Members,
Some interesting " inner-shell " material- for what it's worth.
Dharma/Dean
···
----- Original Message -----
From: DK <[email protected]>
To: LIST: RealUFOs <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 27, 2000 8:58 PM
Subject: [RealUFOs] Subterranean River Canyons of California
The Subterranean River Canyons of California
Excerpt from branton's CAVERNS, DUNGEONS & LABYRINTHS:Leon Davidson, in an early issue of 'FLYING SAUCERS' Magazine, spoke of a
large network of "underground tunnels in the California desert, at Camp
Irwin, near Barstow." This may tie-in with an item related by a Los
Angeles
municipal water director, as related in an early issue of Richard
Toronto's
SHAVERTRON letter-zine, stating that this water director knew of 5 large
underground rivers which ran beneath the Mojave desert, and that
die-traces
showed that at least one of these emptied into the Pacific ocean through
openings in the continental slopes (One source stated that such a river
exited in the Gulf of California.Other sources speak of a "Kokoweef" river-system which is alleged to lie
below Kokoweef peak just east of FORT Irwin, which looked- -according to
it's alleged discoverer, a Mr. Earl Dorr, and a few "Indians" who also
claimed to have been in it--like a "Grand Canyon" underground. It
allegedly
consists of a river chasm generally 500 ft. wide and over a thousand feet
high-deep, sided by steep tiered-shelved underground cliffs, huge
stalactites and cataracts. Also, the alluvial sands on the 'beaches' along
the river, which allegedly hold a large percentage of gold dust, are said
to
be several feet deep.
The entrance to this cavern was allegedly dynamited shut by Mr. Dorr to
protect anyone else from getting to "his" gold. There is in fact evidence
that Dorr did dynamite shut the lower level of 'Kin Sabe' cave in Kokoweef
Peak, and there are present-day attempts to break through into this
underground system. The water of the river allegedly rose and fell with
the
tides, suggesting that a very large body of water might exist upstream,
that
is if Dorr's account as well as the accounts of the Indians were not
fabricated).The municipal water director, according to the SHAVERTRON article, spoke
with aman who claimed that he was hired several years ago by the
government
to look for water sources for Ft. Irwin. He alleged to have explored an
old
mine in the area and found that deep down, the shaft intersected with an
ancient earth fault or chasm- like cave which continued horizontally for a
considerable distance. This government employee followed the chasm and
allegedly emerged onto the bank of a huge underground river-cave over a
quarter of a mile wide! The tremendous water flow-- possibly originating
from the waters that apparently disappear beneath the Great Basin, the
Nevada and Mojave deserts?--could have 'fed' the water needs of all of
Southern California.--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
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The following excerpts are from branton's SECRETS OF THE MOJAVE - SECTION
2
& SECTION 3:
In 1962, a researcher by the name of Chuck Edwards released some of his
own
discoveries concerning what might be referred to as the 'Western
Subsurface
Drainage Network', which seems to cover parts of Utah, Nevada, and
Southern
California, where are located many drainage systems which do not
ultimately
flow into the Pacific ocean (via surface rivers, that is), but instead
make
their way underground into a vast subterranean drainage network. His
letter
appeared in issue A-8 of 'THE HIDDEN WORLD', one of the few specialized
publications which grew out of the Palmer-Shaver controversy of 1940-45
which appeared in AMAZING STORIES science fiction/science fact magazine.
The
'controversy' arose around Richard Shaver's claim's to have inside
knowledge
of two subterranean races which possessed aerial disks: the 'Deros' which
have been variously described as a race of ancient out-of-control
Atlantean
robots, degenerate human troglodytes, or a race of reptilian non- humans
(or
all three) who were at war with another much more benevolent (and human)
subterranean race known as the 'Teros'. The Deros were allegedly
tormenting
those on the surface of the earth through psychic attack and electronic
mind
control from their underworld lairs, in preparation for a possible future
invasion of the outer world.The answers to the aerial-subsurface mystery remained rather confused
during
the 'AMAZING STORIES-Shaver Mystery' period, possibly because of Shaver's
perhaps well-intentioned but unwise attempt to inform the readers about
the
world beyond and the world below through science-fact-fiction stories
(however, the readers were never clearly instructed as to where the fact
ended and the fiction began), or because of editor Ray Palmer's attempts
to
'occultize' many of Shaver's stories with his own mystic-occult
philosophies, which Shaver accused him of doing.So it was in the wake of this period that investigators like Mr. Edwards'
were born. Some of the researchers of this period delved off into the
metaphysical, seeking the answer to their questions from 'channeled'
supernatural entities who tickled their egos, yet whose intentions and
revelations could not be physically substantiated. The fact that many of
these occultists ended up with severe emotional or psychotic problems --
in
essence seeing a 'Dero' under every bed and degenerating into
schizophrenic
paranoid behavior -- would indicate that the greater majority of their
'sources' were no doubt astral or alien deceivers out to mislead these
seekers after truth. Others however retained their intellectual and
analytical sanity and, although not discounting the presence of evil
influences, did not so easily open themselves up to their lies and
misleading propaganda but set out to investigate the phenomena in a
rational, sane, and intellectual manner. It is with this in mind that we
quote from Chuck Edwards' letter (Note: These comments are addressed in a
letter to Richard S. Shaver):"This letter is in reply to your January 31 letter. Please forgive me for
not answering sooner. Enclosed is some material I hope that you can glean
something of value (from). Please be as candid as you have been in the
past
and if I am far off base don't hesitate to tell me...
"Our foundation has located a vast system of underground passages in the
Mother Lode country of California. They were first discovered in 1936,
ignored by all even with our best efforts to reveal them. Recently a road
crew blasted out an opening verifying our claims. ONE (of the chambers is)
200 feet long, 70 feet wide and 50 feet high. We have disclosed what we
believe to be a vast subterranean drainage system (probably traversing the
Great American Desert country for a distance of more than 600 miles). We
believe this system extends out like five fingers of your hand to such
landmarks as Zion Canyon in Utah, the Grand Canyon, another runs south
from
the Carson Sink in Nevada and yet another follows (below) the western
slope
of the same range, joining it's counterpart and ending somewhere in the
Mojave Desert. We believe, contrary to orthodox geologists, that the
existence of this underground system drains all surface waters running
into
Nevada (none, with the exception of the Armagosa runs out) and accounts
for
the fact that it is a Great American Desert. The hairy creatures that you
have written about have been seen in several of these areas. Certainly
there
has been much 'saucer' activity in these parts. For two years I have
collected material pertinent to these creatures and if you have any
opinions
along these lines I would appreciate hearing them.
"So much for now. I hope that I am still your friend. Much of my time has
been devoted (to) helping a farmer near Portland who has made a fantastic
discovery of incredible stone artifacts. He has several tons of them. They
predate anything yet found (or accepted), let us say that for now. We are
making slow but steady progress in getting through the wall of
orthodoxy. -
Chuck Edwards."
Several years ago, subsurface researcher Richard Toronto reprinted a news
article in his SHAVERTRON newsletter describing a Municipal Water Director
in Los Angeles. This official talked with a man who said that he was hired
by the government to look for underground water sources for Camp Irwin in
California.At one point the man and a partner came across an abandoned mine and
decided
to follow it to the bottom. Near the bottom he was surprised to discover
an
ancient earth-fault which was wide enough for him and his companion to
enter. They traversed this fault for a good distance until they finally
emerged into a huge river-cavern. To his surprise he saw before him a
crystal pure underground river over a quarter of a mile wide which flowed
through the passage and out of sight.Since learning of this incident the Municipal Water Director claims to
have
'discovered' at least five similar underground rivers. Some of these have
allegedly been die-traced and were found to emerge from the continental
slope below the surface of the oceans, and at least one of them into the
Gulf of California.This might confirm the allegations made by one anonymous retired Navy
officer that the Navy has knowledge of a VAST system or labyrinth of
aqua-caverns which meander beneath the surface of California and even into
other western states, and that these watery labyrinths exit out into the
oceans via huge entrances in the lower walls of the Continental Slope. One
of the more extravagant claims is that some of these aqua-caverns are so
large that they can be navigated by submarine, and that one nuclear
submarine on a secret mapping mission in fact became lost within the maze
and was never heard from again. Two American nuclear submarines have
disappeared without explanation in the past, the U.S.S. SCORPION and the
U.S.S. THRESHER. It is true that one woman who claimed to have had a very
strong emotional bond with her husband who worked on the Thresher,
insisted
at the time that she just 'knew' that her husband was still alive after
the
'disaster'. She said that she and her husband had such a
spiritual-emotional
connection that they always knew when the other was in trouble (For
information on the Navy's investigations of the aqua-labyrinths via
nuclear
subs, etc., see: 'CALIFORNIA FLOATS ON OCEAN?'; article in the March, 1980
issue of John J. Williams' "REBEL MAGAZINE", which at the time was
available
from: Consumertronics Co., c/o John J. Williams. Pres., 2011 Crescent Dr.,
P.O. Drawer 537., Alamogardo, NM 88310). The 'Thresher' incidentally
'disappeared' on April 10, 1963 with a crew of 129 men under the command
of
John W. Harvey, USN.)
Researchers Will Carson and Jeannie Joy interviewed the woman mentioned
above shortly after the disappearance. She said:"...My husband was on the submarine Thresher when it disappeared. I don't
consider myself a widow. I don't believe my husband is dead. No, it's not
a
matter of just not being able to believe it, to accept reality; I just
can't
get over the conviction that he's still alive somewhere. I love my husband
very much. I know he loved -- loves me. We were very close. We could
always
tell when something was wrong with each other. Intuition, I guess. I
should
have felt something the instant there was trouble, if he was really in
serious trouble and knew it -- a matter of life and death -- but I
didn't."
"What do you believe really happened?" Carson and Joy asked the attractive
young woman."Most people think I'm crazy when I say this, but I believe the Thresher
was
captured."
"By whom?"
"I can't say for sure, but there WAS a Russian submarine spotted near
there
that day (that is, near where it REPORTEDLY vanished 220 miles off Boston
harbor) -- only I can't imagine how even the Russians could CAPTURE a
vessel
like the Thresher without leaving the slightest evidence!"
John J. Williams' source, the retired Navy officer (whose credentials
Williams verified), stated that "an eccentric billionaire" (Howard
Hughes!?)
financed the false Thresher "recovery operation" to satisfy the public and
the media.--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
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The following additional details are taken from branton's SECRETS OF THE
MOJAVE - SECTION 9:William Halliday, in his book 'ADVENTURE IS UNDER- GROUND', records an
affidavit submitted by a Mr. Earl P. Dorr, describing vast caverns he and
an
associate allegedly discovered and explored in Southern California.
Portions
of the sworn testimonial are quoted below:
"...These caverns are about 250 miles from Los Angeles, California.
Traveling over state highways by automobile, the caverns can be reached in
a
few hours.
"Accompanied by a mining engineer, I visited the caverns in the month of
May, 1927. We entered them and spent 4 days exploring them for a distance
of
between 8 and 9 miles. We carried with us altimeters and pedometers, to
measure the distance we traveled, and had an instrument to take measure-
ments of distance by triangulation, together with such instruments
convenient and necessary to make observations and estimations."Our examinations revealed the following facts, viz:
"1. From the mouth of the cavern we descended about 2000 feet. There, we
found a canyon which, on our altimeter, measured about 3000 to 3500 feet
deep. We found the caverns to be divided into many chambers, filled and
embellished with the usual stalactites and stalagmites, besides many
grotesque and fantastic wonders that make the caverns one of the marvels
of
the world.
"2. On the floor of the canyon there is a flowing river which by careful
examination and measurement (by triangulation) we estimated to be about
300
feet wide, and with considerable depth. The river rises and falls with the
tides of the sea -- at high tide, being approximately 300 feet wide, and
at
low tide, approximately 10 feet wide and 4 feet deep. (Obviously this can
only mean that, if this account is true, the "source" of the river is an
underground reservoir large enough to be moved by the tides, "overflowing"
into the river during the high tides and "receding" at low tide - Branton)"3. When the tide is out there is exposed on both sides of the river from
100 to 150 feet of black beach sand which is very rich in gold values. The
sands are from 4 to 11 feet deep. This means there are about 300 to 350
feet
of rich bearing placer sand which averages 8 feet in depth. We explored
the
canyon sands a distance of 8 miles, finding little variation in the depth
and width of the sands."4. I am a practical miner of many years' experience and I own valuable
mining properties nearby which I am willing to pledge and put up as
security
to guarantee that the statements herein are true.
"5. My purpose of exploring the caverns was to study the mineralogy in
order
to ascertain the mineral possibilities and actualities of the caves,
making
such examination in person with my engineer necessary to determine by
expert
examination the character and quantity of mineral values of the caverns,
rocks and sands."6. I carried out about 10 lbs. of the black sand and 'panned' it,
receiving
more than $7 in gold. I sold it to a gold buyer who offered me at the rate
of $18 per ounce. 2 1/2 lbs. of this black sand I sent to John Herman,
assayer, whose assay certificate shows a value of $2145.47 per [cubic]
yard,
with gold at $20.67 per ounce.
"7. From engineering measurements and observations we made, I estimated
that
it would require a tunnel about 350 feet long to penetrate to the caverns,
one thousand feet or more below the present entrance, which are some 3
miles
distant from my property.
"8. I make no estimate of even the approximate tonnage of the black sand,
but some estimate of the cubical contents may be made for more than 8
miles
and the minimum depth is never less than 3 feet. They are of varying
depth -- what their maximum depth may be we do not know. -- Sworn by E. P.
Dorr., 309 Adena St., Pasadena, Calif., November 16, 1934."It is interesting that the "source" of this river would be some- where
within or beneath the great western desert of Utah-Nevada- California
where
little surface water escapes by way of streams and rivers. Halliday in his
book also refers to a water-filled cave annexed to Death Valley, known as
"Devil's Hole", which according to some sources rises and falls slightly
with the tides! This may indicate that certain underground water-courses
below the Mojave Desert might ultimately connect with extensive
underground
lakes or small underground fresh-water seas. Whether this theory proves
accurate or not remains to be seen... after future adventurous
'Speleonauts'
make their way once again into Dorr's secret caverns and toward the SOURCE
of the 'alleged' underground river."Devil's Hole" itself contains a rare species of cave-fish found no-where
else in the world (at least nowhere that marine biologists are aware of).
It
is reported that at least two divers disappeared in this apparently
'bottomless' aqua-cave some years ago, leading officials to put the cave
under government protection by making it an extension of Death Valley
National Monument -- much of which lies well BELOW sea level. The
existence
of, or the possibility of the existence of, such underground 'seas'
beneath
the California- Nevada regions seems to be supported by other accounts.
During the 'Shaver Mystery' years Ray Palmer received a letter from a
reader
describing Earl Dorr's cave. This letter stated that three Paiute Indian
boys had, with the help of a 'treasure map', extracted $50,000 worth of
gold
from these caverns, which they kept in the bank at Needle's, California.
Their project was halted when one of the boys slipped from one of the
lowest
'rock tiers' and died.
We will now quote from William R. Halliday's professional observations of
the claims made in Dorr's affidavit, as they appear in his book 'ADVENTURE
IS UNDERGROUND':"...What is the gimmick?
"This was probably the question in the mind of every reader of the
CALIFORNIA MINING JOURNAL when this affidavit appeared in it's November,
1940, issue. The question still arises whenever a caver first hears the
remarkable story of this still more remarkable cave. Furthermore, the
answers to the other obvious questions are not those which might be
anticipated."'Is this just an imaginary cave?' No, the cave certainly exists. I have
been in it."'Did Dorr keep it's location secret?' No. Dozens, perhaps hundreds, of
people know it's exact location, high on the side of Kokoweef Peak in the
Mojave Desert."'Has anyone tried to find this river of gold?' Yes, indeed. The
prosperous
Crystal Cave Mining Corporation owns the property. "'Then what is the
gimmick?' That's quite a tale."The beginnings of the story of the cave of gold are shrouded in the mists
of the minds of old-timers. For a long time, prowling prospectors have
known
of the existence of the wide mouth of a deep cavern on the limestone flank
of a peak which forms part of the east face of IVANPAH VALLEY -- Kokoweef
Peak. Even though only four miles by dirt road from the highway between
LOS
ANGELES and LAS VEGAS, the area was so desolate that, in the 1920's, weeks
might elapse without the passing of more than an occasional prospector and
his burro. The opening of the cavern was several feet in diameter and the
cave was obviously much larger farther down. There were local stories that
it was bottomless, although it took 'only a few seconds' for a rock to
strike 'bottom'."Then someone found a narrow crack leading to ANOTHER cave, high on the
east
face of the peak. Maybe it was Dorr. The stories vary. One version repeats
the common story of two Indians with a treasure map, which in this case
was
supposed to have showed the entrance to the cave. Dorr was well known in
the
area, having a claim across the valley, several miles southwest of
Kokoweef
Peak. Like any experienced prospector, he certainly prowled every ledge of
the area. In any event, the new cave seemed even deeper than Kokoweef
Cave.
Like at least seven other caves in California, it eventually became known
as
Crystal Cave.
"Later, in 1934, another old prospector, Pete Ressler, was resting near
the
bottom of the southwest slope of the barren peak. He idly tossed a rock
into
a crack. To his surprise it rattled back and forth for a long time until
the
sound died away into the depths. He strapped his load on his burro and
headed for Mountain Pass Station for dynamite."'What do you think it is, Pete?' the men at the station asked him.
"'Quien sabe?' he shrugged.
"Pete's Spanish, however, was horrible. It sounded like 'Kin Savvy' or
'Kin
Sabe,' and this name stuck to the cave he dynamited open. It wasn't much
of
a cave. It slanted downward, but was filled with rubble (rubble from the
dynamite blasts? - Branton) to a level not far below the entrance. Old
Pete
dropped out of the story. Dorr is the main character.
"Dorr must have been a strange person. No one else was particularly
interested in the caves, but soon he was telling of an enormous cavern
into
which he was gradually making his way, trip after trip. The main part of
the
cave was a series of vertical drops from one small chamber to another. In
several areas there were small, dry pools which contained sharp little
crystals. From one of the small rooms a tight tunnel led a relatively
short
distance to a huge cavern containing a chasm 3,000 feet deep. He told of a
stalactite 1,500 feet long (Note: Both Kokoweef and Door peaks are near
the
SW flank of the Ivanpah Mts., just south of Highway 91. Dorr alleged that
he
and his engineer, following the upper rock 'tiers', discovered a huge
cataract or waterfall cascading down the side of the 'canyon' below what
they judged to be Dorr Peak. They allegedly followed the upper 'shelves'
for
8 miles. According to a map of the caves drawn by Herman Wallace Jr.,
under
the personal instruction and supervision of Earl Dorr, the length of the
'stalactite' was given at only 500 feet long -- although this would still
make it the largest "known" stalactite in the world at this writing -- and
was located adjacent to the underground waterfall which flowed into the
underground river at the bottom of the canyon as one of its many
tributaries. - Branton)."The cavern went on for miles. He had walked to the brink of the chasm,
but
had not found a way to it's bottom. There were places where air came into
the cavern, so other caves on the peak must open into it. And there ought
to
be an entrance somewhere on his claim, too. That was the direction the
cave
headed.
"Before long Dorr was claiming to have found a way down the wall of the
subterranean canyon. Down below the wonders were even greater. He had
found
great deposits of placer gold. By this time he had the other old-timers
half
convinced. Still, THEY weren't going into that awful-looking hole for all
the gold in the U.S. Mint."One day in 1928 Dorr again told his friends that he was going into the
cave
for another trip. Two days passed, three, four. His friends became
worried.
Gold would not tempt them to go into the cave, but they were his friends
and
the code of the desert is stern. Dorr might be trapped there, hurt, dying.
A
rescue party climbed to the mouth of the cave, where Dorr's ropes were
still
fixed.
"Hardly had they all entered the cave when they met a raging Dorr they
hardly know. Although disheveled and wild-eyed, he was obviously in no
need
of rescuing. Nervously they shrank away from his needless fury. Had he
gone
mad from his long stay underground? (More likely it was the dreaded 'gold
fever' which has affected the minds of men throughout the centuries and
has
often motivated them to acts of irrational cruelty - Branton) They were
trying to help him, yet he was accusing them of trying to steal his gold."Before they quite understood, they felt the dull impact of a HEAVY charge
of dynamite. Then Dorr calmed down. 'You'll never get it now,' he smirked."'That blast finished the tunnel to the river of gold.' (Interesting Note:
Halliday himself claims to have seen within this cave, along with several
National Speleological Society or NSS members, the name of DORR written in
black miner's lamp soot near what appeared to be a black line left by a
dynamite fuse, below which was a plugged area of shattered rock - Branton)"We do not know whether Dorr was ever convinced that his friends were only
trying to rescue him. For several years he was a familiar figure in the
Mojave Desert. Continually he attempted to persuade people to run a tunnel
into the cave of gold from the lower slopes of Kokoweef Peak. He would go
shares with them. If they were willing to pay for the tunnel, they could
have part of the profits."On this basis few investors were willing to consider the project.
Finally,
however, a small group headed by a Los Angeles capitalist was willing to
speculate on Dorr's proposition. First, they tried the easy expedients.
Kin
Sabe Cave was the most accessible. Dorr thought it connected with the
great
chasm.
"They installed an inclined railway track and began to remove the rubble
which filled it. Before long they had quite a respectable cave, 125 feet
deep, but the air in it was completely stagnant. Over Dorr's protests,
they
abandoned the attempt. If there was an entrance to the great cavern from
Kin
Sabe, it was too deep to bother with, at least until all easier
possibilities had been investigated."Next they turned their attention to Kokoweef Cave, the first cavern
discovered on the peak. A road was built to a nearby ledge and a short
tunnel was drilled, connecting the bottom of the cavern to the surface of
the peak. Again, much rubble was removed without encountering the true
bottom. Operations were in full swing when someone discovered a mineral
vein
in the wall of the peak a few dozen yards from the tunnel. It was zinc,
and
high- grade ore. Because of the war zinc was at a premium. The Crystal
Cave
Mining Company promptly went into the zinc business. Dorr was disgusted.
He
abandoned the project. Occasionally someone would hear of him, still
telling
his story of prowling the hills near his old claim, still seeking another
entrance to the cave of gold..."According to 'Sasquatch Researcher' Virginia Louis Swanson, 'Devil's
Hole,'
in Death Valley National Monument, NE of Death Valley Junction, CA., has
been the scene of at least one disappearance. According to Swanson, two
boys
entered the cave several years ago and were never seen again. Navy scuba
diver's were lowered on cables and reported seeing a large river which
roared up from below, flowing across a wide expanse. They could not
estimate
it's depth because of a myriad of colonnades of black rock through which
the
river flowed before plunging once again down an abyss. The cave is
somewhere
NEAR 'Devil's Hole' (which is still open to public view, although 'fenced
in'), and was allegedly sealed shortly after the disappearance.It is interesting that Vincent Bugliosi, in his book HELTER SKELTER (pp.
232-233, 246) refers to Charles Manson, who believed that his 'mission'
was
to start a race war called 'Helter Skelter', then hide with his so-called
'family' in an underground area near the Mojave Desert called the
'Bottomless Pit', and then emerge after the 'war' was over and rule the
world. Once version states that the Manson "family" had met with "strange
people" out in the Mojave desert. Was he "programmed"? Manson was also
convinced that he was Adolph Hitler's illegitimate son.===========================================
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