Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1844-11-21
From ne Boston Daily Adr,r,issr.
SCHOHARIE CAVE.

SCftOifARIE CANE.
We publish the following description Of
lhis recently discovered sub,orrnnean reg "a, |
aad ofao excursion ofiwo young gentlemen |
OF tins city within it. ], may perhaps temp,
some OF our readers TO follow the footsteps
OF the travellers on their tour ofexporation
Extract from letter dated
TRENTON FAILS. Sept. 81, 1874
"On our way TO this place, we left the
great western louie Ut Scheme c,ady, that we
might visit the Cave recently discovered
and explored in the town OF Schoharie. I,
is bu, twenty-five miles from Schenectady.
and is easily accessible frotn tina, place, By
road which passes, first across the Mo.
hawk Valley, and then through bold
range of hills connected with the kaals
kills, which exhibits great deal ofiine up
land scenery.
| Although several small caves in the lime.
stone ofthesc mountains have been known
for many years. none Of any size were ev-
er discovered ill 1912. In the summer Of
tha, year, Mr.. Howe, who had no, long
resided in tina, vicinity, was induced 10 en-
ter and explore what was called blow
| NOIe, UCuT tue iNoUltShili SIctk. MS
was a fissure in the earth, from which cold
air rushed in the summer months, so vehc-
menty as TO blow the leaves and twigs
quite away from its enterence In winter,
as strong a current blew in.
Howe having satisfied himself that the
cavity was large one, prepared himself 10
explore it, and entered alone, with a lamp
in one hand, and gun in the other. The
gun proved useIese; but after some delay
in the building of boat, two or three
miles journey showed him the beauties OF
aycurious ana extensive cavern. He soon
after established an Inn near the spot, foI
the accommodation of the curious; and
made,an still makes excavications and 9th
er arrangements to facilitate the journey
, through the cave.
g. and |, with two other gentlemen. unt
guide, made as careful survey of it on
Wednesday as seven hours would permit
In that time we advanced as far as any
party ever had gone, visiting one new
chamber, indeed, thus travelling a distanc,
Of about six miles and back; while w
were able to examine several lateral pass
ages. A strange enough undertaking
: was A day spent beneath the earth woul'
itself be extraordinary enough. But a
: we travelled on, we constantly met surprise
!, and sudden changes and novelties, whicl
: were perfectly in keeping with an under
ground life, perhaps, but which suggest j
) the recollection, more Of the ArabianNi ght.
r lahore ond wondcre, than of the matter c
n fact manners and customs of the worth
;, Dutch county of Schoharie.
!, Thus-to speak only Of the labors Of III
Z, day. (For day it was, though shall n
8 ways think oft as seven hours Of success.
d i've concentrated midnights) Soon afit
t we entered, we passed painfully enough, O
IS hands and knees, with heads down ben
e through a tunnel eleven rods long Its to
e is smooth, butts floor isIvery rough and tn
$. pilgrimage is a very hard one. We ha
h scarcely emerged from it when we en-
!. barked in little slnff and sailed across
n black Styx under as black vault, as e
silly as Sinbad the sailor under similar ci
,e cumslances. More easily in fact for
g. think he struck his head several times
r. We left this Injurious navigation, and
!. and | set out on a trip, "TRIP it can be Gale
u v
/. heard far below. The guide told US Il
way, but declined accompanying us, as v
Dr. could not lose ourselves, and so sat down
Of avail, our return. Down we went, throul
a passage SO narrow ard low that we cou
" not turn round after we had entered 1t
er low that we could only lie at length in
Wo to the fan, heart, and to those behil
ut or before hun. Down he went-at an a
~ gle perhaps often degrees, hands first, tn
s. heads, through nine or ten rods OF it. Tb,
he another change to a roomy nook, wi
n rocks tumbl;ng in all around, aud tins das
~ ing, babbling stream jumping over them
in We wondered at it, and tasted oft, traced
IN. and left it, TO wind our snail like passa
ct. up again. Hardly ten minutes after !
is, were in galleray pereaps halfa mile lon
Of and thirty or forty feet wide and high
q And so from moment to moment, or fro
ny hour TO heur, the cravern changed from /
70. most tiresome and disagreaable creep
ny passages to halls or passages of wonderl
all grandeur or beauty.
all will not undertake to describe in {
IN tail, these several rooms Of passages II
iy, journey is one which must be remember
to be understood, and would as soon try
lu- describe six miles Of rocky sea shore,
ais the precise turns and rami6ealons Of O
u journey. The halls which seemed to
the strangea and the mos, beautiful Of al
W. them, is that which called the Rotun
all | suppose it is not more than thirty feet
his dihmeter, but one cannot estimate distaI
ho in recollecting such proportions. II
wi cased with shining sa,alactite formation
en- !yellowish white, and runs up-up-
10 man can say how high You look up
'er- to the darkness ola topieD pit Our gu
rer lighted bunch Of birch bark, and held
avs upon the top ola long pole above us.