7th December 1907
We commenced operations about 7.30 and embarked in the two boats with ladders, ropes, etc. We towed the collapsible boat behind us.
The first job was to get down the Bottomless Pit where there was a great deal of water. We roped and then went down 30 feet of ladder through a waterfall. Leaving the ladder, we went down a slope of about 30 or so feet onto some loose stones. The edge of the stones came to a lake, 30 feet deep and 12 feet wide.
The collapsible boat was lowered down, but there was too much water to get through any of the passages on the other side of the lake. There was great excitement in getting men back to the top again.
We next placed two spliced ladders up to an opening over the Pit, but it led nowhere. Afterwards the next job was to go onto a far level and put some fluroscine down a swallet, which was supposed to communicate with Russet Well. The fluroscine came out of Russet Well about one hour later. (Salt placed in Giants Hole, Sparrowpit, came out of Peak Cavern 16 hours later). There was too much water to do anything fresh. We could not even get into the Cliff Cavern.
W. M. Sissons
December 7th was set apart for a field day – or, rather, night – in the Speedwell Cavern, Castleton. Thirteen turned up; and, owing to the arduous nature of the work, friends were not invited. Tackle was rigged up over the Bottomless Pit, and we entered this by being let down for eighty feet through a waterfall and channel. The noted ‘A1’ was then lowered; and we had the satisfaction of being the first people to go a-boating on the Bottomless Pit. No sign of outlet for the water revealed itself to a careful survey. The maximum depth was found to be 33 feet. The return, via the waterfall, wet us through completely. Two men then ascended into a hole in the roof, directly over the Pit, using for the purpose a ladder stretched across the abyss. They then roped up, and, a short ladder being passed to them, one man mounted it, whilst the other held it as firmly as possible to the rotten, clayey bank. The place, however, came to a dead end, at about thirty feet.
H. Bishop
Archer, Sprules, unknown, Bishop, Price (YSA), C.E.Burrow (YSA), Sissons, Puttrell.
From the Club Archives.
Derbyshire Pennine Club 