New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-08-01
4 VISIT TO THE MAMMOTH CAVE.


II ia very economical 70 write for the papers; I'd
have TO write description OF my visit 70 Mammoth
Cave in at least twenty letters if did MT, and IN
thorough going Yankee well regular Kentuckian
Of the two can combine in one wish adopt all the
improvements and invent a. MANY new ones a. posi-
BILE We have Just arrived and III quite dinner time
I'll have time to introduce our company ana per
haps tell something about hundred and seventy miles
journey hither before We get ready 70 90 III inc NHc'
Last MOIday morning marriage ceremony was per
formed at the Military Institute ara theh '1eIe wa
cOngratulating shaking hands, kissing anu sd!Ihg
" GOOD bre - then the ornribus carriage and buggy
took us 10 Frankfort where after breahiastng at te
Frankfort Hotel and saying good Rye 10 'hose VINO
had ACCOMPANIED thither, we were soon quieu!
seated in the cars for Louisville. We means capt D.
Garner aud his bride (my own dear lrlend Helel OF
Wi,slor Mel p. VI. Mcfarland, Esq, Capt. VIM.
BAILEY Capt r. ID. Allen, &c. stid, quietly seated
but that don't mean that kept4Dt as II would be
almost a moral impossbility for w to keep-suil hve
minutes and not speak: besides we had started on
bridal tour for the express purpose OF enjoying our
selves: and what earthly was there tor looking
sober when We were all so happy! An unlocked for
disappointment awaited lis III Louisville. we had
ANTICIPATED having grand time going down the ono
and up Green river in a steamer but we found THIS
mpraccable the water being low and the lock out
of repair. We couldn't mend the matter by feeling
sOrry or looking sober voted to make the best
Of it-stad all day and night at the Louisville Hotel,
ard Yesterday morning, at o'clock, squeezed our
selves into little ugly stage, nine inside ana seven
on top--very warm day and ninetyhye miles to ride
before bed time. | was afraid some OF our company
would get the blues" and eXerted myself 70 be as
mischeyous as possible; and perhaps " Bob and l
were the only bad in the party; at any rate we
contributed our share TO vary the mon0tony OF stage
ride and the day long and tedious as IT was passed
off very pleasantly. Now ana then SOBER dlScussioh
wond arise on the comparative merits OF our respec-
five States for we six had the honor OF representing
Maine New-IOrk, Virginia and Kentucky; ana L
should not omit Capt, Harris OF Georgia, from whom
We separated last night at II o'clock the hour OF
reaching Bells Hotel, our destination. We rode for
some distance close by the Ohio; Oh it was so beaut
full il reminded me 70 much of dear New-England
how much We can live in few short minutes. But
must make my pen move slower or L shall write so
much the editor won't print 1t. This morning our
party and two gentlemen from Louisiana came out
here in the stage The driver said it seven mixes,
but twoud be tea this morning, the roads were so
bad. 1t was logical conclusion, Tor 1t took us four
hours and half to get here, but as have already IN
timated are all good natured, and it didn't make
much difference. They told us at Bells that Echo
River was so high we couldn't cross: were getting
ready for another disappointment but we are happy to
hear landlord say party has gone over to-day and
we can 90 tomorrow.
II O'Clock, p. M-Imnedately after dinner having
arraycd ourselves in the prescribed costume we
started for the Cave, perhaps one-iourth OF mile
from the hotel. We wanted Stephen for a guide,
We read of him in almost every description of Nam
moth Cave but we were told he already on the
other side of the river with another party: were
obliged 10 enter this accessible HadeS under the
guidance of old Nick, who perhaps knows every nook
and corner as well as Stephen, having acted In the
capacity of guide for the last 10 years. As we APP
preached the entrance, found the air extremely
cold and from first Impressions might nave supposed
il would be very uncomfortable within yet one be-
comes accmated after passing the Narrows, and the
temperature is truly delightful. L had expected 10
= ls..l- 81 I,uvlat rnHa Of than
trance, but all is primitive naturaness. The pure
water Ga very small quantity falls over the rock
distance of 80 feet, and you 90 down wet, sllppery
rocks till You reach the entrance proper where each
one takes lamp in hand and bids goodbye to daylight
Passing through the Narrows where there was quite
current of "air in notion" we entered the Rotunda,
said 10 he directly under the dinng-room where we
took dinner and being the place where they used to
manufacture saltpeter; further we saw the satpe-
ter watts and the cart tracks and prints OF oxens h0ois
made 40 years ago Next entered the main cave
Mreesf avenue We could not cross the river to-day
so we made our explorations IN different directions on
this side We wanted TO see everything anybody else
had seem In my nOte book entered the names OF some
80 or more different apartments through which we
passed besides those peculiar features which every
body notices such Standing Rock, anderng W IL
lies Spring Giants Coffin, Black Ant Eater, Richard
sons Spring Sde-sadde Pit 80 feet deep concerning
which our guide remarked that the first man who no
ticed il perceived resemblance To side-saddle,
which no one had been able to discover since. Near
This is Minerals Dome. Then we went down stairs
and entered the Labyrinth saw an eagle, when
like the ant-eater before mentioned and many
others not mentioned, dame nature mad painted
ON the wall with black gypsum then we
climbed a ladder symmetrically perpendicular, then
down another flight of stairs, I'LL at last we came 10
Goran's Dome a more wonderful structure than we
had seen. Some of the party went with the guide
round the other side and partially Illuminated II win
Bengal light. oh look up said one oh oh LOOK
down look down said another. l looked both ways
but did dare 10 speak for l knew no words that
could tell what was thinking. We crossed ana re-
crossed the bridge which spans the BOtomless Pit saw
the Great Crossings Petrifed tree Pineapple bark,
and the Star Chamber so deiciousy beautiful. After
leaving this and seeing many other things which will
not MENTION not because they lack interest, but m
afraid shall write too much, we passed through the
Register rooms and were about TO enter the Gothic
Chanel but Uncle Nick took all our lights away from
us and told us 10 stay back till he called us; he then
went in and Illuminated the Gothic Chapel hanging
lamp on every pillar. Oh how maCnihcently II look
ed! At the entrance are the Plliafs of hercules;
nassnr along on the right is CAESARS Pillar and on
the left is Pompeys further three Gothic pillars,
superbh grand and several Others III tins spacious
Chapel. This is sometimes called the Bridal IMAM
her" said Nicolas, because marriage ceremony
Twas once performed here. The young lady had told
cher mother she would never marry upon the
face of the earth so TO keep her word good when
she wanted 10 get married she came down here and
was married under the earth" But, ali, me! I'm
SO tired canttell about the Hornets Nests Vulcan
Workshop Napoleon's Breastworks, Devils Arm
Chair Bake-room Curtains, Lovers Leap, Nc. &c.
And who would think of describing Mammoth Cave
1t beegars all description The pens of the gifted
have indeed portrayed it in glowing colors, and had
Mammoth Cave pictured in my imagination-dreamed
about it the night before left home-but was not
the Mammoth Cave | saw to-day nor the one OF when
l shall dream tonight Some folks say people
never feel fatigued in Mammoth Caye-l know better.
We were all alive with excitement and enjoyment but
who could help feeling wesried after walking eight