Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-04-17
ANEW CAVE IN PENNSYLVANIA.
CnAMBERsBURe, Pa. MAI. o5.

4 =
try, as we'll in the bowels Of the earth
as on its suf face, there has none ever
come under my observation so worthy
of our admiration and wonder as the
one which l am about to attempt de-
scrlptioG of nor are there any of the
works of convulsed nature, yet dis.
covered in this country, soisingular and
majestic in appearance as this Cave !;
and, although one of the wonderful
works of nature, il would appear as if
art and nature had there both made a
general display Of their talents respec-
lively in the formation aud furnishing
OF this beautiful cavern; for there Ger.
tainly many very nice limitations of art
among The niyriads OF its airy concre.
tons which present themselves to the
astoElshed person, who, with wonder
and delight, stops short at the entrance
OF the subteIranean grove, to feast his
optics on these inimitable works of
.nature | have said limitations of art !;
but, apprchend, there are many Of
those concretions that would even defy
the incest art OF initiate
This curious production Of nature
was never discovered till few DAYS
ago, when the owner Mr.. Reece, of
Peters township, living on the basis of
the north mountain) was about to dig
for water and, as there is very large
spring issuing out of the rocks at the
foot ola bill of considerable height, and
a kind of sink hole some distance above
the spring, he thought he could proba.
oily come on the stream According
ly, he commenced digging in the sink.
hole, and had proceeded but feet
when he could plainly hear The water
rnnning. apparently with great rapid
ty; and, at the distance of about twelve
feet from the surface, come ON to the
water, at the lower extremity Of a fs.
sure in the rock i which Immediately
expanded into a large and beautiful
cavern, the entrance OF which, after
advancing a little distance, entirely
disappear. and. instead of loose rub
Dish, appear solid rocks, enamelled
with sparof different colors In every
direction are to be seen the most beau
tiful icicles suspended from its mob, and
in some places majestic ceilin. Con,
cretions without number, and of almost
every color, size. and dimension, are
seen pointing downwards from the
ceiling, and inwards from the sloping
walls, some white, some red, some
brown, some green. and others trans
parent as glass, and all solid as marble,
threatenen the curious adventurer with
being torn in pieces by their craggy
points if he attempt penetrating any
further into it, and, indeed, in some
places, he is obliged to proceed in a
STOPPING position in order to avoid
them.
In proceeding up this subterranean
passage, you are obliged TO walk in the
run nearly all the way, though in some
places dry at this time, owing to the
season of the year; for it is evident
from the bed of The run, and other
visible marks of the water, that some
parts ofthe year it must flow thro' the
current channels and large quantities -
Even at this time, there is great deal
running through it, but mostly through
channels along side of the prin cipal
one, and in some places very close too,
which appears from the great noise it
makes in falling overthe craggy rocks
which impede its progress. There are
10 the principal channel several, which
might very properly be denomlnated
cataracts. The extent oft is, as yet,
unknown, as it has been but partially
explored. The greatest distance any
person has been up it yet, is about 800
feet, at which distance there was no
appearance ofits termination In as
ccnding this cave, the eye is most a
greeably struck with its grandeur +; at
every step new wonders present them.
selves here is the spar formed into
trees, shrubs, &c. which make it have
the appearance of a petrified grove; in
some places they are formed into the
!ikenesses of men, birds, organs, &c.
and 10 one place, raised on a pedestal
is striking resemblance of a halfunflr-
led flag, Besides those, there are hun
dreds of other likenesses, which | shall
not here attempt description of: When
we first saw them. we were only sur
priced at their diversity and beauty
but, on more minute examination, we
were struck with amazement, know