s ot the cavo may have beon in oon.taot with Europeana--poasibly tho Spania."dc nho bt2.ilt the mission in Montell in the lO·;;h century. The GXC&.Tation reweJ.ed the following layersi

Surfac& !:om• Ashes,. f'ine dirt., e.nimo.l o.xc:"et:!..oo, pobble•. oharcoal--e.rre:mi.eads abundant

Du.med rook zom1: A midden with hearths. bl'"okmi bones, o.!Xl. largP.t dert2 )!kml.d#H' sona • Largg bouldcn•s and root opall-•fl!W artif11ota Lovmr zona2 Fine ... gra~ed br.rG\m and groy earth Tlith som~ rook apaH:. noro oompse·'-:;

lO'llest horiza:i froJD which artito.cts found in plaoo to deptil of 8r3-c1;1 Spall zonoa Loose 11.mestonG spalla i'ran shelter J'.'Oot--no ertif~ts m plaoo

Mate;.-ial taken trcm the shelter ie deaoribad 1n the Texae :Memorial Muaewn Aocsea:i.<m Book \mder ~/: 604.

Bibliogra~1 EVDI\a. Glou. "Report on Cavo on the Rey iJUler Rn:ich,. Uvaldo County:1 Texas. n Unpubliohed m!W.ue01•1pt. April ~. 1947 •

Kelley, J. Charl~!!. "Arrow or Dort Shaft Toolo and Problematical lneis~d stones i'?'O!I! Central md Western Texas." El Palao1o9 Volo 55. tfoo 3. pp .. 75-850 ll~ch 1948... -

Reutoi". Paule nNO'hats end Nei.m." Amerionn Antiqaj.~, Volo 130 Noc 3> po 2"/3o January 191~.

Wedel, Waldo Ra :'Notet$ end Nm~a." Am6ricen Antiqui?r. Volo 14~ ltoo 1 11 po 71.!.o July 1946. .

\Ved&l. Waldo R. "Notes a~d NtJWso" Amer~.can .'l.ntiquitz~ Vol. 14$ Noo };i i>Po ~-21.i5o Jun.ua::y 'i949·

Rots TSS fileD

N<!tTH \VE:LL CAVE Uvalde County ( :/- 36)

Deeorl.pticmi The> cave conaie·i;e oi: e. l::>.rge oblong room. containing m.m:nrcu.e f\):f'm(>p

ti<m.th The ceiling Of r.;he :"OOI!l raIJgl:9G f11<lm 1 '-7' • and ll 76' ci~ep pit it1 found in the Ct'.'ft}e Beccuee o~ the r~le.tion of' thiG c::i.vc m:th Indimi Cz-e~k e. full re:;._.. por·b i.a rss31"v~d :for the report on t11e Caves of J:ndian Crosko

Ref: TSS files

U11a.ltio Ccunty ( ifa 11) 4

o, -e'Z': Al i.~cQv.m-;n

Deeorl..tk-ioni Th> oa""Ve conei..st:s at1l"cily or o. ?-JO' doop pita vJith I!o pcssoss·· loa~ of .f?mli the pit~ It ia e.bmJ.t 8' :r.: 5r in size for its eit!rv cbptr.. It i;;;;.u --~ .Gr~:i by 3"-.11 Rusu-11 &..ti.0 i , er~-: t i11 t.h~· Edu1rd3 l.iil'Goto l.'J ..

R .. : 'f '33 f:· :oJ

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I=~ FlOCR.

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GA~WE.:R PARK CA.VE UVALDE CO., TE:'><.~5

. &RUNTON 4 "TAP£' SUR\lii:Y BV J, R'EOC~\..\.. 1 G. B\..Ut.A , G. 0El-L.

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tvlONTELL SHEL TE~ 0 \0 FT.

' . UVA\.O~ CCi.. J ·rE.XA~ LL , , '-'-

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PROFlu! ITY POTHOLE

Uvalde 30' Quadr&Xlgl•

Owner : Fred f.!aeon. Jro

\ I

... 26-Uval do County (# 31)

Desoriptiona The oave 1a a 60• deep pit in the F.dwarda limestone 11 with a a:mall entrance near the top or a low hillo At the bottom the pit is enlarged along a joint striking approximately east and forming a room about 22' along the joint am 10' wide o The entrance is abave the \fest end Gt the roomo Above t he eaat end a dome approximately 40' rises. whilet along the southeast wall t here 1e a Te'f"Y anall hole which drops into ~ small lov1er levels wi th a tot al horizontal extent or about 40' developed along the jointo The cave ia dry with only a ttl'll crickets 1n the larrer levelao There ia no clay fill in tht oave and the joint is not minsralbedo It was explored in 1960 by Diok Smith. Elizabeth Kelay, Sob Benfer. Hilla Tandy, mid Tomuy Evone of the UT Grottoo

Ret: TSS tiles

RAM8IE' S CAVE (NIGGER ~;AVEL) (SCOTT CAVE) (Ul/AU>E CAVE) U?ald e County ( ff 24)

Uvalde 30' Quadrangle

Ownert Marcellus Rambie

Deacriptiaru The entrame to Rambi•' s Cave 1a located along the gently sloping aide ot a hill draining into Boon Sloue;ho A diversion dith has been ~ut to channel run-otf' water into the cave, in connection with thG Uvalde County Wat e r District'• recharge programo The •ntranc• i• an 18" in d iam~ter hole in a ahallow s1nkll dropping 12' to a 15' in diameter roomo Along one aide or t.hil r oom another smal 1 hole allOO's one to drop 10' 1nto the main oave o A small shelf drops a ff!Vf teet into the largest room in the caveo Thia room or paaeage ranges trom about 201-60' wide• 15'•30' high and 1• about 300• long0 extending t o the nol"thweato A duck-under leads into a 40' x 80', 20' high roomi> which i • th• lowest point 1n the cave at o/7' below the entrance ., A short 4' high c rawl leads out of this room and into a 40' longp ~· 1n diameter room tloored wi t.h olayo A slope at the end of the rocnra leads to a chilllley and a amall upper­l evel roC1no A ateep slope from the right Bide of the olay••floored room leads t o an upper-level passage which in turn connects by three holeo with the previous r oom and by another paHage to the eouth with the Birthday Roomo Thia ie a 25' high0 t>O' long, 40' wide room which 1a floored with a steeply sloping ol8iY f ill rie 1ng to i ta far end0 where a 20' high dome ha• not been •xploredo On t he opposite side or the room from the .-itrence to it a •hart passage leads to a h igh dome with a drop into a 30' long atream pas•~• below the domeo Thia stream was running in 1961 but 1n 1959 when the map was made it consisted only ot a pool at i t • endo Ooing west f'ran the entrance a junction ot three passage• i• enoount t!lred o Imnediately in front a dope leads down into a low rock-.rJ.oored crawl tt.bout 5' wide Which a!"ter 30' opena up into the Pit Roomo The tloor of this roan is oOTered with breakdown whU e the wal la are sheer and rise about 30' 11

but oan be olillbed.o A. hole in the breakdown leads into numerou• small olay-1'loored orawla• all of .. which end in fillo A total ot 200' of paasage extend• from t he ?1 t Roano At the top or the room a passaee iDDediately above th• entrance into the room ertema tor about 80' of e.lternate walking alld orawling passage before it oonneot• with the main paeaageo Another crawl f'ran aoroaa t he pit has not been exploredo At the junction of the three pasea.ges that to the l e!'t extends for about 230' before it mdeo Ceiling hei~ts in the passage drop from 20' to 61 cid it narrows .f'roo 20' to 5~ o A small crawl to the left0

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.. 27 .... rloatstor:tt Cro.wl., extend about 75' be.fore it too w.cho Tha floor of thif:l orawl 11 covered with slab or "erniginatite" or •noatataoen • a -,ory 11f;ht po?'OWi ::aineral of u.ndeterm~d natw-eo 'rn., pa.Hag• to the lett or 1outh ot' the junction extend• e1tei:da about 200• bei'Ol"• it forkeo Th• floor of th11 pHHg•• as ot meat ot the

in portion ot the on•• ia ooTered with •mall breU:downo To the right a 1ma 1181" pauage l eade paR a 10' high, 5' in dlameter white formetiou to a small, 15' deep p1to A. tlflW aode, atraw1 and heliotite1 are to be found in and around the pito To tho left the paHage •xt.nde about 30' to a 15' drop into a 20' high. 201 wid• roa::i0

with thtt floor doping 1teeply do.m for an additional 10'. This pa1sage extend• f or auout 100' • wl th the oei1111~ at 6• • before it coouutera a ahort dropo Art.er this drop it turn• aharply to the lef't where it rt.ea by a led~e to a 6• hi~ oa.osea&• ~xteuding about 1001 bel'ore endiJ\& in breakdown. Before the eecond drop n walking pueage to the right ·'-.ztenda tOT' 60• where a crawl to the lett extends nbout 20' before endingo Straitht ah~ad the pusage opena up into o. 10' hlgh0 20' w1de 0 40' lon& roomo J\ passage out o.f ttlia roCln extend• about 30' before encounter• ing o. 15' in diameter. 10' high roomo At w.riou.e points throughout the oave domes rise as moh •• 30' or 40' and oocasaionally holes aewral feet up in the 1'1llla or the c;;a.ve lead too a houey-oombed areas or very white. chalky 11.meetoneo In t~were.l ,, th' uaTe. thoUf;h not a beautU\ll one nor a huge one. 1• extremely int~reotingo In ':ho amiUl intermediate room at the ontro.noe two large rattlesnake• and one large black..,widow spider nre ld.lleclo Other to.una obaened in the oue inolude cave or1olalta nm .ndlli'Pt'deeo The cave 1• ~ll•knawn among looal people an! haa bee xplored nuoeroua tima by werabera of the University of Te:itaa Grottoo It was tt.~•ped C.:tober 9-10 11 1959. by Bill Russell and Diok Reed or the UT Grotto. (See nw.p, pa~ 29)

eteorolous Air haa bHn obisernc:l blowing "'1t ot the entr«toe on 9ft!t'Y oooaalon that thP. oave ha1 beittn dait•do Each inatmoe, however. hae been made when the air out-11de wu oolder thar1 thnt ni' the oaw itaelfo At the time ot the visit in 1960 when

t.iif'waa 0bHrved blowing .-:iore etrone;ly thm at any other t1r» a strong wind wd also l1lcnring outeid•o

GeoloG,Yt the oa'ff ie .~1Y.1~med in a rault-block ot the Edward• limeetone ot CTetaceoua ~eo The lower po.rt o£' the oo...-e eaat ot the entrano• eeema to haTo Deen &lmat

filled with laminated red claywhioh ha.I since be.i almost oomplately •a•hed outo Only ~11 olay bank• along the wall •nd 11mall till• in aolutian pooketa remaino Calo1t1o rouill expoaed 1n the wallrook below the leTel ot tbs till ban b""1 µartiallv dlio1fied0 JrObably by silica leaobed trom the olay, while o.ragonitio tonile were diallOlYed out0 leavini:: only 111olda and illternal caatao Sams ot the in'ftrtelbrate roaaila i,)Olle oted haw since been round to be new apeoies, but H yet no eeriou1 Kork ha1 been done on themo or considerable interest ia the unuaual m•terial known •• "ttnionatite" or "floatetone" which b knCM'Kl only fiom Remble' a Cave. "At f'1ret glame0 enir,matS.te rea•blee punky rotten wood o It ocoura loose cm the noor in pleoee up to two feet by two f'eet by eight incbeeo A tn pieoea CY.cur in solution. l)Oeketa an th• wall•. but none hu been round sol idly embedded in 11.rr.eataneo It range• trom 'limonite brown' to black and i• WJrY light and very t'riableo Careless handlinP; of a piece will reduce it to a pawdero It is 11p~ 1r1 appearance with 80 to 90 peroent open pore apace. Under a mioroeoope thtt wall• ot the pore• oan be 1een to oonai at largely or branohing and inter­oonneoted round'.Hi .f."tbera . Some thin sheet• ot the Hme material are aoattered throughout ond 1J.ay be either flllt or ourvedo A few or the shffte can be seen to break up laterally into the more ocmman tiber•o The ebe ot the openings wrie• irregularly within a single specimen. but average perhap• loO nm with the diameter or the fiber• ran1~n~ from 0.05 to Ool lll'lo \Uthin a amall area the opening• appear t.o be eomewhat aligned0 hut the direction or alignment change• rapidly and nroduoes an appearance ot ramomnees when a larger area 1• aeeric The ~ "rloat­stam" was propooed when it wa11 1'1r1t round because of ito low specific gravlty0

, ..

·.

8Stim.\~d t.o he ~bout. Oo3o Unfor tunntely9 the n9..!Ie t;u:l"ned out to be ino.ppro= ~1ate ticC1nus.; th1' pore spacee e.re all interconnected Wld it ''sinks likei a rock!T o l!o attempt was mu.Je to meaoure tm apeQific gravity of the solid po1•tion nlo;1eo x ... ray diffraotion pattorna we~ run an powdered samples by George Tho111a• "f thflt il 'l' Geolo~y Dep11rtmonto Untreat.ed samples r;a:ve th~ pattern of iron oxide hydrate" 1'"'e20~oli20on~Oo One sample heated !'or 24 hour• at 6oo0 c underwent a 'mlight lose of 1008 percent and gave the pattern or eoethite" !•'e20~olln0o "Limonite " ls 11 CODl;.l~ r:md use.t"ul sack tel"JD. ror material of this general. comp6sitiono Eni.g­nlitite ap~ara to the author to be 9. limanitic rcplac•ment of some type or organic mteria.l introduced utter the cavo Baa f'orill!td 11 wi. th the major problem the identifi ... co.ti.on of the original or~i8mo Otheru haw sug~ested pore-fill~ or partial replaoemen"lj of the li.me•tone wall ... rock or of' fill material 11 followed by solution of the limutane to leave a boxwork11 but in thia case the pore walls should be mostly 11heet a instead o~ mostly tibroua., Both types or replacement are round in the oave 11with delicate limanite caste or f'ossils in a r~ areas and thin sheets ~r 11.m.cmite alMg cracks in th tt n l lso" {\Thiteman., 196o)

3ibl1ographyi !'rhiteman11 Co Do "E:nigmatite ( Floe.tstone) troni Rambie' s Caveo., The Texas Caver0 Volo V" Noo l" po 1 o Jan»Feb 19600 -

\~tlte118.t1 11 Co Do "Ramhie9 e Cave 11 Uvalde County11 Texaso" Ibid" po 60 -aer. TSS file a

Uvalde County ( ii= 40)

narksdale 15' Quadrangle (?)

Desor1pt1ona The caw cmdsts ot a 75e sinkhole. the bottom of llhioh ie tilled with f' V'f!Yt'Y apongy layer ot leaf mold and 'twigs. The cave fill• w1 th water every tiim the oreek riaaao TM walls of the aink are covered with stalactitos. and indi­oo.ticns Bre that the hole waa woo Dllch deeper mid pt'.ll"hapa led into a rather large­oave which is now ccmpletely filled with debriso The cave is rormd in the r4warda limestone o Location 1s unoertain am the caw Jn8¥ lie in Kinney County~ since the ronoh enoompasae11 parte of both oountieeo It wraa explored by Carl Clay-bono

:~·rocKTo:i R~JCn Cl.YE !W., 1 t BURN S RAHCH CAVE UOo 1)

Utopia 15' Quadrmgl•

Owner a Curtis stookton

Reta Carl Clayton

Uvalde County ( 4f 1)

Desoriptiona The entrance drops about 20' into a ema.11 room wi 'U1. a passage leading ott to the eaato Thi.8 passage end• at'ter &bout 40' o The cave ia formed in the Ed:.,arda limB•toneo It wa• explored by Carl Claytane It was originally listed a• on the John 3urna Ranoho

Refg Carl Clayton ...

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LOW!ZST

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PIT

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0 I 40 -!.... - 1 ___ ~80 f:'l0

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STOCKTmI RAlTCH CAVE NOo 2 ( !31J1UIS RAUCH CAVE ?SOo 2)

Utopi a 15' Quadran gle

Ovm.era Curtis Stockton

-3~­Uvaldo County ( =# 2)

DesC1"1ptiona The entrance drops about t~O' into a crevioeo It is forJI10d by a. huge blook or limestone shU'ting about three feet away from the mountain. forming a passage 50' longo The walls are crusted over. but it is now deado The cave wu explored by Carl Clayton when the ranch was CMMd by John Burns.

Refs Carl Clayton

STOCKTOU lW:CH CAVE HOo ~ ( !:l.IR.US R.AliCH CAVE tIOo ~) Uvalde County (;/= 3)

Utopia 15' Quadrmgle

<hfne1"1 Curtia Stookton

Desoriptiont The entJ"anoe is a large one, into which one can 'Walk uprighto A room about 10' x 20' is used as a goat shelter during atonv weather. The back of the room ems in a vertioal crevice whioh was not explored. The oa-nt was explored by Carl Clayton 'When the lam wu owned by John Bumso

UTOPIA CAVE

Utopia 15' Quadrmgle

Owners unknown

Rets Carl Clayton

Uvulde County ( {/: 4)

Ds•or1ptiona '?be cave is reported as oand sting or a single ohamber about 200 or 300 yard• long. The tew stalactite• found in the oave measure only 2 or ~ inahea in length am numerous ledges encircle the roomo The floor ill well pa.oked at th• entranc• but at the rear is QQi2f 1 a ..t ,,r !ooso uh eoilo

B1bliographya \"lhite. Patrick J. "Cavea or Central Texas." The Caves ot Texaa.o P• 620 Bulletin ot the National Speleological Society. No:" lOo Apr1i 19480

Rda TSS file•

WIND CAVE Uvalde County ( iJ: 34)

Uvalde 30' Quadrangle

Deacr1 ption1 The entrance to t.he cave waa first seen many yeara ago but since that time attempts to locate tJ\e entrance had proved unsuooeaatul until Novemb~ 19610 '3ob Benfer• Stiles Robertl'o and Johnny Greer of the University or Texas Grotto re-discovered and explored the caTeo The entrance 1a 2' 1n diameter and dropa about 5'• This leads lnto a aeJ"iea of crawl• and piteo Two or these pita drop 40' each. Only one was entered. using cable ladders. but was found to be blocked by silt at the bottom. .Another pit. from which much air issued• waa explored but .t'ound to narrow towards the bottom and so waa not oanpletely exploredo Several crawls lead out of the ~en.era! area of the pits but all dead-em or beocne too small. with ane exception which leads in turn to a aeries ot dropso Total depth reached was about 125' • At the bottom a crawl extends out but i• eilted-upo The current of air issuing fran the cave is consideJ"able • possibly as Dlloh as 15 or 20 mile e per hour0 but apparently it is ooming from f'ieauros end cracks too onall to onter o

Roi' s T:>S .file s

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031 ... UN At1F.IJ CA\"£ Uwld~ CC!U!tty {i." ~2)

Descriptions This oa"IJV 1• " 6o• deep pito Llro jAuon explored it mar..y yeara ago, and reported ~t the time that a Ollllll stream ~>_isued fran a hole in th• witll a.al tMn sank into gravel a.t the bottom at tM pi to Nothing further 1.e kncmi about the oaw.,

Ref's Fred Me.con

'lJIDIN1ED CAVE

Uvalda ;o• Quadrangle

l>a•O!"iptiona Entrance 1• made by a i!• in diametot"e 5' deep s1nko A l' wid.o Gf't.ok extend• tr= the bottom ot the enti-anoe tor about 7' o It the.n tu.mc to the right where there 1• a very nan-ow drop. The floor 1a ebout 25' dowilo

f.lro Uaeon report• going dom. the Ol"aok tor about 40' and seeing t.hat it con"" tinued down for &omit ,:,utanoe f\lrther a1 a 2'-4' wide eraoko Appa.ren'cly it htts been blocked by rooks aa it ia naw lmpoasible to negot!ateo

Rers Fred 1Aaacn0 TSS f'ile a

DOUBTFUL CAVES

CP..AWJ,DtG <;AVE Uvalde County (if la)

Owner3 John Caddel

Deeoriptions '?hi.• oa.ve ia 11 w.t~ solution type bedding plane ca"t'9 with ~ pipe leadd too anl!lll to enter without exteoeift chiselling of roclco No formations are to be found ill thou&i tbtl oave i• «·.•t., The oaw i• entered by a ah.allow siiilc., Total length ia n.o mere than 201 with th~ :a.tU'fCW part only 15" wide am tf\peringo

Rel's COSS f'U• a

DO IT '!OUR~'El.P YANKEE CAVE

Der;oriptiona Ths oave !a a bedding plane " solutian type ca.Te wit'.h active for·mati::m!l a.nd a dlillll.p ~'Jaue>.tll'Ld &ilt floor.. It nm dbcot'e!'ed by Roger Gr,,gg9 who poked hio v1alk1ng atiok into $I1 au· hole and foum -t;hat it kept cm. goingo Digging snle.r~d o-. ~rtioal. ~p ot 3' er.s! ~ie.hl'8<! ·tha tJa'ro to bo ent•nd., lt ~eeur-eo 12' x 59 •

ljln t\\'1\o

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• -t.

FLY CAVE .,720

Uvalde Co,.mty ( 3a)

DesGriptiona The oa le a dry solution typ1J oaw0 preaently an O..Viimal hal&" ond fu l l or t~~so The OM'• :l.8 located 1011 up fr'Oril. the bottom ~ .. ra.vinClo It i G abou·' 20° long and 2 9 high ~t t .. 'le cmtrana. am starting to pinch offo

Re.f's CCSS f'ilea

GOAT 1rP...AP CAVE Uvalde County ( # 4~)

Omiers John Caddol

Duoriptions The ou·e i• formed along a bedding plane and i• full of brokui. rotten etolwo Th" entrance aiuk i• tu.11 ot \~eakdown and formations Y!nich were uncovered by exoant1ono The oave i=t 15' long and 6• wide with tho entranc' einlc 4• x 6• x 2' o Two goat skull• 't.Tin"e found 1n the oaveo

Reta CCSS tiles

SHEL'l'ERS

HERNDON ~LTER Uvalde County (# 5s.)

0.sorlptions Nothing i• lmown about thi• •helter ..

SibliOgl"&phys White" Patriok Jo "Caw11 ot Central Texa•o" The Can• ot Texu&l po 620 9ullet1n ot the National Speleological Sooiety'p Noo io-:--Aprli11 ~Bo

Rete TSS files

Uvalde County ( # 6&)

Deoar1pt1CJQs Thia aholtel" c:iontain• dl:ra paintings and middeno

Eibliography: \lhite 8 Patrick Jo "'rhe Ca.,.• of Central Tuuo" lbid41 po 620 Ref'sTSS til•G

laNCAI D SHEL'l$R Uvalde County (if 7•)

0wn tlf'11 F.dgar Kin.oa1d

Do m"iptiont The Kincaid Shelter 1t'llll diacsonred by Eu?ne ?.iear in 19h8 ru:d digging b•r,un 1n the r'Ubblo pil~ lett by D. troawre huntero He found ~"tifaoto ot tho Romid Rook focuo and Podernalee t.~ pointao Altto di•covet>ed wertt three Folco~ point•o Tho Texa5 f.1emor1al ?'u•fJUm mado a f\\11 nxeo:nticm of the shel t8'!"o It iG looa:ted about 9006 t\bove li•A lei7Wl end ia fQ-med in th• Ana.011.oho limflstoneo At thv uppQ' lf)vel or it floor till the eholtar is roughly aemioiroular in plano It ha• n mu:iltUm interior width or '5' and oxtendo into the 'bluf't l\ ~mum of 32, 59 fl<om the edgf) ot tbo OYerbanging 11meatane lodge.. The ohelter oo111ng 1~ mi

l n •ogule.r domo 0 rising in.to the roof 11.m!tetono h~d 4' ... 5° abaft thl'9 lo·ml or the

· ...

overhango Thia done and othor solution .featureo iruggeot th• main sholter iDD..Y bo part or an old aolution ~a701'11 d11oeoted by tile riTer cutting into tho linwct:mo blutfo A thick body of fill rest• an tho ahelter nooro In tM ewno blu.f'.f' and within a .fn hundrod teet or tho main shelter a.re several smaller ehelters and •hallow overhanginl!: lodgas.., '?he bluff face1J slightly ee.at of aouth towardo tho Sabinal RiTer. Tlw e:::oavatian <>t thet Tex.au Mem0!"1al IJuaeum began on Oot 4, 19480 and ended Deoo 190 1948. They ooll•oted art!!'aota ot various tyi:.• f'rom different cultural groups. sample• ot the senral formations penetrated 1n the excavation, and apecimena from a otone pawmmt tound w1 t.hin the cave. Thie material 1a lietcd in the Te:u Utrmorial Uuaeum Aoceaaion Book under- No. 9080 The t .. unal list of bonea taken tram the oave includes the tollowinga deer,. jaok rabbit. oottontail " rabbit. pack rat, b111on, skunk, human, bob oat. wolf, coyote, antelope, turtle, badger, ahark, horM1 elephant, alligator, armadillo, 1loth, oaual, peooary, racoocm, large bird. am Aenooyon. One ot the turtle• wa• idmtiti•d a• T9rrgpmi.'l;I can111oulata. Work m the ehel ter was done by Glen L. ETan11. Gra.v•cn Eo l!eade, and Eo Bo Sellardeo A full report on the shelter is to oa:me out aoon a• a bulletin ot the taa• 14emcr1al Museum.

Reta TSS ru .. a

MASON RANCH SHELTERS Uvalde County (#:Ba)

!leacr1ption1 A 15' wide. 8' high. 101 deep shelter ia to b• tound faoing Indian Creek. The floor i• bedrook o.lld it i• uaed a2.! an animal deno Sewral tmr.llor

• shelters are nearby but none shaw sign.a ot ocoupntiono A larp burn1;;..rook midden ~-..., i• along tho side ot the oreekbed within a r.,, hundred t~t ot the ahelterao

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Reta TSS fllea

Unld9 County (If 9a)

Deaoriptian1 Nothing 11 known about the aite.

Bibliography1 White, Patrick J. "CaTea ot Central Texa9o11 Th• Ce.vee of ToxM 0 po 620 Bulletin ot the Nation.al Speleological Soclety0 No. 10-;--Ap'i"ll l~Bo

Ref1 TSS tilea

UITCiffiER SHELTERS U'ftilde Couaty ( 4J: 10&)

Desorlptiont Nothing i• "known about the eit.o

B1bliogro.p~s Whi~. Patrick Jo "Cawe ot Central Tcx1.1so" .!!?,!!!,o po 620 Ret's TSS files

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•

Ownern Ray ?.tilloz:

... ;i~"' Uvnld o County ( ,} llG:.)

D«ir.:o:rip~ion.u Thia Sh\lltei- ia about 2008 upat?oeiruu f't•<.r.!1 ~ontcll Sh!ilt9r Cflveo It io located about 65• above the crei»ir bcdo Thei gizo of ti:l~ oe.vo ie ai:>ou·i6 6011 wide" ~09 hign8 and 25' deep?

Bibli~>t;f'apeyi Eftn.G 9 Glt.a.o "Report on Ca~QI on the Ray Millor RmtJh:i Ovaldc;J Ccunty0

Texuo" Unpubli&hed manwacripto April ; 0 19470 Rgofs TSS tileo

ROBERTS SHELTER Uvtilde County ( # l2e.)

Dilsoript.ions ~loth!ng io kh4't'm e.bC\.'t this n~.teo

l:libliograpl\Y8 White9 Patriok Ja "Cr.iw• ot Centrr&.1. T•nao" ~ o~~· po 620 -lela TSS ft.lea

WELLS SHELTERS

Dcsc:rlpt.iona The ehel t•r• contain Tery dim ~1nt1.ngso

B~bliography: Whiter, Patrick J<> "CQ'\'88 ot Ce!itral Te::.caao 0 Ibid8 po 620 '""'fefi1 TSS files

NOTE

Pa.la~ Caw 11 ottw reported to ba in Un.ldo C<IUJlt'.Y ~ ie aotually locatc:d in Kinney CCJ'.mtyc It 115 tm sams u Vl•ll.• Cafto Th• rench m which it 18 loee.ted ext.onds into both aount1oso

Ref a TSS i'il.e.o

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