New-York daily tribune., 1842-09-03

i, lust the man for guide, and withsl so oolsing
and intelligent, that he becomes companion IN
stead of a mere eo-betorc. Having refreshed the
physical man, each one was provided with a lamp
box OF matches and flask of oil, to guard against
contingencies, and we set cut for the only F1yal
which the State affords TO the great Mammoth
Cave Of Kentucky. After crossing the Cooies-
kin and ascending the public road to some distance
TO the northward we diverged to the left and pro-
ceeded along ledge of limestone rocks TIL we
came to ravHs or rather gulley, In which Is the
entrance to the Cave.
It NAV be we'll before going any farther, to give
some account of the discovery of this Cavern
Since the early settlement of this part of the coun-
,r !, has been known to the inhabitants of the W
cinitv. that there was spot somewhere along the
LEDGE Of rocks on the side of the mountain north
Of the stream, from which issued strong current
of cold air-so strong indeed that in summer 1t
chilled the hunter as he passed near it. 1t was
famiiarly called the ''blonfng roek, and no
person ever yentured to remove the underbrush
and rubbish that obscured the entrance, lest prob
ABLY some hobgoblin or wild beast should Pounce
upon him as legal prey. Mr.. Hewe, who has re-
Gently removed into the neighborhooa, accidentally
heard some intiation of its existence in say last
and with commendable curiosity Immediately de-
termined to visit it. and set cut alone without de-
Law for that purpose. He found the fact as stated,
and upon removing the undcrbrush he discovered
spring, some four feet square, from which pro-
ceeded current of cold air, plainly to be felt at
the distance of several rods. Satisfied that there
was Cave of some extent, he returned next daJ
with friend and entered it by the aid of lights to
great depth. He renewed his visits from time
to time, proceeding little farther each time, un-
til about the 18th ult, when, after penetrating to
the distance of q mile, his passage was inter-
rupted by lake of water. Since then he has
transported materials, erected boat, crossed the
wafer and explored the Cave to the extent of 1foe
miles by measurement, and the end is not yet. How
much farther il extends is unknown.
With this outline of the journey before them,
our readers will be prepared to follow US in our
subterranean tour. Having encased ourselves in
another suit of garments (Which bore suspicious
testimony as to the cleanliness of the place be-
fore us) over our own, and provided ourselves, as
in the former instance, with birch-bark torches,
we were ready to enter But such grotesque
group as we presented would describe 1t.
but it battles all description. Every one enjoyed
hearty laugh at the expense of his fellows and,
after shaking hands with the tmd, accompanied
by Mr.. Howe and number of his neighbors, we
led the way The opening is very different from
that at Balls Cave, and instead OF descending
perpendicularly into the earth at the top OF
mountain, we entered at the side in a nearly
Straight course, with gentle descent, for above
furlong. From thence there is every variety de-
scribable and indescribabe. A short distance
from it's mouth the cavern widens to about fifty
feet. but does not increase in hight. The roof
appears to be the perfect segment OF large CIR
Gle, and is smooth and even.
It is impossible to stand erect, and partially
doubled, with kind OF shufiling walk VIC managed
to proceed pretty rapidly for nearly quarter OF
nile when the roof suddenly and abruptly rises to
a ,,reat hei ght, and we were in the first room or
chapel. 1t is large oblong apartment about the
si,e of the bg-room at Balls Cave, and though
not TO be compared in point of size or magnif-
cence with many Others beyond, it is still worthy
of description and visit. 1t IS called the
chapel from a beautiful stalactte or rather com
bination of staactites, which, falling over pro-
iecting rock at extremity OF the room, bear
orptty correct resemblance to an altar with Its
fringe and drapery. Immediately above the altar
is d conical opening in the roof, twenty or thirty
feet across at the base, and of such immense
height that with the strong light OF several torch
cs. we were unable to discoverthe top. Openings
similar to this are frequent, and were called by
MIR. H belfries, and in this instance the term was
no, r,sappled. Dependant from the edge of the
be lfry we're nnumerable stalactes, which strongly
reminded US of the fantastic ornaments OF the an
cient Gothic order of architecture. Besides the
large mass of stalacttes forming the altar, there
was another, which, from its perfect resemblance,
we called the cpauIette. Such an epauletie, how
ever, would crush the sons of Anak, or the giants
Cog and Magog. This room and smaller on,
immediately adjoining, are comparatively easy OF
access, and may be visited by the other sex.
Those married ladies alone who are qualified by
an unlimited sway at home wear the--I mean TO
usurp the masculine insignia of dominion, are the
only ones for whom it would be proper or advi-
sable to proceed further for the present, or at
least until some of the windy passages shall be
cleared out, whereby to avoid the passage of what
il called the gallery q name which we
thought altogether too dignifed for low, narrow,
,nterminable hole Of several hundred rods in
length.
Here in this passage, (this galleryD we man