Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-12-29

geni striding down the deep decvities, or siar'l-
cd by the brilliant flare, shake off their long sleep
among the dense, black shadows.
II you enter one OF the caves revealed in the |
distance, you find yourself in deep ravine, with
huge piles OF gray rock jutting out more and more
till they nearly meet at the top. Looking upward
through this narrow aperture, you see, high, high
above you, vaulteo roof Of black rock, studded
with brilliant spar, like consultations in the sky
seen at midnight from deep cleits Of mountain.
This is called the Star chamber. 1t makes one
think Of Schiller's grand description Of William |
Tell, sternly waiting for Gessler, among the shad-
ows of the Alps; and Of WORDSWORTH picture oil
"Yorkshro dales
Among the rocks and winding scars;
Where deep and low tho hnmlets lie,
h%S i.ld I ISi Of a, s,o, p9,ch sky
In this neighborhood is vast, dreary chamber,
which Stephen, the guide Bandits llalLthe
first moment his eye rested upon II and the
name is singularly expressive OF its character
lis ragged roughness aud sulIen gloom are ind's-
cribabIe. The floor is a mountainous heap OF
loose stones, and not an inch oil even surface
could he found on roof or walls. Imagine two or
three travellers with their lamps, passing through
this place OF evil aspect. The deep, suspicious
looking recesses and frightful crags are but par
TALLY revealed in the feeble light. All at once,
Bengal light blazes mp, and every black rock and
irowning cliff stands out in the brilliant glare!-
The contrast is sublime beyond Imagination 1t
is rs if man had the hills and trees of the
earth only, in the dim outlines OF moonless
night, and they should for the first time, be re-
veaed TO him in the gushing glory OF The morning
sun.
But the greatest wonder in this region of the
cave, is, Mammoth Dome--the giant among 81
ants. 1t is so immensely high and vast that three
OF the most powerful Bengal lights illuminate it
very imperiecily. That portion of the ceiling
which becomes visible is $40 feet above yonr|iead
and remarkably resembles the asles Of Weslmin-
4, II, If tli
dome is near the surface of the ground.
Another route from the DEVILS Council Cham
Der conducts you TO smooth, level path, called
Pensacola Avenue. Here are numerous forna-
tons Of crystulized gypsum, but moi as beautiful
| or as various are found farther on. From
rious slopes and openings, caves above and below
are visible. The Mecca's shrine OF this pilgrim
age is Angcca's Grouo, completely lined and
covered with the largest and richest dogs tooth
| spar Presbyterian clergyman who visited the
place few years SINCE laid his sncrilegous hands
upon it, while the guides back was turned towards
linn. He cOoy demolished magnificent spar,
sparkling most coaspcuousIy on the very centre
OF the arch aud wrote his own insignificant name
in its place. This was his fashion of securing I'M
morality 1t is well that fnires and giants are
powerless in the 18Th century, else, had the indg
nant gen OF the cave crushed his bones 10 impa-
pable powder.
Iiyou pass behind Satan's Throne, by narrow
ascending path, you come into a vast hall where
there is nothing but naked rock. This empty,
/, dreary place is appropriately called the Deserted
: Chamber Walking along the verge, you arrive
at nnoihcr avenue, enclosing sulphur springs
I, Here the guide warns you o! the vicinity of pt
100 feet deep in the shape of saddle. STOPPING
/ over it, and looking upwards, you see AN abyss OF
precisely tho same shape over your head n fac
which indicates that it began in the upper region
and was merely interrupted by this chamber.
i, Frou this, you may enter IL harrow aud vcr,
nail 'Iia IaI Ia AL
= to an immense split or chasn in the rocks. Hers
, is placed n ladder, down which you descend 9;
} or 30 feet, and enter narrow caye below" 'Ohsl
i brings you to combination OF rock called TIT
a Gothic Window. You stand in this recess, whih
the guide ascepds huge cliffs overhead, and kin
G dies Bengal Lights by the help of which you see
500 feet above you, Gothic dome of one soil
! rock, perfectly overawing in its vasness an
g height. Below is an abyss of darkness, which II
n eye but the Eternal can iahom.
h If, instead Of descending the ladder, you pas
e straight alongside the chasm, you arrive at tn
IS Bouonless Pit, beyond which, no one ever ven
Z, tured TO proceed ill 1888. TO this fact we prol
N ably owe the lneagre account given by l.eber,
l. his Encyclol ndia Americana. He says: 9Th
IT. cave is more remarkable for extent than the var
ETY. or beauty OF its productions; having none
e. the beautiful saacti,es found in many other caves
IS For long period, this pit was consiJere
g, bouomess, because, when stones were thrown il
rp TO it, they reverberaled and reverberaed along Il
es sides till lost to the ear, but seemed TO find I
ne resting place. 1t has since been sounded. n,
al found TO be no feet deep, VI irli soft, mudt
bottom which returns no noise when a stor
's, strikes upon il. In 1885, the adventurous Sepht
81 threw ladder across the chasm and passed ov
1d it. There is now a narrow bridge of two plank
IS with little railing each side but, as it is in
ut possible 10 sustain ii by piers, travellers must pa
Or. over it in the cenrc one by one, and not tout
IL the railing, lest they disturb the balance aud
ny turn the bridge.
This walk brings you into Pensico Avenue
C Hitherto, the path has been rugged, wild al
tie rough, interrupted 10y deep activities, rocks
lie big stones; but this avenue has smooth Al
ny level floor rs if the sand had been spread out
u gently flowing waters. Through this, descendiI
he more and mCre you come 10 a deep arch,
uT which you enter the Winding Wey; strange
by irregular and zig gag path, 80 narrow that We
all large man could not squeeze through. In son
ch pluces, the rocks at the sides on a line wi
~, your shoulders, then piled high over your hea
is and then again, you rise above and overlook the
We. ALL aud see them heaped behind you like 1
ed mighty waves of The Red Sea, parted for the
ruees to pass through. This toilsome path "
Ike evidently made by rushing, winding torrent.
m, Towards the clos, the water not having force
Ill nough 10 make smooth bed, has bored tunn
; a This is SO low aud narrow that the traveller
VI obliged TO sloop and squeeze himself through
he. Suddenly, he passes into vast hall, called
MS Great Relief; and re ef ii is to stretch on
crnmped and weary limbs.
I'VE This leads into the River Hall, at the side
red which you have a glimpse Of small cave, call
IS the Smoke House, because il is hung with 70:
the perfectly in the shape Of hams. The River II
ps, descends like the slope of mountain. The &C
US ing stretches ay-away-before you, vast n
III grand as the ornament at midnight No one W
rm has never seen this cave can imagine the ieeliI
at OF strong excitement and deep awe, with VIII
We, the traveller keeps his eye fixed the rocky ce
ind ing, which, gradually revealed in the passi
ack light continually exhibits some new and unt
the peclcd feature of subinily or beauty
ON One of the most picturesque sights in
The world, is 10 see file OF men aud women pass
G along these wild and scraggy paths moving so
Ut ly-towly--that their lamps may have time to
IS Illuminate The sky-lke ceiling, aud gigantic wal
ore disnnnenring behind high cliff SINKING into