Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1843-03-16
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From the baltimore Sun.
Another Mammoth Cave Discovered.

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From the baltimore Sun.
Another Mammoth Cave Discovered.
In the Haserstown. (Md) News, OF
the 18th inst. we find the following &C.
count of the discovery OF an immense
cave discovered in the vicinity of Ia
gerstown. We have no reason to SUP.
pose that the News designs the account
as hoax, but it is strange that the dis
covery should not>have been made long
since. The account is from a cores
pendent, and is as f0llows:- -.
/ Gentlemen:-Perbaps you have not
! heard of IA most daring act, which hap
pened in our county few days since.
1 which resulted in the discovery Of one Of
/ the most stspendQus caves now known.
! Do not be surprised, to hear. that not OIL
/ Iy Hagerstown, but no doubt, the whole
I country be tween the north mountain and
Blue Ridge, is rothing more than i'm
mense bridge Or viaduct. supported by
thousands of pillars. some of which ex-
coed, in form and beautv. any thing to
be conceived of. will briefly relate
the manner in which it was ,l;scovered.
Some Ten days ago two gentlemen,
Mr.. Mingeniser. of Funkstown, and MI
Watson. near this place, being at leisure,
as the weather was fine, determined on
fox-hpnt. They soon had cid ReynarA
undei way. The chase was close and
sight. ard old Reynard evidently began
to fail on account of his tail collecting the
mud, and from the unreasonable warmth
of the atmosphere--and indins.ft rather
dangerous to remain in this upper world
when it was so warEl, thought to try an
other a little cooler. Accordingly ire en-
tered ii small opening in hillside, a.
bout one mile west of !:agerstown, which
had never been regarded as more than a
sink Or falling in of the earth. The
huntsmen losing the cry Of the bounds,
thought that. they had made .bauIk.'
but upon riding, 10 the spot where they
had last heard them, were surprised at
not being able to find them. Whilst
standing in conjecture. dog, to their
establishment, came galloping out of the.
apparently sink. ,>..< ''..+ -,'. ..
Then the idea occurred that the whole
pack must have entered this place, and
that the one lacked courage and return
ed; wiereupon. one of the gentlemen
disnounted, and on applying his ear to
the opening, conId hear the dogs in full
cry. There could be no doubt they were
in full chase, for the sound gradually
died away, Just as if they had been on a
plain in this upper world. After halt an
hours anxious waiting, they again, for a
few minutes heard the dogs more dis
tinctIy than before; but this time they
seemed to- turn corner, as the sound
was hushed abruptly. Their curiosity
induced one of them to commence tear
ing away the roots and earth which sur
rounded the entrance, and to.thier as
constituent. found in a-few minutes, that
he had made an opening sufficiently large
to admit his person erect. Upon advan
cling so or 40 yards ma straight and de-
scending direction, to his amazcment.
he found himself in alspaci9us hall, the
top of which he,: in the dull twilight.
could not perceive. lie then returned
to his companion, when they agreed to.
follow the dogs, or at least, explore the
cavern as far as was practicable. Well.
after the necessary arrangement, they
actually entered, and when. the first hall
became lighted, it presented cue Of the
most gorgeous spectacles that can be i'm.
agined. The ceiling is ABOUT 30 or. so
feet high. and hung with stalactites the
most glitteringA and beautiful. There
was chandelier of exquisite splendor.
ellttering with thous star-Ike ia
ners-and there was another set with ru-
bes & sapphires, and there was column
that would have sunk the beauties of Gre
clan architecteres into nothing. The
trees and shru5bery all slitterins, re-
Elected prismatic colorS from thousands
of slittering points. Whilst the gentle
men were standing here, wondering at
the prospect before them, they again
heard tue dogs in as. Eastern direction,
and perceiving large opening, they pro-
ceeded cautiously in that direction
Whenever they passed a turn. or any
place, which, in returning, might bewil-
der them, they hung up piece Of linen,
which they had prepared for the occa-
sion. In this way they proceeded about
half "A mile. when they. came to a SMALL
but beautiful stream, ripling over gen