The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-10-11

any meehaaical obstruction, these are
IL be- noticed hereafter.
On first entering this immense open
ing, an inacsclIhable sensation must Ia
awakened IN thobfrtst Of every thdiviau-
al who delights IN contemplating tlie
works Of onnipolenee. Vast perpendl-
c0lar walls II granite bound the obsef-
Yer on either side huge rocks huddled
together III rhance-liise security beneath
his feet the pfoudesl trees of pt,ml-
tive ioie,t mouldrrlng into dust, with
here all there 4 scattering trGe sfem.
nelY begging sn4lenanco from adaman-
Inc rocks. III for moment hold the
speelator in awe, Wonlpr aud admitaii-
oa, In advancing forward, BOW scenes
present themselves Tor examination. \
little opening III the common level Al
the feet oil the observer, in dimension
only snhieientto admit tie descent ot
single man, WHEN once entered, becomes
~ extent ample for tho accommodation
oi Il vast number. One Of the gen
tiemen Of our party states That he enter
Ell one Of these apefmfes At lest thirty
feet, and stopped there, rather from the
darkness aud dampness Of the place,
than from any obstacles thai would have
impeded his progress in advancing far
ther
The feeling of security thai aceompa-
nies one while in those deep recessas, is
more the consequence of known prcce-
dents Tim we'll established security
founded upon observation, tor in mlny
Instances huge rocks above, scented COLI
lined only hV single point, which PER-
haps would sapportmany humber pounds
or which possibly might be detached by
the weight Of a few ounces. At first
IL seemed probable tint tdero would be
danger IN these caYorns from meeting
with deletallous rs, known by the
name oi cafbonic acid eas, the same thai
IS sometimes met with in wells, vats and
other sunken holes, aud tue sumo also
that IS produced by the combustion Of
ehareoal, bun as no accidents have over
occurred from tins caasr, il IS probable
that This gas does not there collect in
sufficient quantities, il Al all, 10 become
dangerous.
In the warm mouths, particularly in
July and August, there ISSUES from these
apeftnres a tuck, damp mist, in snrh
quantities rs To become visible, aud !
would almost venture n say, tangible.
This alone would produce very UNI
pleasant sensation, bm when connected
with temperature d, low rs . degrees,
II becomes chilling i oppressive. Ihs
circumstance, apprebcnd, constitutes
the greatest danger in visiting this place.
On Inc common level the temperature
would, n dis. season, probably, range
from 80 10 - in descending one Of
these smaller openings, the temperature
would mol exceed 3 degrees. Here IS
a sudden change Of a. or - degrees
quite sufficient 10 check Tree petsplra-
lion, which every enc will find himself
! III after leaping over logs aud rocks Ior
some bali hour or more.
Towards lhc lower end OF the chasm
stands large birch tree, growing out
among the rocks in the GREAT common
Level, the circumference oil which must
be Al least five feet. From among the
roofs 81 dis IT, Il fine spring Of water
commonly issue,, II which the vi,ltant
may usul lily satisfy any laudablc cfav-
iugs he may have for this simple beSe-
rage. The spring is completely dry At
tins tine owing to The warm weather.
Our guide told rs he never saw II IN his
state before. However, law feel H.
boye this, and on the opposite side of
the tree, we found among the rocks some
| exceedingly fine water, and without
much trouble obtained snllcency for
Use. Ice is usually found in abundance
iust below this sprng in all seasons OF lhc
year. The writer has obtained il there
in June, July and August.
cannot do better in this place, than
recommend every one who intends visit
inc This place, To supply Themselves with
some articles Of food, as there Is no
house near by. IT which they could be
accommodated, saying nothing about the
pleasure in eating in such place. And
whoever you may be, whether man, wo-
man or child, be sure 10 leave your
name cut on some tree, for this am
certain, from the immense number there
10 be found, is the direct road to imnor-
lalify.
The origin ofthis chasm is lost among
the thousand other events that have
transpifed in remote ages, aud tradition
assigns so many causes for ii that con-
lecture now would be only adding 10 the
confusion. II Is said that the devil has
been seen there, thrusting his fiery
tongue out of the deepest recesses with
unreasonable velocity, and declaring
! tlisi 70 be the entrance to his mighty