The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1851-03-13

iouiio veeseifeS atShe loot oh rocky pyra-
mid up which we climbed some 60 feet,
and on the top of which stand two beau
tiful staiagmites some five feet high,
eighteen inches in diameter, and as white
as the purest Indian marble; and when
viewed by the dim light of our candles,
presented strong contrast with the grey
walls Of lime stone rock An obIong can
opy. some 40 or SO feet high, is here hung
with beautiful stalactites, suspended from
the ceiling. We now found It necessary
to crawl upon our faces, s'snake it" for
about twenty feet, when we came into an
avenue wide and high. Turning suddenly
to the left, we found ourselves in the midst
of scenery of surprising and exquisite
beauty. The entire walls are covered
with an incrustation of suIphate of lime,
cry ystalized so as to glisten like ten thou
sand 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 diversi-
fed forms. Upon a projecting rock at
one side of the avenue, great numbers had
broken by their weight, and were lying
In great profusion at the bottom of the
cave. These formations, like the base
upon which they grew, are suiphate, and
white as the driven snow. Others re-
sembling glass. form upon the ceiling as
well as the floor, from an inch in diameter
to the length and size OF common knit
ting needle, and even smaller. The in
crustation is frequently an inch thick, but
more generally from an eighth 10 an
inch thick. Much OF it has fallen to the
4
visitor, and the place it occupied on the
ceiling is being replaced by new forma-
nations. But am utterly unable to des-
cribe it. 1t must be seen TO be appreciated
or any correct idea formed of lis beauty.
We visited many rooms with spacious
domes and stalaclites of every imaginable
siI< ard form. III one apartment the
water finds its way over a large range of
projecting rocks, and the stalactite matter
is formed in folds and blades like extended
honey combs, and hangs like drapery
around the sides of the room. Upon the
bottom is formed great number of little
pools Of every form, elevated upon the
floor like basins or troughs-the rim of
each being perfectly level and inclined
inward, the stone which forms the basin
being not thicker than paste board.
l spent three days in this wonderful
hole in the ground-say seven hours each
day. The first 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, revisited the most interesting
parts TO procure specimens for geological
investigation. had forgotten to say that
saltpetre and EPSON salts are found in
various parts, in large quantities; and
procured lump of salts of half pound
weight, quite pure. We ventured mile
at least further thar any other had ever
gone before, and left it TO others still to
prosecute. A quite transparent eyeless
crawfish which we found, was not the
least interesting thing we saw.
The entrance to the cave belongs 10
Henry p. Rathrack, a wealthy and gener-
Gus gentleman, who cheerfully rendered
us every facility for examining 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,
S. BUTLER.