New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-02-26
The Grent Indian Gave.

last week visited a newly discovered cave in
Crawford county, Indiana. Ii ia on the right
bank of Blue river For magnihcence and beauty
of scenery, it promises, when fully explored, 10
rival even the Mammoth Cave Of Kentucky. The
Epsom Salts Cave known for nearly halt cen
tury, and successfully worked for saltpetre and
salts many years since, is about miles long
and in some places 40 or so feet wide and 10 feet
high: but has nothing peculiarly interesting 10 1t
except beautifully AUted column, some % feet IN
diameter and % or 80 feet high, all of stalactic
matter
Entering this cave under iutting rock near
the brow of lofty hill, and descending for about
quarter OF a mile, at an angle of 30 or 40 degrees
we entered small door, and after stopping rather
uncomfortably for 90 yards, found ourselves In
large open cave, or ballroom, Ia which tens OF
thousands Of these little animals hang suspended
from the rocks In large clusters, like bees in
swarming. Farther on, sticks the size OF hop.
poles, hickory bark charcoal and bare looted ia
man tracks were discovered, which must have
remained there for a long time, as the door to
this part of the cave was so blocked up with rocks
when first discovered that man could not posi-
bly, pass We soon entered an avenue 40 ieet
wide and varying in hight from 10 20 90 teet-the
ceiling az smooth and beautiful as if finished by
the trowel, then suddenly changing, presents the
appearance Of diversified hanging drapery, and
OF spotless white. Then again the naked rocks
appear At the end OF this avenue We found our
selves at the foot of a rocky pyramid up which
we climbed some 90 feet, and on the top of which
stand two beautiful s;alagmites some five feet
high, eighteen inches in diameter, and as white
as the purest Indian marble; and when viewed
by the dim light of candles, presented strong
contrast with the grey walls OF lime stone rOck
An ObODg canopy, some 40 or % ieet high, IS
here hung with beautiful staactites, Suspended
from the ceiling. We now found 1t necessary 60
crawl upon our faces, SNAKE it for about ~
CO. xrbp VI
high. Turning suddenly 10 the left, we found our
selves in the MIDST of scenery OF surprising aud
exquisite beauty. The entire walls are covered
with an incrustaton of sulphate OF lime, crysta-
lized so as 10 glisten like ten thousand diamonds
In the light. Some Of these crystals, foot IN
length, an inch wide, and thick as table knife
blade, grew upon this base in thousand diver
sihed forms Upon projecting rock at one side
OF the avenue, great numbers had broken by their
weight, and We're lying in great protusion at the
bottom of the cave These formations, like the
base upon which they grew, are sulphate, and
white as the driven snow. Others resembling
glass, form upon the ceiling as well as the toor
from an inch in diameter to the length and size OF
a common knitting needle, and even SIN Aller.-
The incrustation is frequently an inch thick, bat
more generally from an eighth 70 quarter OF an
inch thick. Much Of il has fallen to the floor, aad
is crushed under the feet of the visitor, and the
place it occupied on the ceiling is being repl aced
describe it. 1t must be seen to be appreciated,
or any correct idea formed Of its beauty.
We visited many rooms with spacious d0mes
and staacites of every imaginable size and form
In one apartment the water finds its way over
large range Of projecting rocks and the staiacLte
matter is formed in folds and blades like extended
honey combs, and hangs ike drapery around the
sides of the room. Upon the bottom is formed
great number Of little pools of every form, eie-
waited upon the hoor like basins or troughs-the
rim Of each being perfectly level and inclined IN
ward the stone which forms the basin being not
thicker than paste board.
spent three days in this wonderful hole In the
ground-ssy seven hours each day. The hrsE
two days were spent in examining and exploring,
and think we must have travelled at least one
mile per hour, or fourteen miles in two days
The third day, re visited the most interesting
parts to procure specimens for geological investl-
CATION. l had forgotten TO say that salspe5re and
and epson salts are found In a various parts IN
large quantities; and | procured lump OF salts
OF half pound weight, quite pure. We venTured
a mile at least further than any other had ever
gone before aud left t for others still to prosecute
A quite transparent eyeless crawfsh which We
found was not the least interesting thing We Jaw
The entrance to the cave belongs % Henry Z.
Rathrack. wealthy aud generous gentleman,
who cheerfuly rendered us every facility for ex-
sminipg the cave, and attended us as guide.
have no doubt when it is fully explored and sur.
veyed. it will prove TO be one Of the wonders OF
Hoosierdom. Very respectfully BUTLER