The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1841-11-04
NUMBER 6.
From tie " Y. Mercury.
THE MAMMOTH GIVE


is no other place on this Continent 10 which
invalIds can resort for restoration Of health
with equal advantage. speak from my
own personal knowledge and observation,
having speut much time al the Gave during
the late war, when il was extensively work.
ed for saltpetre. The Cave at lha, period
was worked four or FIVE years, and at one
time abou, fifty or sixty hands were employ.
ed inside Of the Cave, about one mile from
its mouth E; oxen also were used in the Cave
to draw the earth to the hoppers. During
all tie time the Cave was worked, did uoi
kno~ case Of Sickness among the hands.
have within few days past received q
!ctie, from a highly respectable and nlelli.
gent gentlemen residing in the State Of heu
lucky, who has very accurate knowledge OF
those portions Of the Cave which have bccu
discovered since travcrsed il, and from him
have obtained several interesting particuia's
which have no doubt will crafty, the Gu.
rous. lie also states some PARTICULARS
which Will greatly iueres, those who are
N qeest Of health. give extracts from
ny correspondents letter in his owp words:
Il beg leave TO premise he remarks
Chich shalt make by stating that the
Mammoth Cave possesses such Singular
characteristics IN regard 10 The temperature
aud constitution Of lis air, its influence on
the seIings and health Of man, the vastuess
Of lis SIZE, together with the number and
grandeur Of its avenues and domes. tina, in
attempting TO describe i; solely with view
to accuracy, 1t will appear TO the reader
like the most unbounded eyaggeraiion.
There are TWO guides at the Cave, bur
10 case Of great press of company, two or
three more oficiate. The best guide Is
Stephen. He has made many discoveries;
and, although he has acted as guide for
number Of years, takes great pleasure in
accompanying visitors, aud peneyrates lis
remote ramifcai,ons. Upon intorrogatiug
him in regard 10 the Cave, he remarked
that It would take any man tVo weeks 10
walk over as much as he knew, and that as
much more remained to be explored. Ste
phe1, N appearance, resembles an Indian,
baving long black hair and copper colour.
ed skin. No later than November last, he,
when acting as clcerone for German gen.
tlema0, made one OF the most interesting
discoveries of the Gave. This visitor was
quite as enthusiastic in respect TO the Cave,
and as anxious 10 make discoveries, as Ste
phen was to crafty him. They penetrated
the Gave within half mile Of the river,
when Stephen pointed out TO him an opening
not exceeding four feet square they entered
this, and after going short distance, found
/ themselves IN Cave Of considerable size,
which seemed to take direction IN the
course OF the cavern's mouth. After walk.
M about mile IN this branch, their pro.
gresa was suddenly arrested by an abrupt,
indeed perpendicular descen, or termina.
ton Of the rock on which they stood. All
beyond, above and below was perfect dark.
ness. At distance they heard the fall of
water; butno idea had they of the space be-.
Z fore, Of the depth below, or the height above
them. They returned and reported the
character Of their discovery. No attempt
was made 10 descend this precipivo for
mouth, when some gentlemen from the ad.
joining county determined on making the
effort. A strong rope was obtained, and
upon reaching the spot, the guide consented
TO be tied around The body and let down IN.
10 this dark and uneapIored region. This
as doue, and he did not descend more than
30 feet before he exclaimed, 8" am CD the
side Of bull" Untylng the rope, he de.
scendeJ the hill 90 or 100 feet, enrapiured
BY The appearance of a magnificent dome of
great width and height, and cataract ium.
bling from its top. Having gratified him.
sell In beholdlng this splendid spectacle, he
assembled the hill 10 he point from whence
he embarked-and the other guide manifest.
ing desire 10 JON him, was let down by the
visitors. They continued ascending the
hill tand not without difficulty to its summit,
and there behelG the most awful, grand and
sublime sight OF this famous cavern. The
top Of the bill is quite level, embracing an
area of an acre in extent. TIE bottomis OF
rock, having lnnumerable indentatons about
the size OF large tea cup, and lined with
crystals Of lime. 4 few feet from the wall
of this spacious hall, are stalagmite columns
THE number have forgotten) OF the most
gigantic size aud altitude. The distance
to the ceiling above, is 200 feet, as measur.
cd by MIR. Lee. civil engineer. This fact
in regard to the elevation of the ceiling, and
the locality of the great hall, was subse.
quen,Iy ascertaned by finding in this spot
never be,ore trodden by man, an iron lamp.
The establishment Of the guides, as we'll as
that Of all the party, in beh0dlng this lamp,
can easily be imagined. And TO this day
thcy would have been ignorant OF It's histo.
nv but for the accidental circumstance of an
old nan beng at the Cave, who, thirty
years ago, vas engaged as minsr in the
manufactures of Salt Petre for Wilkins Il
Gratz. Upon seeing the lamp, he said the
place where il was found was directly under
the little Bat room pit, IA fact which sur.
prIsed ais that during the years 1910 to
1874, Charles Wilkins, of Lexington. and
Lyman Grotz of Philadelphia, were extern
sively engaged in the Cave manufacturing
Salt Petre, and Mr.. Gatevood informed
Mr.. Wilkins that he thought the richest
Salt petre earth was under the little Bat