The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1852-07-24
The Mammoth Gave.

We continue our extracts from Mr.. WILLS
highly interesting and graphic description of lis
journey into the Great Mammoth Cave, in Ken
tucky. They will be found highly interesting
Time is less pressing when there is to be no
sunset totell how II passes and our party for the
dark regions were "A little slow III making Their
appearance. The reluctance 10 appear N the
mustard coloured costume added little to delay,
perhaps We were all mustered, at last however,
aud presume no one Of Us, as he fell into the
procession behind Stephen, would have liked TO
be seen by the gentleman destined to write his
obituary notice" Jryiny limself would be un
IdealIzed and lhdictous described in such cos
tune. Exception must me made in the lady's
favor only--for the Boomers and other changes
gave look of charming eYiegierie to her ap
pcarancs and we felt our descent 20 the Styx
very much graced by her company.
After leaving the house, we turned down n
pretty ravine, and on the right Of the descent,
came presently to a hole in the earth which we
might have passed without noticing as il was
someVha. hidden by overhanging trees and
creepers, and the entrance was short turn back.
wards, under the way We had come. The FIRST
I subtenanean hall, indeed Is said to be directly
under the dlning.room OF the hotel.
The lighting ofour lamps occupied few min.
utes, aud AS the day was one We were to see no
more Of, could not help taking particular notice
of its beauty. 1t was the first warm .nd sunny
morning after rather a chilly week and 10 let so
sweet day pass uuenjoyed into yesterday gave
| one feeling OF regret which made Its balm aud
beauty more delicious. From the air Of the cove,
meantime, we all turned back, as it came up in a
strong current several degrees colder than the at
, mosphere around Us.
U L. ~. I..l of
arm, slung hls canister Of oil over h,s shoulder,
and gave Us our lamps-the poor little flames
that were 10 light orr way through such laby.
rnths of darkness shining very dmly in the bril-
liant sun,l me Down the steps into the dark
moss won, tho cLucoI,tc.cnl,rsd slorcLed bat wa
wara IN f,IIo,y dnwn van, tbe nrs,ty fa., in
,h.i, RIoor.,s dnv, ,ynr, ,be ,,,s,,cIoJ pro.
c,-sor a.. r.s,,oo,.IIo ,,orcLa,, All ,La oIo,,an,
rr,,.h,a, I ,;I IL Ia,,,, ,,,';,,,,;r,, =,
,y,,. sncLa, and ,,,o,y;,, ,,;,,h,or a. ,,Io,n
,t,.L,,oJ a,i rII,,r, u9,h - L1'L
,,,,.stoI L,,.,I o,,a;,s, ,hs .oiJ ,;,l c,r;,,, =,
m.., us
A. DO co, ~ ,ho ro,,,h s,o,o e,o;r,o.o ,,.a
.,,s,sJ ,,n,,, ,,,.raIJ, Id ,oaj rra,L.J ,i,L
vLo.lt,oiL. onJ lo,,n,,J i, ~ uaI oS,La
Iona s,,,,,. ,o,,,o,oJ ,n ,,',l ord 3D., NH
,th., L.I,r,,i,,. of III. .,I,n.,,. vn,ks C,,r,rIy
carried an ne,T tho en,ranc. of tho cave occ,riad
m. first balfm TN. cavity which we rsrc
,,;,, na, r'a, s,,,, ,o I;'L ,I.r'.
,ng oncs or twi,a into roorny onsn;n,,s G,nc,GII,
r'1,,.J--s,rL a., Tbo Pnt,,,ia Kon,rcL, CIR
Go,lic Galleries etc.-.all yerv dpGv and
,lo,n,,, In,lir,, nl,ces IA .yss f,s.b rroyr ,La
.nn.hire tLo',yr gr,nJ vhsn one ,srncn,Lars
where thew are. and for vhatoges Of ploom their
vast solitudes bay. been upsunn.d and unyi.itod
This part of tn. cavern i, less sinking to casual
ols,rya,,or from the smoke and du.t wbi,h the
rur.uit. If mining industry have l.ft nr,n Tho
wall. II look. NOR. ike ajucce.. ion of vast old
warehouses abandoned tn dirt and crbwrh-
than Ike the structures whose fine names have
been rty.n ,o il
a., 80. ~, 49,. a., nr', ''"'r ''''o mo" '"e
entrance, become perfectly dry: 30 hnshed win
stiffness, too, could easily understand Why IT.
unv"ryIng temperature "nd Ir"h4H"'S ma" oeeh
prescribed Tor 'he Nv'uid' iet us quaIty was
dSasreeao'e 10 me- ii"in 'he Su'nge absence OF
smell oi vegetation" h'' never oeio'e feaH|eu
Tow mu,h 'e C'hU,oh h'f Is nH'Sna'ed WIN
the scarce recognises perfume "I grass ana leaves
The cave scented oht'e the skeleton o' an VIM
out l's flesh and blood an undtrsf"uhuIy sepuI
chral dfyness, "ho'Iy de'''ute" "' 'he 'heeiiHI
vitality OF the coigmen atmosphere al the
same time that my lungs hade no complaint and
had less disposition l" cough ina" usual my
nose, Cor the move o! my lnaslnal!on') lonGeu irr
/ n sn''t % common EARN, with roots ana weeds
winch the sun lad -hone upon i."e OF I'VE
Farther IN. We i"uhd q sptlsor TWO OF mint upon
rock-He remainder "l "luI'P' h'enard OF
| pcinetnteu' nY party WI" nau Pr'ceede" us-
aud its lonely ana sunny oahN Fragrance was IN
descT'bab'l WeIcome-w.eome Rs sp'lns I"
the de'eIt
"he'rhbo.'' the leei'os OF dlsapp"ihimenI
ceased, and ueEan to itel TIE sublime pres
ehCe oi the SpTlt oi lhe Na'e' lcouId not uehiitt
ly say, But, aiier hearing stephen discourse
eIoqnentIy "i a mle or more "' successive won
ders' ana reetrtung that licl'' some now les
enthusiastic man lie scented l" expect 'ouil
myself stopping sun WIN surprise ~ tue "CL'9'F =
lf'"y n'Tknd Of places that we came To- Lille
new sensations ave lew ana prec'"as. mere "a
,"ne-a discovery th"' theie were P'd"N' u "hI'I
! mad never before conceived lhe character "h>
cNs,cnce-ntt-r noyetles-edects ol form, struc
iure, space and combination when were strange
ly unexpected at the same time that 'hey Hooded
saiiated staggered, the craving sense OF the love
ot the wonderful, what they cai Torn
Dome was the iltst point where openly ac
knuwledged tins victory Of the Cave over m!
mu'du'liy' The approach to 1t wa, by "A ION.
and harrow passage 'hr.uPh 'hr rn'S' o'ephs'
:elIng me, on the way, that he had named th'
Dome Tor ms former "wnrr, Mr. "o'ln' ana Una
Mr. CORN had once taken HIM 10 Louisiana to sell
bnt brought nm BACK hecans" nobody W"u''
give hlm eleven hundred collars lor MN. wa
1T nolng along by the lCht oi my uChefh'