Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1838-11-17

Near the west, and extreme par, Of the Chapel |
is large staagrllte mound (o) bearing faint
resemblance m shape to a bell; above this sta |
Iagmlte which has been named the Church Bel, !
there is large CONC opening or rotundo, extend
ing upwards through the rocks 80 or 40 feet
This rotundo, is what gave rise to the name APP
Piled to the stalagmiIe beneath it.
(P) is the Sacred lHar-und here | pause
Language now lailS--yca, were to exhaust the
whole vocabulary of the English language in at
tempting description of this one place, and then
conduct company TO the spot, and let them look
att with then own eyes, with the Queen Of She
ba they would say "the half was not told"
The Altar is decorated with white and purple
Salagmltes, from the size Of hens egg to two
feet high, with cbrystals so formed on the outside
as to reflect the light in beautiful manner; while
the whole surface for 30 or 40 feet round Is car
petcd with chrystazed spar, of brownsh tnse.
This carpets still rendered more beautiful by be-
ing cast up in spray figures, as If II had been IN
state of commoton like troubled water, and sud
denly chrystalizcd. At this sacred spot ii one
looks beneath his feet, he there bchods chrys,al
beautiful as diamonds set in tho richest pearl. 1t
he looks around he still beholds dazzling and beau
tItul objects. If he looks upwards, he there sees
pendant celtts, and saacttes, comparable in
grandeur 10 nothing bat the falling meteors Of
1898.
4 On my first visit 10 this cave on the 23d Of
4 October 1873, in company with two other adyen-
urcrs. Ha;o,, was the first time it was ever eNplor
ed, had the pleasure OF seeing the altar as ma
mre had formed it, in all It's beauty and purity
The first idea that struck my mind on viewing
this place, vas the vision Of John respecting thu
New Jerusalem" and the Sea Of glass
which he saw, "pure as chrystal before TN
throne" So struck was with this impression
and that no unholy being, though he may be per
mttcd to view dazzling and beautiful sceneElcs II
this world, will never be permitted TO feast hi
, eyes on that Sea Of glass" that John IN hi
| vision saw, nor enjoy any Of the blessings of tn
: :" New Jorusacm,' tho Holy city Of God,
d that was unwilling to leave the altar until OF
+ fored TO the Creator and Prcserver of the uni
verse, the sacrifice Of an humble and contrt
! heart.
j. On tho 25th lagain visited this cave, in compo
ny with seven ladies' and eight or ten gentlemen
= aud after Illuminating the gtoto (S), and espC
o caly the vicinity of the altar Rev. }. lloynl
offered an appropriate prayer, and never did Sc
ia more solemn ana UeNOUOnH oCCHslOH III
" church, than was manifested at that altar. But
Il, was equally as much panied few days after,
"a see 1t mutatcd and almost entirely destroyed.
en- There are several small avenues branchID
n Off from the north side Of the man cave, som
ne OF which are perfectly straight for several hun
ch drod feet and others winding in their course an
e; once and while opening into large chamber
nix beautifully ornameuted with pendent salucilte
NV About half way between the aperture and Man
nh moths Defeat, there is an avenue largo enoug
lis for two thee men to walk into abreast, but soc
rs contracts. In about 100 feet this avenue begll
Nn to branch out and form openings in every DIRE
no ton, forming in appearance something like n
work, OF the cavities Of raised loaf of hrca
ca Where this network or spongosum ends, a
~ not vet able to tell. Many oil The other ayonu
~ have been explored for a considerable distan
70 without finding an end 20 them; and were | I
ma quircd to explore the whole Of This cave wor
~ not ask for less tmo than three months for
nv is evident that ii has another aperture pat
ne from two facts lst That the alr crculates
i'm the cave: and End, that there are fresh W
,ie tracks to be found in sevoralpOces.
mn W. SPIILMAN.
ME Tuscumbs, Alabama, Nov. !, 1888.
hen P, $. Those who subsequently VISA the ca,
tbo viii end the oarpetine and stalagmtcs much {
W. faced, and even DESTROYED The diagram m
probably DO imperfect "a some places.