New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-08-20
A REMARKABLE CAVERN.
A sketch Of the Newly Discovered WynD'
dottc Cave, ," in Crawford CO., Indiana
From Cincinnati Commercial


From The Ciscinnsu Commercial
Near the town of Leavenworth, in tho
State of Indiana and not far from the Ohio River hss
10 an extensive and very remarkable cavern, wsA,
though not possessing all of that diversity Of interest
exhibited In the great Mammoth Cave Of Kentucky vii
yet In many Of its features compare very Jrsby NJ
the latter and in points far exceeds 10 grardsas
and sublimity anything yet discovered there.
The land upon which the cave 10 situated was pu'
chased from the U. S. Government By dr. Henry p
Rothrock, the present proprietor The fact Of ihsc
istence Of cave here was known by the early seasn
In the neighborhcod since the year ls20 out remsssd
almost UNEMPLOYED Until avery short time since Tha
portion which has been known for many years 10 10"
called the old care" to distinguish 1t from the wf~
and mole recently explored part, which 10 comuon1
known as the "ntH Gaze" and which has been raysse6
for the first time by white men within only 10 mousne
past The exact location OF Wyandotte Cave t;r -
is the name by which Il Is known 10 about elk mo
east north. east OF the town Of Lesvenworh. on -
River, formerly called yandoue River, Crawford ca
Indiana, and not very far from the boundary less
Crawford and Harrison Counties.
After diner we commenced our preparations iN ~
teripg the cave-lsmps and torch 20 were preper9,
manufactured to order, ia the city, for speeAps.
pose. Some were formed with a socket In the bd1oo
and carried on the end of stick FIVE feet long,
however, OF much more convenient 4 rrn, wsmar
ried with swinging handle like that Of kettle sds-
cular shade OF tin being formed about five inches ~
the hand that served 10 keep ihs offensive lampsns
from the bearer and prevented tbs glare Of the -
from dazzling the eye. Beside the lamps end bsa14
several Of the gentlemen bad prepared FIRE wo.zA q
different kinds TO illumne the dark balls, snes ~
grCttoes OF the subterrsnean city Last Of s W -
cased ourselves In rough SUITS ready for all emagt
cies, and sailed out That afternoon our explore
..nf. 80 xa~ku
ing we commenced the work In earnest The enKu.se
Of the cave 10 the top of lofty aud very exuw
hDl-siter ascending about one-haf Q mile from -
house by steep winding path, you will oossfve
entrar cc 10 on the west side Of this vast hiD 49,
an elevation of about 100 feet above Blue River ~
entrance 10 about four feet high BY seyea brosa
within the mouth we lighted our Lamps Their ~
yellow fame contracted strangely ~lsh me mlek
Iets Of the cavern Oh the one sde and me rsdlas
the sunlight without Tbs storm OF the previoN
had entirely subsidized and died away and inc g.
clouds showed the calm blue above, and We fcs IN
reluctant to bid adieu 10 nature IL ner Hesn ase
ing attire, and descend into these dseP osm m' -
The damp air comes cireiDg around {ouf nnos
you shrink insnciiyely from the cold cniiias .s
Of the genius that presides over this sepu'cn,A
In ali large caverns there current oil ar moss
less strong, either blowing out or inward 'I ~ -
upon the season Of the year. or more pIope ~
perature Of the external air In winter the exeiDS
Il inhaled By the cavern, and passes 10 uaoe. -h
draft while In the summer the cool ar o. ~.
breatbed out The mean temperature Oh "yr.k~a,
Cave during the whole year 10 IS or ~ oes ~ ~
heit-it would consequently, 10 summer " a,o,sS ~
and In winter warm few feet within soo - -
proprletor has erected wooden door % s"srs -
eress of Intruder; this being unlocfea ~..rvsshfS
cred into long, Low apartment nos Tina grossS
any thing suiAiI or unusually in'er .,,sgp slb
here as 10 large portion OF toe ess ana -
sorue places entirely covered, vH .Ssn,g fallen m
NOUS masses Of rock, that nsvo 60 n,sees Of ~
the roof q, some early day these s.isr spd cbs6
tuns In weight lie In extetn ave- ssa down by -
heaps, and seem 10 have oeen ,hs INNS ,al esaeo
violent CONFUSION Of nature. 800 snormous ~
and fs,ioue Of camberipg over 'neso Is - 80
,hs, dorb,les, Gauge many travellers grealy ~
tbs d,s snces tyaysrsed by them IN tnese c 1adofs
~, ,ar,s hv means Of line lUV ice' ions "a IN
$3.50 n feet for shorter distances soos "a -
sccnra.e me, ruremerts OF the apaftmea ,.ssno0 =
,nas All vere sats6ei thereby soa sno n -
,bess caves are often very much oveHs he deodoa
60, ono entering cave for the nrst u%e w - ~
10, In uno ans., where the path blocked w "~sS
10 tns 'c.p' ~ ,.s,,v feet hsh and he'll 70
., noin 'sS S, !. oh,,ee3 20 walk thirty or tory
nen " 40 go s,ooulos posture, and scs w ~
conIaIeS s a.u ali iours, crawling soos siA
tsD,tr 80 ~ axe steep descent lamp e..
.'-".,,. ;}b,e.sins bis way downward, Mne srn
Ss:.- ;f be does mot at each step secure ii ssaxU
S"ie 81 losing III. balance and being rsouIringx
=, ,hs bo nom Afier all these dinc tsor 49,
=, toll and PATIENCE snd testing d = ths 49,
ea,iv be persoa5ed thai ne nss .n.s 10 sr.nj1iS
hsu mile but les him reduce the dis.sus "A maj ~
nsn M aaS he will be surprisedt to haa ~ sr,f
,ns,s sc, edsd 40 feet Far beysna ~ ~ ~
s..onc ,e.1,ps % a different brsncn }. "a ~
g,.,, ~. ~ ronjecnre | supposed N" "a ~
i'o" fryp the III D. cOoIiI''