The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-10-24
OtsSs.ragee Cave, scl,oharIe.


Presenting many Of your readers to be ignorant Of
the existence of this wonder wonder IN many
respects equal II not superior, to its Kentucky bro
ther Of mammoth notoriety-and having the vanity
will prove refreshing if not interesting the writer,
without further preliminary, begs leave to put his
quill in motion.
Otsgaragee, or more generally known by the name
Of Howe's Cave, is about twenty-five miles from
Schenectady and nearly forty from Albany, Though
almost inaccessible, trip thither, involving
ride over the Heidelberg mountain, it has been
visited by many persons from home and abroad
during the present season. With "righte merr
partie'' and private conveyance, few days since
We started to explore the mysteries Of this subter
raneous marvel. We srrivcd at the Cave Hotel
about four o'clock in the afternoon and after being
EARNED and equipped according to law" with
ccarse dresses flaming torches and lucifer matches,
We commenced the cave tour. The change in the
atmosphere on entering the cave Is SO great, that
passing from an oven into q refrigerator could not
affect sensbly. This change, however, Is soon
forgotten in admiration Of the grand and beautiful
objects that are presented for your inspection What
reverence fill the heart Of the beholder Around and
aboye you are glstening stalacttes flashing back she
light Of your torch in thousand brilliant scintilla-
tions, while ponderous stalsgmites, the work of CEN
turics and figures and devices Of all conceivable
fofme and shapes meet you at every step.
Dan ling Hail. is the FIRST spacious chamber to
which attention is directed 1t is forty ieetlong,
one hundred aHd sixty IL length IL, and from twelve 70
smooth, which circumstance, in connection with the
free circulation of pure air to be found here, renders
it appropriate for the votaries Of Terpsichore.
''Washpgton Statue is next pointed out Ia
'Washipgt0n's Hail. and "Epauleste," and the
Magic Lantern" and Lady Washington" attract
their share Of surpriae and admiration. The poor old
LADY Washington seems TO feel the Loneliness Ct
her situation, if one may judge from the agouized,
begone expression Of her countenance; and that
she has experienced some trouble daring her long
lite may be in the aged situation OF her veaera
bic nose and toesthe same bsing in close juxta po-
sition.
"Matrimopy Hall, suggestive Of rings and ranbows
TO the youth of party is the next room into which
we are ushered. Our guide, who is justice of the
peace, as we'll piece If justice informed that
he is duly author xed 10 get up" married couple,
should any two persons desire TO become one and as
an additional nducement TO the charms of the place,
he not only ofrs do it Tor nothing but will supply
refre shn ebts on tie same generous terms Several
lovers, inspired by tae romance add sentiment of the
place, ard his berality, have become cons1lidated'
through his Dsirumentalty, 80 he tells us; a. he
verify seems anxious 20 repeat toe ceremony, il any
two can be found who are willing to be united.
''HeImits Cell, to which entrance Is obtained by
means OF a ladder, Us it not strange that such u
place should succeed ''Matrimony Hall ~ is yell
lit Cd for the habltation OF gloomy msalthropcal
wretch and If all such wretcbes could be m lde to
occupy such cells, one ingredient Of LIES bitteri
would no longer exist
'The Tunnel ABOUT quarter of mile long,
leads to "Cataract Hail. Previous to this you
pass pro ard con, 8s the worthy Mes Darlington
remarks, an immense saGsme called the Baked
Goose, whose t0ughness, dolos, would ses at de-
fenee the digestive organs OF any two OF our City
Fathers
al Cataract Hail. you hear the low, musical
roar Of Tue cataract hree hundred feet bolov you,
On whose angry waters the Eye OF man has never
rested. il Is the glorious anthem nature Is coatnu-
ally Staging TO these suberrancoas cha ubers, that
hgfsupprefse ed Murnur, the ''vOice OF many MI
teis, To the sweetest and yet grandest noe OF al
The Pool OF Sii0am,' with i.S sparkling, laugh
" QfsT y
moth Dimensions o. the " GiAnss Gotliu," which Is
thirty feet l,ng and zen bread containing no DOUBT
olse Of the de!unct munarchs Of TIC cave. The SIDE
passages here are numerous and intricate and &c
many slippery pa3es c0ltiyaie the u ,quaiatance of
ones lows ole that the assistance OF gui 10 IL in
dispensably necessary.
Collect your strength, now, TO mount the " In
dams stony Ladder" aztec achieving which Won
FIND yourself in " FraDkIin's Avenue" ia comparison
with the splendour Of which, Fifth avenue New
York SINKS into insigpfcapce Congress Hsll.v
foDr hundred yards in leogth, with jagged walls
from fifteen TO twenty feet bgb festooned with
Stalac,ica drapery, is one Of the most interesting
chambers in the cave. rhs peculiar formation OF
this bah is such thai oies ordinary tone of voice
Is rendered clear, musical, and sonorons. Let
some grave senior of The party take the" Speakers
Chair" at the upper end OF the room, while some
ambitious member occupies the attention Of the
Houfe in "A few brief remarks" What human
thunder How the rich volume Of sound leaps from
crag to crag filing the vast space with wild music,
res and among the arches and columns of this go-
rious temple. Surely In council where sound alone
II sloqucnce, no better place than this could be &C.