Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1853-08-05

An Excursion to the hWinfeli Cave


MILES yELow LEvIsEUEG.
Two miles from Baum Ho-
tel, in sloping muscle-limestonc hill on
the left side of the road is situated the
newly discovered " Winfield Cave" which
was opened by the blasting of limestone
rock in the old stone quarry near BY.
The angle of inclination of the limestone
strata is Is degrees, while the direction in
which the cave runs through the rock, is
from w. S. w. to f. n +. At distance
Of 81 feet, the cave is divided into two
branches, which essentially differ from one
another, the latter of which ! followed for
about so feet, and then was compelled to
stop on account Of its narrow passage.
The whole length of both caves is there
fore III feet. Doubtlessly the branches
continue beyond these narrows to a consid-
cradle distance. 1t height varies from s
to 90 feet, while the limestone rock immc-
diately above is from 8 to so feet in thick
ness. The sides are thickly studded with
stalactitcs, which are gradually formed
from the water dripping through the rock;
and their forms are as different, as the
physical causes which originate them.
Stalactites in their primary formation rep
resent a small, upright cone with central
aperture their color is white, and their
composition so tender and brittle as to break
even under a very gentle pressure. In
this stage of their formation they are sus-
pended like small pins or icicles on the
roof and the sides. Their continued
growth depends upon the quantity Of
drops Of water which gradually gather
around them. As the water docs not con-
tinuc to surround the stalactites in equal
proportion, after the latter having obtained
a certain size, the previously formed cavi-
ty becomes eccea,t,icol, until finally pressed
to the outside it disappears altogether.
The stalaciitcs present regular circles after
being broken, corresponding with their
periodical growth, and perfectly similar to
pines If two Of these stalactites come in
contact in consequence Of their growth,
they form those beautiful bands, which
arc found in such great quantities. If the
weight of the drops Of dripping water is
too great to adhere to the ceiling, they fall
to the bottom of the cave, and form an
ascending cone with large basis, mas
much as the water-drops separate anj
spread by coming in contact with the
ground In this manner the beautiful
sugar-loaf shaped columns are formed,
that appear as it were the watchmen of the
cave. They are from to feet in height,
and sometimes even reach to the roof
The wall between the two branch caves
consists partly of limestone, partly of great
LAYERS of stalac,ites, which frequently
break down from their own weight, thus
opening passage from one cave to the
other. While the branch cave, situate on
the left, is full of beautiful stalactites, the
one on the right is but sparingly ornamcn-
ted with them-which shows that the
flowing Of water through the first must
have ceased much sooner than through the
latter The fresh, deep excavations washed
out by the water in the shape Of miniature
canals in the right branchcavc, form per
haps the most interesting part of the whole.
Which direction this subterranean water
has taken, since it left the cave, can not
be known with certainty; thus much,
however, is certain that many other caves
run through this Limestone hill. This is
corroborated by the many sink-holes
which are found upon the top Of the hill
in which the water collects when it rains
and then sinks into the ground. In addi
tion to this, a cave was found seven year
ago IN this same quarry, but which is nov
almost entirely destroyed by the quarryin;
Of the limestone at its entrance skeleton