The North-Carolina standard., 1841-09-08

SpOI tOlG tneTc UuI i
have never seen them. The country South OF
the cave which in 1913 was barren, is now
grown over with timber The cave is eight
miles from the dripping Springs, and eight and
q half miles from Pruitts Knob The Turn
pike from Louisville to Nashville runs within
SIX miles of it, No man can form the most re-
mote idea Of this the most wonderful OF all Ma
ture's wonders, except by visit to l., and TO de-
scribe it with all its recent discoveries, would
require volume.
The discoveries made in the cave the last
two wears, are in the estimation OF many, better
worth seeing than all the cave as previous
known. They consist of numerous branches or
avenues. domes Of great size and river ter
minated bv lake. Until recently no person
had explored that branch of the cave in which
the bortomless pit is situated beyond the pit now
the most interesting and extensive part of the
cave is beyond the pit. For this discovery we
are indebted TO a gentleman of Georgetown.
XIV. named Stevenson! He ascertained that the
Dit was nothing but a chasm OF great depth, ex-
lending across the cave, and therefore got lad
der of sufficient length to reach over. On this
ladder this daring man, the guide, and some two
or three others crossed this deep and frlghttul
chasm, and on reaching the opposite part, found
themselves in ave of considerable size, which
after exploring to the distance of two miles,
brought them, 10 their utter astonIshment and
delight, to the celebrated river OF the cave. Ii
is in this region OF the cave, unknown until the
last Two wears, where you meet with the great
Domes the Cataract. the river, the lake and gI-
gantc staiagmite columns. In order 10 CRAFTY
The numerous visitors with view OF this deep
Is interesting section OF the cave, the proPrletors
has had large and strong bridge with suitable
railways, erected over the hottomless pit. rocks
have been removed, so as TO render walking plea
SAINT in the different avenues stair steps nave
been placed where required, boats are IN readl-
ness for those who feel inclined to take aquatic
excursions 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
from the mouth of the cave. Where you hrst
strike, It is not very wide but Of great depth. as
YOU descend it becomes wider--it has gentle
current have never descended the river more
than half mile, but 1t is to the point here you
first see it 10 the lake five miles, and Mr.. Gown
q highly respectable lawyer, and former repre-
sentative of Warren County, informs me that
there is a sutficiency of water In this river to
float the largest class steamboats, 1t is in this
river where those fish without eyes have been
found 1t was tine opinion of Professor DAVID
son OF Transylvania University (who wrote
pamphlet respecting the caVe) that those nSh
had eyes and were blinded by light, in other
the sudden contraction of that organ, occaSIohed
by the stimulus of light. This is not the case !
a Professor Of the Louisville Institute anatoma-
tiz-d the head of this fish, and says there is no
indication of there being such an organ. Ihr
lake of the cave has never been explored-some
few have attempted it, bat they have become a
larmed and abandoned the enusrprize. Steven
son of Georgetown, has venIured farther on II
than any other person. He passed, while on It.
l am told, the mouth Of four rivers or caves hlled
with water. Itis of great depth, and is Suppos-
ed of great width. This however, | conceive
doubtful as cannot conceive Of the existence of
an arch of sufficient expansion TO admit lake OF
dimension. In descending the river to the lake
the mouths Of great many caves were seen, all
of which 10 be explored
| have thus given the extracts from my cores
poudents letter in his own words, and his stale
ments may be relied upon with the most impllci;
confidence"
l have felt it a duty to the public. feeling con-
fdent the lives of hundreds. yes, thousands of
my feIIow-citizens may be prolonged for years
by taking up 4 residence within the cave for a
month.
Medical men will have no difficulty in draw
ing their own conclusion from the facts stated
| have been much in the cave, many years ago.
and traversed it far and wide, boh night and
day, and on one occasion l was in during a
most violent thunder storm-and without being
the least concious at the time of what was doing
in the clouds above the surface. The sound ofI
the thunder did nor hear, nor did | see the |
flashes oflightning. The cave is not gloomy
far from it, although the light oI the Sun never
enters it but short distance near the mouth
The Mammoth Cave is situated within a
quarter OF a mile of Green River, and extends
under a range of knobs which border what used
to be call the Kentucky Barrens, highland pra-
iries. These Barrens were in 1918 destitute OF
timber, but since the country has become Ihickly
settled and the fires prevented from running over
the surface and burning up the grass every
year, the hickory, oak and chestnut have sprung
up in great abundance and it is now a thickly
tmbered country. The cave is in Edmonson
County and in North Latitude 80. The
country around is pleasant and healthy.
~ Y Mercury.