This is probably the same Frank Earnest Nicholson who led the New York Times
sponsored expedition to Carlsbad Caverns in 1930. He ghost wrote Jim White's
booklet in exchange for payment of a boarding bill owed to Charlie White (no
relation) of Whites City. He showed up at the cave with 14 assistants.
Superintendent Jim Boles limited him to 4 and followed his every move while
in the cave. He also brought in rail cars loaded with boats and a hot air
balloon which were never used. Nicholson Pit, in the back of the Mystery
Room, is named for him. His reports about Carlsbad Caverns are infamous and
he was known to exaggerate. Check out what Robert Nymeyer and William R.
Halliday have to say about him in their book: "Carlsbad Cavern The Early
Years: A Photographic History of the Cave and its People".
William
-----Original Message-----
From: Mixon Bill via Texascavers
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2015 3:31 PM
To: Cavers Texas
Subject: [Texascavers] unique Texas cave
Published, apparently seriously, in the "News-Letter of the Exploration &
Location Committee" of the NSS, #1, Jan. 1943:
A condensation of information on the exploration of a limestone cave near
Boerne, Texas, about 1932 by a party headed by Dr. Frank E. Nicholson,
indicates that it is perhaps the most unusual phenomenon in our science. The
information is from an old reference, and anyone having further information
on this cave please contact this committee. 500 feet within the cave is a
subterranean lake overhung by stalactites which reach to the surface of the
water, requiring swimming under water for 200 feet. Occasional "pockets"
permit breathing. This expedition penetrated beyond the lake to a great
vaulted tunnel, which contained a "bottomless pit," subterranean spring, and
stream. Progress was possible to a point one mile from the entrance and 600
feet below the surface. The most unusual feature of the cave is that in it
were found white colored blind crayfish, pheletrodroid salamanders, and
blind, white translucent frogs. Most unbelievable is the report that at the
cave's lowest level (one mile from entrance and 600 feet underground) 50
Spanish oak and Hackberry trees were found growing. That trees can grow in
complete darkness with the complete absence of light and sunshine is a
phenomenon that demands further investigation by speleologists.
The chairman of the committee and presumably author of the piece was Erwin
Bischoff. Scan of original can be found at
http://www.karstportal.org/FileStorage/NSS_news/1941-v001-001.pdf
--Mixon
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