The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1841-11-04


Unul recently no one had explored that
branch ofthe cave in which the boltomless
pit is situated beyond the PIT; now the in.
teresting and extensive part OF the cave is
beyond the pit. For this discovery we
are indebted 10 a gentleman Of George
town, Ky. named Stevenson. He ascer.
tanned tia. the pit was nothing bu, ehasm
OF great depth extending across the cave,
and therefore got ladder OF sufficient
length 10 reach over. Ga this ladder this
daring man, the gcide, and some two or
three others crossed this deep and fright
iul chasm, and on reaching the oppo
site end, found themselves 10 cave oil
considerable size, which after exploring to
the distance OF two miles, brought them,
10 their utter astonishment aud delight, to
the celebrated river oil the cave. Its Ia this
region of the cave, uakuown until the last
two years, where you meet With the great
D0mes, the Cataract, the river, the lake,
and the gigantic ssalagmite columns In
order 10 CRAFTY tho numerous vislters
with view of this deeply interesting sec
tion of the cave, the proprietor has had i
large and slroug bridge with suitable rail
i ways, erected over the bottomless pit, rocks
have been removed so as to render walking
pleasant in the different avenues, stair steps
have been placed where required, boats are
I in readiness for these Nho feel inclined to
/ take aquatic exclusions on the river, and
Bengal lights can be had by such as wish
to witness the sublime spectacle which Is
exhibited by an illumination of the various
domes. The river is three miles fro the
mouth Of The cave. Where you frs; rike,
It is mol very wide but Of great depth. A.
/ you descend II becomes @lder--It has gen
/ tie current.
| have never descended the river more
than half mile, bat it is TO the poin. WHERE
YOU first see II 10 the lake five miles, anC
Mr.. Gown, highly respectable lawyer
and former representative Of Warren c0un
/ II, informs me that there is suilicieucy o
water 10 thus river TO float the largest clas
of steamboats,. 1t is IN this riyer Shert
those fish without eyes have been found
1t was the opinion OF Professor Davidson 9
Pennsylvania University who wrote
pamphle! respecting the cave that ,hos
fish had eyes aad were blinded by light; il
other words that the apparent want CT eye
arose from the sudden contraction Of tina
organ, accustomed by the stimulus Of light
THIS is not the case; Professor Of til
Louisville Institute lnaiomized the hea
Of this fish, aud says there IS no ludicatlo
Of there beng such an organ. The lax
Of the cave has never been explored
lew have attempted it, but they have be
come alarmed aud abandoned the enter
prize Stevenson, Of Georgetown, ha
yentured farther on it than my other pei
sou. lie passed, while on ii, am TOLD
the mouth Of four rivers or caves filled wit
water. Il is Of great depth, aud is suppo'
ed Of great width. This however, cot
celve doubtful, as cannot conceive of ii
+, existence Of an arch Of sufficient cSpanslo
7 to ADM, lake Of such dimensions. In d.
scending the river TO the lake, the mouth
i u great many caves we're seen, all
: which are to be explored"
5 | have thus given the extract from m
:. Corresponds MS letter in his own words, ar
n his statements may be relied upon with .h
most implicit confidence.
have iet /. du,y 10 the public, feeliDi
. confident he llses Of hundreds, yes, lhous
G auds OF my fellow ciiizens, may be prnlona
} ed for years by tasing up residence vii
d in the cave for q few months.
Medical men will have no difficulty
d;awiag their owu conclusion from the fac
9 stated | have been much in the cav
. many years ago. and irasersed il far al
wide, both night and day, and on one occ
sion was 10 Il during rnosi violent Thu
der storm-and without being the leas. co
sclous at the llmc If wh8; was doing IN Il
: clouds above the surflce. The sound
! the thunder did not hear, nor did see d
:, flashes Of lightning. The cave is n
q gloomy, ar from II, although the light
the Sun never enters II bat short ds.an
!, near the mouth.
j. The Mammoth Cave is situated with
IS quarter Of mile Of Green River, and e
4s ,enGs under a range OF knobs which bord
what used To be called the Kentucky b,
IS rens, highland prairies. These Barre
aF .ere in ISIS destitute of timber sluce I
o' country has become thlchly settled and /
e. fires prevented from running over the st
&c face aud burning Up the grass every YET
q the hickory, oak and chestnut have spru
re up in great bundance and II is nov thick
as numbered country. The Cave IS III 1
ID moudson County aud 10 North Latitude =
% The country around IS pleasant anG health
! The following medicine vii moi be VIC
4 bad to take, nor vii there be much dang