The Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1822-1822, 1822-05-28

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Albany, May 90.
The following interesting account Of a
most extraordinary and
STUPENDOUS CAVERN
recently discovered in Jefferson county r.
in this state, we copy from the WATERFOWL
Republican, of the l4th inst.
There was discovered about 8 weeks
since, or the north bank of the Black RI
yer, upon the land of James LIE Ray, esq.
opposite to the village OF Watertown, an
extraordinary cavern, OF grotto; the mouth
OF which Is about ten rods from the RI
yer, north Of the falls and OF Cowan's
island.
The great extent Of the cavern, and the
great number of spacious rooms, halls and
chambers, into which il is divided, and
the immense quantities of calcarious con-
crctIons which il contains, and different
states of those connections, from the con.
s~istance OF lime mortar, to that OF the most
beautiful stalactltes as hard as marble,
render it difficult, IF not impossible to
describe it, aud | shall only attempt to
give a faint description Of three or four
rooms.
The mouth Of the cavern is in a small
hollow, about 5 feet below The surround
ing surface of the earth; you then de-
scend sixteen and halt feet into a room
about Is by 90 feet and 8 feet high; and
behold IN front of you a large fat or table
rock, IL or ID feet square, 2 feet thick,
and elevated about four feet from the bot
tom OF the cavern; the root over head CO..
vered with stalactites, some of which
reach to the table rock. On your left
hand, is an arched way, OF $50 feet; and
on your right hand is another arcbed way,
6 feet broad at the bottom, y 6 feet high,
which leads into a large ROOM. Passing
by this arch about 60 feet you arrive at a.
nuther, which leads into a hall 10 #. vide
and 100 feet long. from s to 8 feet high,
supported with pillars and arches, and the
sides bordered with curtains pleated in
variegated forms as white as snow. Near
the middle OF this hall, is an arched way
through which you pass into a large room;
which like the hall is bordered' with cur
tains, and hung over with staiactltes; re-
turning into the hall, you pass through a.
mother arch into a number of rooms on the
left hand, eurtained, and with staIactiles
hanging from the roof. You then de
scend about 10 feet, into a chamber about
go ieet square and two !eet high, curtain-
ed in like manner, and hung over with
stalactites. In one corner of this cham
Der, a small mound is formed about IL
feet in diameter, rising three feet from the
floor; The top Of which is hollow and tuII
of water from the drippings of stalactites
ohnun. anYno ut which rna \. moan ~. h.
sin.
Descending from this chamber. and pas.
sing through another arch into a hall by
the side OF which you see another basin of
water, rising about tour inches from the
floor; formed in the same way, but in
the shape, size and thickness of a large
tea tray, full OF the most pure and trans.
parent water.
The number and spaciousness of the
rooms, curtalned and pleated with large
pleats, extending along The walls from two
to three feet from the roof; of The most
perfect whitehess, resembling the most
beautiful tapestry, with which the rooms
are embFoided; and the large drops of wa
ter, which are constantly suspended on
the points Of innumerable stalactites, which
hang from the roofs above; and The co
lumns of spar resting on pede.tals, which
in ZONE places, appear to be formed to
support the arches aboye-the reflection
of the lights, and the great extent and va
riety Of the scenery of this amazing ca
vern, form altogether, one of the most
pleasing and interesting scenes, that was
ever beheld by the eye of mortal man
Its discovery Immediately drew TO it
great numbers of people from the village
apd surrounding country; who were max
ing great depredations upon it, by break
ing of and carrying away, whatever they
esteemed most curious; when Samuel G.
Kennedy, esq. MIR, LIE Rays agent was
applied to, to prevent further spoilation; |
who Immediately directed the passage in.
to the cavern to be enlarg ed; stairways
made with a strong door placed under a
lock and key; which has been finished and
the door closed.
The discovery of this grotto, added to
the extensive petrefaction along the river in
this vicinity, especially on Governs ISL
and, of the once inhabitants of the deep,
cannot fail to render Watertown, (to the
curious al least) a lasting place OF resort.
1t may be proper to mention here that
the cavern has been but partially explored
and that no one who has been into it, al
though some suppose they have tra-
yelled more than 100 rods, pretend to
have found the extent OF it, or to know
the number of rooms, halls and chambers
which il contains.
NC, no1to,, DI