Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-10-23

MIS- CELL AN u o u S
From the Lexington lntelligencer.
A VISIT TO THE MAMMOTH CAV


cred, is situated in Edmonson county, Ky,
about 1875 miles from Lexington: 80 from
Louisville, and "a from Nashville. The
writer of this article has recently visitef
this cave, and proposes to give such de
scription Of it, as the limited time allowe'
him to explore it, will permit
Our first descent after leaving the house
was down an abrupt precipice, into ra
vine, or rather basin, the bottom of whicf
extends to the opposite side of the cave
and some distance in front. II is mostl
covered with growth Of oaks and small
under shrubbery. A narrow, winding foot
path conducted US to the mouth of the cave
near which, are the ruins of several fur
naces. constructed many years since, and
employed in the manufacture of saltpetre,
and about fifty iron kettles, used for the
same purpose. Before entering the cave,
we had to descend another steep precipice,
about thirty feet. Standing upon this we
felt cold atmospheric current, rushing
from the cavern, which, with the damp,
dark entrance below, the water dropping
from the rocks rendered the prospect so
inhospitable and comfortless, as almost 10
chill the curiosity, and forbid a further de-
scent. After descending this precipice.
our guide lighted the lamps, the rush ofthe
air being too strong at the summit. to de-
scend with them burning, and with slight
inclination of the head and shuddering
sensations, we passed under the immense
masses of overhangng crags, into mar
row winding fvenue, leading TO the high
arched rooms of the main cavern. This
avenue extends quarter of mile, and
was first rendered passable by visitors in
an erect position, by the saltpetre manu-
facturers, whose Improvements, if they
may be so called, extend mile into the
cave. A wagon road was constructed by
them this distance, and the wooden pipes
for the conveyance Of water from the mouth
Of the cave to the hoppers, and much other
machinerysmade use of by the manufactu-
rers, 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 apparently new
as if made yesterday. At the end of the
avenue, we passed through a small door,
formed by the construction of all artificial
wall across the cave and after gardualy
ascending and descending some ten Or
twenty feet over what is called the "rocky
mountain" the cavern widens into lofty
II ~ IL
which, is seventy feet from the floor, and
the width a hundred yards. The roof Or
arch of the cave here, resembles the APP
pearance of hazy sky dimly lighted by
the moon, an alteration of light and shade
occasionally deepening into blackness.-
This room extends perhaps one hundred
and fifty yards in length, when the walls
contract again, and the cave and its rooms
continue comparatively narrow until we
entered what is called the cathedral, which
is another stupendeous arch. such as nature
alone in one of her mightiest commissions
could. form. The roof of the cavern here,
is upwards of hundred feet from the floor
and the width, including recess on one
side, must be an eighth of mile The
rocks composing the walls have brown
appearance, but much of the roof here, as
in many other parts of the cavern, are of q
chalky Wilderness. The name s'cathedral'
was given to this part of the cave, from the
circumstance of religious meeting hav-
ing been held in it short time since. A
rudely constructed pulpit, is still standing,
and tho re for tho dot a..
audience, remain as they were originally
placed. Our guide stated that a large
multitude attended the meeting, and that
the room being lighted by hundred lamps
presented a sublime appearance. Near
this which is about mile from the en-
trance, we were startled by what resem-
bled the report of a cannon. After recov-
ering from our surprise, we ascertained
that the almost stunning noise, which was
reverberated in long and loud echoes from
various parts of the cave, was produced
by small stone, thrown by our guide
against log trough, formerly used for
feeding oxen. We had travelled but
short distance from this, before the ladies
signified their wish to return, and dismiss
ing them with one of our guides, and many
particular instructions and cautions, we
decided, as we had time to visit but a small
part of the cavern, to take one of its most
interesting branches, about half mile be.
yond us, first explored last year, and after
examining some portions Of it, to return to
the mouth.
We left the main cave on our RIGHT ho nd