Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-02-07

the Kissing oil the rattesnake, but was
startled by the apparition of fierce Loop
ard, whose loud roarngs were echoed
amongst the vaults, and which, after ga
zing at them by the light of the torches,
stalked majestically back into the darkness.
We passed on into the second sala, col
Letting, as we went, fragments Of the shi-
ming stones; our awe and establishment
increasing at every step. Sometimes we
seemed to be in a subterranean Egyptian
temple. The architecture was decidedly
Egyptian, and the strange forms Of the
animals rescmbled those Of the uncouth
Egyptian idols; which, together with the
pyramids and obelisks, made me think that,
perhaps, that ancient people took the idea
Of their architecture, and Of many Of their
strange shapes. 'from some natural cave Of
this descriptions; just as Nature herself
suggested the idea Of the beautiful CORN
THAN pillar.
Again: we seemed to enter tract Of
country which had been petrifed. Foun-
tains of CONCEALED water, trees hung with
frozen moss, pillars covered with gigantic
acanthus leaves. pyramids of ninety feet
high. losing their lofty heads in the dark
ness Of the vault, and looking like works
Of the pre-Adamites-yet no being but He
who inhabts eternity could have created
them. This second hall, as lofty as the
other, may be nearly four hundred feet in
length.
We then passed into sort Of double
gallery, separated by enormous pyramidal
formations NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. which are
formed by water dropping on the earth.-
The ground was damp, and occasionally
great drops trlckeled on our heads from
the vaults above. Here Gothic shrnes,
odd figures, some that look like mummies,
others like old men, with long boards, APP
pal us like figures that we see in some
wild dream. These are int rmingled with
pyramids, obelsks, baths that seem made
of the purest alabaster, &c. A number of
small round balls, petrifactions of dead
white. lie about here. forming little hol-
lows in the ground. Here the cave is very
wide-about two hundred feet, it is said.
When we left this double gallery, we
came to another vast corider, supported by
lofty pillars, covered with creeping plants;
but especially with row Of the most gi-
gantic caulifowers, each leaf delicately
chiselled, and looking like fitting food
for the colossal jewellers Of the cavern:
But, TO attempt any thing like regular
description, is out Of the question. We
gave ourselves up to admiration, as our
torches flashed upon the masses of rock,
the hills crowned with pyramids, the con-
gealed torrents that seem to winter at the
north pole, and the lofty Doric columns
that bring US back to the pure skies of
Of Greece. But, amongst all these curl
Gus accidents produced by water, none is
more curiously exquisite than an amphi-
theatre with regular benches, surmounted
by a great organ, whose pipes, when
struck, give forth deep sound. It is re-
ally difficult not TO believe that some gi-
gantic race once amused themselves III
these petrfied solitudes; or, that we have
not invaded the sanctuary Of some mystic
rious and superhuman beings. 1t is said
that this cavern has been explored for four
leagues. and yet that no exit has been dis
covered. AS for us, do not know how
far we went. Our guides said league.
1t seemed impossible TO think OF time, when
we looked at these great masses, formed
drop by drop, slowly and rarely, and at
distant intervals falling, and looked back
upon the ages that must have elapsed
since these gigantic formatnos began.
At length, on account of the loose stones,
the water, and the masses OF crystal rock
that we had to climb over, our guides strong
ly recommended to US to return. 1t was
difficult to turn away our eyes from the
great uniformed masses that now seemed
to fill the cave as far as the eye could
reach 1t looked like the world in chaos
Natures vast workshop, from which she
drew the materials which her hand was to
reduce to form and order. We retraced
our steps slowly and lingeringly through
these subterranean palaces, feeling that
one day was not nearlysuficient to explore
them, yet thankful that we had not left the
country without seeing them. The skele-
ton of a man was discovered here by some
travellers, lying on his side, the head near
ly covered with crystallization. He had
D probably entered these labyrinths alone,ei-
Their from rash curiosity, or to escape from
pursuit, lost his way, and persisted from
hunger. Indeed TO find the way back to
the entrance Of tie cave is nearly impossl- |
BILE, withou; some clew to guide the steps |
amongst those winding galleries, halls,and
issues, and entries, and divided corridors. |
Though there are some objects so strik-
ing that they may Immediately be recog-
nised--such as the amphitheatre, for in
stance-there is a monotony even in the
variety; and can imagine the unfortunate |
man wandering amongst obelisks and py-
ramids, and alabaster baths and Grecian
frozen torrents that could
not assuage his thirst, and trees with mar
Bile fruit and foliage, and crystal vegeta-
,les that Knocked his hunger; and pale phan-
IONS, with long hair,and figures in shrouds.
hat could not relieve his dstress-and
hen his cries for help, where the voice
gives out an echo, as if all the pale dwell
srs in the cave answered in mockery-and