Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1853-06-11
NEW CAVE IN UNION COUNTY.

Some excitement was created in town
yesterday afternoon by the reported discove-
ry OF a cave in the limestone hill on. the
lands Of Messrs. Youngman & Walter, in Dry
Valley, four miles below Lewisburg. In
company with numerous party from this
place. we repaired to the spot, and verified
The report by personal exploration. We
found the entrance at the lime kilns and
quarry of MIR. John c. Hess about two hun.
dred yards south OF Gibson's Hotel. The
entrance is small opening, about two
thirds of the way up the hill on the south
enough 10 admit two persons abreast Once
admitted the visitor finds himself in an
arched hall, averaging twelve feet in width
and some twenty-five feet high, descending
westwardly at an angle Of about thirty de.
grees for a distance of fifty yards, when ii
abruptly ascends for some distance, and then
winds along rregularly 10 point about two
hundred yards from the entrance, when /,
becomes qni,e narrow. What lies beyond
has not yet been ascertained. AT the lowest
depression a small body of water was en-
countered, and at various points there are
lateral openings that have not yet been ex-
p!ored. The most striking feature of this
cave is the remarkable variety and beauty OF
the stalactiles and other formations peculiar
TO limestone caves but much superior TO those
usually found. Pendant from the sides and
ceiling, are seen hollow specimens Of the
diameter Of pipe stems and straws, from two
10 six feet in length-others like huge iccles
Of the same length, some isolated and some
flauked by delicately ribbed curtains one
fourth of an inch thick, presenting several
square feet of surface, aud hanging in waving
folds as gracefully and naturally as if of
cloth instead of stone some pendants termi-
mating in sharp crystal point, others round
and others again shooting ou, into small clns-
ters of rounded frost work, like countless
sno y-white blossoms.
From the floor spring up pillars six inches
in diameter with rude rings al the top, which
from their height and shape have been christ
ened "hilching posts" There have also
been found exact limitations Of good sized
sweet potatoes, the finest one, in the posses.
sion Of Mr.. Hess, being seemingly compro-
mise between sweet potatoe and pine
apple, the lower side partly imbedded in the
rock from which it was torn. One of The
most beautiful specimens was a slender,
symmetrical shaft, two feet in heigih, half an
inch in diameter at the base and ,apeting ia
a point, springing perpendcnlarly from a
pedestal on the floor in the shape of a mas
of yellow crystals, some four inches in aver.
age diameter In de,aching it, the needle
was unfortunately broken. But these produc
are OF such curious and fantis,ic shapes, lha
they mus, be seen TO be appreciated. Oman
titles have been already carried of by risi
tors, but many of the finest are in the hand,
Of Mr.. Hess, Mr.. Gibson, and John Young
man, Esq, which will confirm our statements
Many more yet remain il the cave. Mr.
Hess intends 10 have the opening plasie.
away so as 10 make n roony and safe en-
trance for ladies as well as gentleman an,
the spot will doubtless become an attractive
place of notwithstanding Chroniclc.