The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1834-11-22
MISCELLANY.
From the Lexington, Ky Lntell;geneer.
VISIT TO THE MAMMOTH
CAVE


VISIT TO THE MAMMOTH
CAVE.
The Mammoth Cave, said to be the
most extensive cavern that has yet been
discovered, is situated in Edmunson Co.,
Ky. about 1875 miles from Lexington, 90
from Louisville, and 81 from Nashville
The write. of this article has recently Wis.,
tied this Gave, and proposes TO give such
description: OF. it, as the limited timo al
lowed him to explore it, viii permit.
Our company consisted Of the writer,
two ladies, the guide, Mr. Gatewood, and
two servants, one Of whom acted in the
capacity Of guide from the Inn. Our
first descent after leaving the house, was
down an abrupt precipice, into ravine,
or rather basin, the bottom of which ex-
tends to the opposite side of the cave, and
some distance in front. 1t is mostly COW
cred with growth Of oaks and small I'M
der shrubbery. A narrow, winding foot
path conducted us to the mouth of the
cave, neur which are the ruins Of several
furnaces, constructed many years since,
and employed in the manufacture Of salt-
petre, and about fifty iron kettles, used
for the same purpose. Before entering
the cave, we had to descend another steep
precipce, about thirty feet. Standing
upon this we felt cole current, rushing
from the cavern, which, with the damp,
dark entrance below, (the water dropping
from the roeks) rendered the prospect SO
inhospi,able aud comfortless, as almost
to chill the curiosity, and forbid fur
ther descent. After descending this pre-
cipice, our guide lighted the lamps, the
rush Of the cir being too strong at the
summit, to descend with them burning,
and with slight inclination Of the head
and shuddering sensations, we passed
under the immense masses Of overhang'
ing crags, into a narrow winding avenue
Leading to the high arched rooms OF tht
main cavern. This avenue extends {
quarter Of mile, and was first rendered
passable by visiters in an erect position
by the saltpetre manufacturers, whose
improvements, if they may be 30 called
extend a m,ls INTO the cave. A wagot
road was constructed by them this dist.
ance, and the wooden pipes for the con-
veyance of water from the mouth Of the
cave to the hoppers, and much other ma
chinery made use Of by the manulactur-
ers, still remain as they were left twenty
years ago. As we passed along this
road, we also observed the ruts, formed
by the wagon wheels, and the tracks made
by the oxen employed in the cave, which
in many places are as perfect and appa-
rently as new as if mado yesterday. AT
the end Of the avenue, we passed through
small door, formed by the construction
of an artificial wall across the cave, aud
after gradually ascending and descending
some ten or twenty feet over what Is call
ed the "rocky mountain" the cavern wi
dens into lofty aud spacious room, the
arched ceiling of which is seventy feet
from the floor, and the width hundred
yards.
The roof or arch Of the cave here re-
sembes the appearance Of hazy sky
dimly lighted by the moon, an elternaslon
of light and shade occasionally deepening
into blackness. This room perhaps ex-
tends one hundred and fifty yards in
length, when the walls contract again, and
the cave and its rooms continue compar-
atively narrow until we entered what is
called the Cathedral, which is another
Stupendous arch, such as nature alone IN
one of her mightiest convulsons could
form. The roof Of the cavern here, is
upwards of a hundred feet from the floor,
and the width, including II recess ON one
side, must be an eighth Of mils. The
rocks composing the walls have q brown
appearance, but much of the roof here,
as in many other pats Of the cavern, are
of chalky whiteness. The nume sea
,hedral" was given to this part OF the
cave, from the circumstance Of religious
meeting having been held in it short
time since. A rudely constrcted pulpit
is still standing, and the seats tor the ac-
commodation of tue audiauce, remain as
they were originally placed. Our guide
stated that large multitude attended the
meeting, and that the room being lighted
by a hundred lamps, presented splendid
and sublime appearance. Near THIS,
which is about mile from tho entrance,
we were startled by what reseu,bled the
report Of a cannon. After recovering
from our surprise, we ascertaiued that the
almost stunning noise, which was rever-
bsratcd in long and loud echoes from va
rious parts OF the cave, was produced by
a small stone, threwn by our guide a
gainst a log trough, formerly used for
feeding oxen. We had travelled but a
short distance from this before the ladies'
signifed their wish to return, and dismiss
ing them with one Of our guides, and ma
ny particular instructions and cautions,
decided, as We had time TO visit but a
small part of the cavern, to take one OF
its most interestinr branches about hall