The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1834-11-22

we descended about seventy five feet, we
entered "a room Of the usual width and
height OF the main cave, extending a
quarter Of mile. AT the end Of this,
we again turned to our right, and expe-
riences considerable diaicclty in making
our way in safety through narrow sper-
lures, down descent Uf one hundred
feet more. Here we found ourselves in
another large cavern, the roof and walls
Of which are white aud chelky. In travel
ling half mile, we came 10 part of this
cave, called "Ihe Deserted Chamber p
1t received this naue from the prints OF
human feet in The sand on one side Of il,
which are as perfect as if made yesterday.
These impressions extend some distance,
and appear to have been made by a fe-
male leading small child. The sand
here is moist, which is unusually in the
cave, and is undergoing the process Of
petrifac,ion.
We pursued oLr route quarter Of a
mile farther, sometipes being compelled
to stoop, when we came to pit seventy
feet in depth by measurement. The d.
ameter Of it's mouth ls about ten or fifteen
feet. We held our lamps in position
to obtain a view Of its walls some distance
downward, which are perpendicular, and
appear as regular as if they were the
work Of art. Near this pit, in the floor
Of the cave, is fine cool spring, from
which we all drank freely. We contin-
ued our walk n short distance over
smooth sandy floor, to what has been
named the Bottomless PIT pa name
applied with much propriety. 1t extends
quite across the cave, in front, lesving
narrow passage into. another branch OF
il on the left, never yet explored, and is
about thirty feet in diameter at the mouth.
Its walls, as far as they could be seen, are
much the same as those of the pit descri-
bed above. Into this abyss, line with
weights attached to it, had been lowered
three hundred feet, without q certainty
then Of having reached the bottom. We
lad prepared ourselves with some small
fragments Of rock, fol the purpose of pre-
cipita,ing into it. In descending, before a
contact, with the walls, they produced sew
eral seconds, buzzing sound then
the sound and losd echoes made by the
first contact were heard then tho re-
port of a moro remote contact; the q
fainter and still fainter report, until all
sound died away upon the ear, apparently
from the great distance, rather than from
final stop in the downward progress OF
the rock.
Our forward progress was here inter
rupted, for, although we could see the
continuation Of the cavern beyond the
chasm just described, it would have been
mad ness to have attempted to reach it
We therefore retraced oar steps nearly a
quarter Of mile, and entered without
difficulty, another branch Of the cave, the
floor of which, the distance We followed
it, (about one mile) was principally COM
posed OF loose muses. of flint rock. The
curiosity that first attracted our partisu-
lar admiration in this cavern was the
"Dome Of Wash,ngton,"-a magnificent
dome having the shape Of Bishops mi
tre, about fifteen feet at the base, and sew
enty five feet in height. We entered
this dome by decending ten feet through
a ANAL door on the left Of the cave. Its
form at the base is nearly round, and its
wills have all the regularity of construc-
ton and perfection OF deslgu, character
istic of the incest masonry. Leaving
this by the same door We entered It, and
pursuing our forward course a few hun
dred yards farther, We arrive ut the en-
trauce to the "Dome Spring" on our
right hand. This dome is larger at the
base, and loltier, than the one Just de-
scribed, and excited "a full measure Of
wonder and admiration, both tor It's per-
lection of form and construction, and spa
cioosness Of dime psous. Its shape is that
of regular cone, about twenty feet IN
diameter at the base, aud 100 or lsO feet
from the floor to the apex. A hue cool
spring Of the most limpid liquid We ever
beheld, gusbss from the wall, and covers
about one half Of the aoor. From this
fouulain, in one Of the recesses Of Ma
ture, We again refreshed ourselves; and
leaving the dome by the same door that
we entered il, he only one) We travei.
Ned half mile TO tho "WAis Chambers."
These apartments derive their name from
the beautiful whilansss Of their walls and
roof, they being frosted over With bright
erys,alins substance, about half an inch
in ,hickness,-lsrge fakes of which, we
peeled from tho rocks, without difficulty.
The effect Of even the two small lamps
we carried with us, upon the walls and
roof, was admirable. A larger number
of lights must have made the spectacle
splendid.
The limited time allotted US by appoint
ment, for making our observations in the
cavern, having more than expired, We
were to set out on our return to the mouth
Of the main cave, where we expected to
meet the ladies whose parting from US
,y,, ahoye mentioned, Ibis the writer