New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-05-22

mt % searted for the volcano, 10
vbieb road had cut through the chsppara where
necessary By ~ Bnes vssse sercss = ;; aas c.a
;ng psTtv. which, q expected shortly overlook From
Ne6Ouslds 70 the vulcan River IS les, over rock h
ma ounsain we were eight hours, and 90 thoroughly
lie mies from Vu7capa Good coffee bearfat and veni
con sseske prepared forthe ngt round our campfire
Az ak with mountain sppetes satished we started
again Oh horseback for one mile and then scramble
over the rocks TO Putin River and Vulcania
First We passed rocks % hot - almost 70 ouTn
she feet steainins forth sulphur fumes and covered
with the most beautiful sulphur CRYSTALS and then rosnd
the mountn side TO the head OF the gerge woere nc
most activity visible Here the rocks were TOO nos
TO stand upon and what was once hard granite 20 ae
composed admit running our canes their 'enetn
into them. All around covered with green and yeiow
deposits from the furnace beneath the large noie W.
roaring with the vgor of the steam pipe OF large
ocean steamer and the smaller with lees nose ous
nevertheless actively cent the jets OF steam teen anu
twenty feet high, and In some cases 20 near tne
tain stream, that comes tamblDg through the gotge
that Ia the breadth of ones hand, water OF more man
boiling heat and almost icy cold may be iouna. ne
lower part Of the stream had genial oiooohear IN
which the unscienfc of the party took Oh
BATH while the others were geoloeizing and skecmeg.
The whole scene passing description, and wei worm
longer journey and to which shall be too happy TO re-
The mouI tsin scenery Is most beautiful, and the far
of views of the Russian River and its valley alone worm
the trouble of the trip To add 10 this completeness inc
lev u the top Of the mountains which projected IKE
Islands in the midst of frozen lake. with here andfhere
the sop of tai pine shooting up above the Level OF ne
cg requiring but little str. tch OF the 70 con
ceye them the spars of chips and boats in the distance
Az the broke out upon the whole, we mad All tne
beauty OF an Alpine glazier, without its accompaniment
q cold and danger
But what sport you ask-whst game We'll, we only
saw thirty one grizzlies of which two were killed and
FIVE wounded. Elk and deer appeared in nuititudes
for passed over the mountains, ahghted deer
would each moment start up before US and make for
have given you this long letter to let you know that
we have objects of cuiosity-natural wonders In
beautiful accessible country not so far from your BUSY
civ. but that the good people occasionally forget
the shop and run up here and see for yourselves NO
one will be disappointed who comes, tor assure you
my powers Of description can never 40 lusuce " the
wonders that exist depict onehaf Of the pleasures
Of the trip.
Wonderful Cave in Calaveras County.
From the Cslaveras csroace =.
Calaveras County seems to abound IN
visiting this part of the country The great preya
lence Of lime stone In ranges OF hs Will naturally
account for these interesting formations Lateiy
ayailed myself Of the efer Of kind friend to conduct
me to one of them and much pleased with my vislr
although sorry to say, that vist)rs seem to emu
late each other in their zeal to deorm and deface what
.hould be most carefully guarded and protected Inc
cave to which allude is situated about milo rom
town. on the south bank of the South Branch OF Suffer
Creek The entrance is through small opening In the
hill just sufficient to admit mans body. Inc descent
is easy the many projections Of the rock aordng am
pie means for safe footing. .,.
Neither s il of very great depth, the top OF the plat
form not being more than ten feet from tne emu
whence slopes gently down I'LL the center Is G
forming a chamber Of about 30 feet high and ABOUT 0o
long The floor is composed OF ocagons OF caicare0us
formation along which, in narrow oeo snenuy g,aes
crystal stream rising from tprlng In one OF the ate
raj chambers The roof is divided into compartments,
the center being large circle from which depend
clusters of salactites OF every variety some
others opaque while again partake OF avaregated
hue as tinged by coorng matter in the rock through
which they have percolaed The groinng OF the root
Is as perfect if nodded by the hand OF art ternna-
ting in massive pasters with richly adorned capitals,
strongly reminding of ancient Gothic cathedral
From the main chamber branch two galleries, leading
into small apartments rich in groups of the most anci-
full petracon, varying from the massive block to the
mot delicate and haely pointed crystalline needle.
AZ the entrance OF the cave our party had the pleas
ure of meeting with of the merchants OF our VII
lsge accompanied by his amabe and lovely lady whose
presence added much TO enjoyment OF this roman
tic retreat and whose sparkling wit suggested many
pertinent and beautiful illustrations of the surrounding
scene To this lady the party indebted for rich
musical treat as with fairy wand she lightly and grace
fully touched the sparkling pendants producing melody
of the softest and most exquisite sounds The effect CT
the whole was greatly enhanced by the flashing OF the
torchef now reflected BY thousand gliterng cones,
and again away In the deep OF the cavern
casting lurid glare their hearers as, crawling low,
they vany to penetrate the secret
of the een Of the place. 1t Is much to be regretted
that modern Vandalism should have so mercilessy
disfgured this cave but | suppose we should rather
thank them for permitting any traces TO remain, ana
that has since been blown TO fragments In the
svsl icous search for gold. THETA