The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1816-10-02

rection for moro than two miiea. We thch
isr IL, and took anoiher, tha, led US east, ibc %
Two ui,es further; and at last In our wind
ings, were brough, out by another avenue in
20 The chief city again, alter traversing dif-
isseni avenues Tor msfe than five miles.
we reslcd ourselves for few minutes on
some lime s.oHe slabs near the centre oi this
gloomy area, and af.er having refreshed Us
and trimmed-our lamps, we took our depart
Ere second time, thto' an avenue leading
from the chief city 10 the mouth OF the cave
which @v continued for upwards oftwo miles,
when wo catered tho second city. This is
covered with one arch, nearly eco feet high
d the centre, and very similar TO the chief
sity, except i0 number OF avenues leading
from il---lhs having buttwo.
We passes through i, over considerable
fise IN the centre, and descended thro' an
avenue which bore 10 the east about 800 rods,
whcn we come upon a. third area about 200
feet square and so ia height, which had pure
and delightful steam OF water issuing from
she side of the wall about thirty fees high,
tcli upon some broken stono and was alter
warts entirely lost to view. After passing
hi beautiful sheet of water few yasd,, wo
cane 10 the end ofths passage.
1--WE then returned about 100 yards, and
entered small avenue Cover considerable
mass Of stone) 10 oar right which carried US
sooth, through an uucommonly black avenue,
Snnethiog more than mile when we assem-
dcd yory steep hill abou, sixty yards, which
carried US within the walls OF the fourth city,
which is not inferior 10 the second, having an
urch that covers at least six acres In this
last avenue, he further end Of which mds, be
.our miles from the chief city, and ten from
tho mouth otthe cave, are upwards OF twenty
.arge piles of salt petre Garth on one side Of
she avenue, and broken Limestone heapcd up
on the other, evidently the work OF human
laads.
had expected from the course Of my nee
dtc that this avenue would have carried Us
sound TO the chief city bu, was sadly disap-
pointed when found the enc few hundred
yards from the fourth city, which caused us
10 rc,racc our steps, and sot having been 50
particular in marking the different avenues
as ought, we wero very much bewidcrcd,
and once completely lost for Is or 20 mioules.
At length We found our way, and wea.y and
Aint entered the chief city at zen a, night
Gowever as mueh f.igued as was, deter
mined TO explore the cave as long AS my lights
held out.
We now sntcred the nflh and last avenue
from the chief city, which carried Us south,
,easl about geo yards, when we entered the filth
city, whose arch covers above four acres OF
level ground utewcd with broken lime stone.
Bite beds OF ecommon size, with brands OF
.caac lyipg around them, are iutorsperscd
throughout this city.
We crossed over the opposite side, and en-
tcred ON avenue that cavricd Us east about $50
rods, when fading oolhing Interesting in this
nASsarc, we turned back, and crossed massy
yilc OF ,ionc n the mouth Of a large avenue,
which noticed but few yards from This last
.grcnlioaca city, Us We came out of II. Alter
come difficulty 10 passing over this mass Of
iu,c stone, we entered large avenue, whose
snallswesc the most perfect OF any tina, we saw,
running almost due south for 500 rods, and
vcry level and straight, with an elegant arch.
g--.SVhcn ct the end OF this avenue, and while
i was sketching plan OF the cave, one Of my
guides WHO had been some time gropinS a
hnut amoog The broken stones, called out re-
sqGesllng me to follow him.
Ignhercd up my papers and compass, and
nher giving my guide, who sat with me, or-
.dcrs ID Z main where he was until we return.
cd, and, moreover, to keep his lamp IN good
yordar, | followed after the first, who had en-
tered n y reicat passage, iusi large enough 10
ia,.mii his body We continued to step foom
onr s,unc to the another, until at last, after
much difficulty from the snallncss OF the pas
cage, which is about forty fec, in height, we
entered upon the side of u chamber, at least
1900 fecs 10 circumference and whose arch
Is about J. SO ico, high IN tho centre. After
having marked ar ows (poiniing downwards)
upon the slab Stones around the liule passage
lhrough which we had assembled, we walked
forward nearly TO the centre OF this area.
1, wa, past midnight when entered this
chamber of eternal darkness, +" where all
,hiags are hushd, and oatore's self lies dead
I must acknowledge felt shivering horror
at my situation, when looked back upon the
diitcrcm, avenues through which had passed
since entered the cave at eigh, in The morn.
ins and at ,aa" ",ime o'nght when church
yards groan," TO be buried several miles in
the dirk rcccsses of this awful cavctn---lhe