Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-11-02
From the International Magazine.
The Underground Territories OF the
United States.

United States.
The extraordinary caverns which under-ie va
rious parts of this country are OF description
suitable in extent and magnifcence to the general
scale of nature here, in lakes, rivers, cataracts,
valleys in which empires are cradled, prairies of
scarcely conceivable vastness, and mountains
whose bases are amid perpetual flowers and where
frozen seas have never ntcrmission of their crash
ing thunders. In Virginia, New-1ork, and other
states, the caves of Weyer, Schoharie, and many
that are less famous but not inferior in beauty or
grandeur, are well known to travellers; but the
Mammoth Cave, under Kentucky, is world re-
nowned, and such felon states as Naples might
hide in it from the scorn of mankind. Consider
ing the common curiosity respecting that strange
subterranean country, and the fact of its being
resorted to in winter by valetudinarians, on ac-
count of its admirable climate-so that our ar
ticle is altogether seasonable-we give, chiefly
from a letter by Mrs. Child, a very full descrip-
ton of this eighth wonder of the world-iIlus-
trated by engravings from recent drawings made
under the direction of the Rev. Horace Martin,
who proposes soon to furnish for tourists an am
pie volume on the subject
"Thc Mammoth Cave is in the southwest part
of Kentucky, about hundred miles from Louis
vile, and sixty from Harrodsburg Springs. The
word caue is i'll calculated to impress the imagi-
nation with an idea of its surprising grandeur.
1t is in fact a subterranean world containing
within itself territories extensive enough for half
score Of German principalitics. 1t should be
named Titans' Palace, or Cyclops' Grotto. 1t
lies among the Knobs, range of hills, which
border an extent of country, like highland prai-'
ries, called the Barrens. The surrounding scene
ry is lovely. Fine woods of oak, hickory, and
chestnut, clear of underbrush, with smooth, ver-
dant openings, like the parks of English noble
men.
The cave was purchased by DR.. John Croghan,
for ten thousand dollars. Toprevent disputed
title, in case any new and distant opening sh :uld
be discovered, he has likewise bought wide cir
cult of adjoining land. His enthusiasm con-
cerning it is unbounded. 1t is in fact his world
and every newly-dscovered chamber fills him
with pride and JOY, like that felt by Columbus,
when he first kissed his hand to the fair Queen
of the Antilles. He has built a comnodious ho-
tel near the entrance, in style well suited to
the place. 1t is made of logs filled in with lime;
with fine large porch, in front of which is
beautiful verdant lawn. Near by is a funnel
shaped hollow of three hundred acres; probably
a cave fallen in. 1t is called Deer Park, because
when those animals run into it, they cannot es-
cape. There are troops of wild deer in the i'm
mediate vicinity of the hotel; bcar-hunts are
frequent, and game of all kinds abounds.
Walking along the verge of this hollow. you
come to ravine, leading to Green River, whence
you command view of what is supposed to be
the main entrance to the cave 1t is a huge ca
vernous arch, filled in with immense stones, as if
giants had piled them there to imprison con
quered demon. No opening has ever been eff
fccted here, nor IS it easy to imagine that itcould
be done by the strength Of man. Inrear of the
hotel, is deep ravine densely wooded, and CO.
vered with luxuriant vegetable growth. 1t
leads to Green River, and was probably once
water course. a narrow ravine, diverglng from
this, leads, by winding path, to the entrance
of the cave. 1t is high arch Of rocks, rudely
piled, and richly covered with ivy and tangled
vines At the top, is perennial fountain OF
sweet and cool water, which tricklcs down con-
tinually from the centre of the arch, through the
pendant foliage, and is caught in a vessel below.
The entrance of this wide arch is somewhat Oh
structed by large mound Of saltpctrc thrown
up by workmen engaged in its manufacture, du-
ring the last war. In the course Of their excava-
tions, they dug up the bones Of a gigantic man;
but, unfortunately, they buried them again,
without any memorial to mark the spot. They
have been sought for by the curious and scientific,
but are not yet found.
As you come opposite the entrance of the
cave, in summer, the temperature changes instan-
taneously, from about IS deg. to below 60 deg.
and you feel chilled as if by the presence of an
iceberg. In winter, the effect is reversed. The
scientific have indulged in various speculations
concerning the air Of this cave. 1t is supposed
to get completely filled with cold winds during
the long blasts of winter, and as there is no out
let, they remain pent up till the atmosphere
without becomes warmer than that within;
when there IS, of course, continual effort to-
ward equilibrium. Why the air within the cave
should be so fresh, pure, and cquablc, all the
year round, even in its deepest rccesscs, is not so
easily explained. Some have suggested that it
is continually modified by the presence Of chemi-
cal agents. Whatever may tEe the cause, its
agreeable salubrtv is observed by every visitor,
and it IS SID to have great healing power in
! diseases of the lungs. The amount of exertion
which can be performed here without fatigue, is
astonishing. The supcrabuudancc of oxygen in
the atmosphere operates like moderate doses of
exhilarating gas. The traveller feels buoyant
sensation, which tempts him to run and jump,
and leap from crag to crag, and bound over the
stones in his path. The mind, moreover, slls-
tains the body, being kept in state Of delight