Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1847-07-15
Remarkable Cave.

A remarkable cave has been discovered at
Port Kennedy, in Montgomery county. Pa, a
few miles from Norrisown We annex por-
lion of an article fromeha Phenixville Pioneer,
whose editor was one Of The party that brought
to ligh, its many wonders +
Entering The quarry, small aperture in the
rock, revealed by recent blast, about fifty feet
below the surface of the earth showed US the
opening of the cavern. We were plenlifuly
supplied with candles, so, striking light, We
crawled cautiously through the narrow entrance.
The lowness of the arched rock rendered II
necessary to creep on our hands and knees,
though here and there li.lle circular domes were
followed out above US, where ii was nearly
possible 10 stand upright about twenty leet
from the mouth the passage widened, and hnai-
", rising from our constrained position, we
stood in a chamber, whose dimensions were
invisible through the gloom, which the conf
bined light of our torches failed 10 penetrate.
But, on going further, we found number OF
stakes driven into the floor, bearing extlngushed
lights. These we re.kindled, and as one by
one The twnkling tapers slreamed out OF dark
ness, the shadowy outlines of this sublerranean
hall grew more and more distinct.
We mounted to the farther end of the ascend
ing floor, and looked back on magnificent
chamber, nearly 60 fee. in length, with vault
ed ceiling, arching thirty feet above us. sort
of natural cornice ran along the sides, seeming
as if here, in the rocky architecture of Nature,
there was harmony with the creations OF hu-
man skill The rough. irregular outlines OF the
stone were family shown in the light OF twenty
torches, and at the farther end, pale bluelsh
gmmer, winding in from the daylight. made
the scene the more solemn and spectral.
Leaving this hall, the passage ascends al a
steep angle, bu, il is so filed up with clay and
stones which seem 10 have been shattered dow 4
by some violen. agency, that. we were again
oblig to stoop, and climb up slowly with lights
in our hands At the distance of abou, one
hundred and sixty feet from the entrance, the
passage is entirely choked up, and The cavern
apparently ceases. We are of opinion, how
ever, that it would be found TO extend much
| further, were the rubbish removed.
| While we were sitting near the extremity
looking down under the low, black arches, Mr.
Fleming who had been carefully examining The
walls, cried out lha. he had discovered small
opening, nearly filled with dirt at the very bot
tom of the passage. We procured a shove
from the workme.i without, and in sEor, time
space was cleared, large enough TO admit hi
body Lying fiat on the damp clay, he slowly
squeezed himself through and disappeared from
our view.-The glimner of his torch al length
was lost we waited with some anxiety, ant
presently shout came up from the bowels Q
the earth, sounding as if uttered within hol
low barrel.
None of us had made any preparations 10
such feat, bu, we at once threw ourselves up
on the clayey floor, and crept downwards. hea
foremost into the aperture. twas barely larg
enough 10 admit our bodies; and in addition Il
the perils which threatened our torches, man,
were The bruises we received from the roug
; edges of the arches, under which we crawled
After going about thirty feet in This manner, III
passage inclining downwards, we. came I'M.
small chamber nearly high enough to perm
of slandine-This opened into larger one
terminating in a splendid hall, of the pures
white limestone, covered with sparkling incrus
tallons. Here we found Mr. Fleming, enjoyin
the triumph of his discovery, and Joining &c
gether in shout, a, the top Of our voices, W
made the subierranean echoes ring again.
The sides of the hall are nearly circular, an
from beautiful ornamental cornice which crow
them, springs dome, fifteen fee, in height. it
E outline slightly broken by the irregular projec
,ions of The giering rock. The atmospher
was delightfully."- cool and pure, and our voice
had a remarkable deep and sonorous soun
when speaking