Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1854-09-30
IMPORTANT DISCOVERY.
subterranean Passage Through the Sierra
Nevada Mountains.

assisted ID developing her immense ro.
sources. Should this subterranoous
bass prove as practicable for u railroad
route as our correspondent anticipates,
The whole subject will receive an impe.
tus scarcely dreamed Of by the most ar
dent imagination. The concluding por-
tion Of the letter, containing a sketch
Of the White Indians, spoken of by
Lieut.. More,is deferred untilnext week.
-Maripo,a Chronicle.
Having heard Major S.
speak ofa very large and long cave
that was somewhere near the head of
the 70 .Semity Valley-and as the NAM
moth caves at Marble Springs, formed
in the immense marble ledge that ira.
verses the gold region Of California, are
more or less connected by fssures, it oc.
Cured to me that there might be sub
terranean pass through the Sierra. The
hostility Of the Indians prevented my
acting upon the idea at that time, but
| it was not forgotten.
had observed, while out against the
Indians in '5l, that some Indians we
were pursuing disappeared at or near a
certain point at the head Of the valley,
and although we examinedkevery rock
and bush in the vicinity, we were una.
BILE to obtain any clue to their hiding
place. On our return from the expedi.
ton, the cave was mentioned to me in.
cidentally, and at once concluded that
i. was the secret haunt of the Indians.
I accordingly directed my attention to
this point. After having searched for
three days without the slightest pros
pect of success attending our efforts, |
resolved to adopt another plan. But
accident, or fortune, accomplished what
no plan could have done. clambering
among the mill-dewed and mossy rocks
at the base Of the lofty cliff, ] had be-
come SO dusty that it was necessary |
should bathe. The idea Of taking q
shower-bath struck my fancy, and at
once repaired to,the fall, which exceeds
in height the celebratcdfall Of the Him
ordinarily, one cannot approach
nearer than ono hundred yards Of the
falling spray, or mist that hovers over
and around the cauldron; but at this
time there was strong breeze blowing
up the valley, sweeping aside the mist
that hitherto had prevented my nearer
approach. | was about divesting my
self Of my garments, when q gust of
wind, stronger than any that had prece-
ded it, exposed to my astonished and
joyful sight the long sought cave. Ny
ablutions were forgo,ten--I hurried
back to my party, and made known the
wonderful and fortunate discovery. The
restof the day was devoted to the prep.
aration of torches; and on the follow
ing morning after hasty breakfast, we
commenced our exploration Of the cave.
We had no difficulty in entering it,
although we were thoroughly drenched
by the sheet of water, back ofwhich,
protected by shelving rocks, was an
open space leading to the cave. lhave
not language to describe the feeling of
awe with which l was struck. upon en-
tering the portals of this grand and
glowing structure, made byno mortal
hands. All that had read Of in boy.
ish romance; all that vivid and cratic
Imagination had conceived Of a subter-
ranean world, was tame and common.
place compared with this sublimely stu
pendous work of nature.g But 10 pro.
ceed. With lighted torches we eau.
tiously commenced our march, admiring
the giant stalactites that reflected in
magnifed rays the light from our torch.
es. We had proceeded but short dis.
tance when we observed wha, appeared
to be trail worn in the rock. We at
once decided to follow it. We had
gone but short distance, when, pass.
ing through bed of dust, we discover.
ed Indian tracks recently formed. We
were a, frs. startled at this discovery;
but, after little reflection. we decided
that in such q place tracks would re.
main apparently fresh for years-and
then, after our fears had subsided. we
were encouraged with the idea that the
tracks would facilitate our exploration.
We were correct in our supposi,ion. for
had we not followed the trail made by
the Indians, we would have been leit
in more than Egyptian darkness. but
/ anticipate. Accordingly we followed
on, chcered by the hope of soon emerp.
ing into the broad glare Of day. of
one Il thing we were insured, viz: that
tbore was an inlot as well as an outlet
for a strong current Of air was meeting
rs, and our torches burned bright anI
ropilly-too rapidly for our stock Of
fat pine, which was diminishing yery
i fast. thought of sending Mike back
for fresh supply, when, turning sharp
angle Of tho passage, we met face 10
face, two tall and manly looking lndi.
ans. Language cannot express tie as.
tonishment and rage that was depicted
on their coantenances upon beboldnr
rs. and had it been in their power we e
II La.o Loe, doomed 10 ineyi,,Lis