Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1838-08-02
Whitilesey Cavern.

MR. EDITOR
Having just returned from visit to the Cavern 70.
Gently discovered the south side Of the Black River
IL in your opnisn description Of visit and the
measurements and observations would be interesting to
the public you are at liberty publish them. The en-
trance the cavern is the south side Of the River
read below the ermin Of Jackson near
the well known Whitilesey Point AT the time of cur
VISIT during gentle rain, the ground for several rods
around the entrance was covered by de,ss n. - ,h
depth of about feet, which is said always to be the
in rainy weather. On entering, we immediately
experienced chill from the difference Of temperature
without The thermometer standing at summer
heat, while within Il was very cold The entrance h
the orifces from which issued the current OF cold
air mentioned by Mr.. Huntington in Of your late
papers, and resulting yoa correctly surmised from
body Of ice within the Proceeding in south
ery direction from the entrance. through rough and
difficult passage gradually enlargng, the distance of
fifty three feet the passage separates into two going
and the other west. Takisg the westerly passage.
crawled through q narrow assure, the ice, and
came pillar of ice which appeared to be formed by
wafer draining through from the surface, although the
place should judge be 30 40 feet below the sur
face OF the hills the distance 81 feet from the direct
passage. Leaving thermometer in assure near by
in dry place where we discovered portion of
thovera projecting from the rock-wc then proce eded
through passage about feet high by wide, a dis
Of 40 feet, southerly a large room Of square
FORM measuring thirty feet in length, twenty FIVE i'm
width, and six feet in heghth-Phence into an adioin-
ing fifteen feet long thirteen wide and fourteen
high. The passage occasionally interrupted by large
of rock Thence passed soulhery 81 feet IN
a room 10 ioet HIGH 20 wide and Is feet onU In this
room. about the centre, table rock, elevated about
feet from the floor and some 10 feet square. From
this room proceeding went through cylindrical
tunnel Of about feet diameter the distance Of about
eject which terminated progress in this passage.
We then turned TO a passage the left and west
eastery up low bat ascending passage 26 feet into
quite spacious but low room. Thence resumed
southern course, going 100 feet the passage gradually
growing smaller at the extremity OF this passage, wo
found very clear perfect stasctts and the bstto
covered with small pebbles which had become
coated with lime, and presented curious and beautiful
appearance.
Retracing steps from this passage entered one
running east about 81 feet clay bottom; we hero
heard the ripping Of stream. and making something
of descent through nsrrow, low and difficult passage
shout 80 feet came to a small stream about feet
in width and inches Deep and rsnning about 90 feet
to the runste the water very clear and cold and
ceedipgIy palatesble We followed this stream about
30 feet, wading our hands and knees in the water
where IL passed under rock falling several inches
there the course OF the stream could Judge
from north east In south west running from the
river though perhaps may have s discharge several
rods below the banks Of the river where spring
sues from the rock Of similar the Of the
stream in the cave, Of remarkable coldness One Of
our party passed around the rock under which the
stream and progressed along the stream througha
very passage about 81 feet further where the
stream passed under rock and disappeared He them
proceeded about 30 feet farther wien his further pro-
gress checked by the Of the passage In
the beyond inaccessible to hi, he several
beautiful specimens OF stslsgme and sslscttcs rival
ing in beauty and parity those OF the celebrated cho-
hsrie Cave; but they inaccessible. and much to
regreat we had 10 leave them with many part
ing look behind and as our lights waning pru.
dence warned US make our way back. We found
our 7s feet from the entrance standing
al 80 deg above o. degree above freezing point frem
which il is evident that with The present temperature
the ice will never melt Oh returning pssssd about
so feet Ia the passage through and over limestone
rocks and ice. We here catered chamber Of about
feetsq square, the roof OF which covered with beau
FOL stalaces OF al describabe varieties Of forms and
figures the end Of each &C which. sparkling with
diamond brilsrey, hung crystal water drops reeIing
the light with all the shades of the prism This passage
uninterrupted Tor almost 100 ee further but
ing nnhire ointersst No ice IA found after passi-g In
80 90 90 feet bit the Temperature /, very cd through.
out bat very liule standing any part visit
Ell We estimated u'stwc penetrated TO the distance oC
i've hundred feet in one direcios.