New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-08-13

lessor Dyel tue celebrated ge0lcgl5Ii ditcf IN ~
curate measurement of this huge formation, and
an estin ate Of its solid contents, was of opinion
that al least thirty thousand se0ys must have elapsed
since its initial atom was deposited an antiquity
beside which the ruins Of Thebes, the winged
lions of Nineveh, or even the brick heaps OF Baby
Ion, are but as things of yesterday
Clambering up somewhat unctu0us LADDER
about twelve feet, We enter tunneEhke hole
where the sOlidity Of the rock IS tested by some
bslfa dozen incautious heads After penetrating
this passage for some distance during which our
quadrupedal abilities were severely tested, we
reached pTecipit0us descent, down which it re-
quired all the strength and gallantry of the men
"foks' to preserve both themselves and the ladies
from a too faciiis decensus;" arriving safely
however, at the bottom, We found ourselves in
another hall of still greater magnitude than those
we had passed through; the dark and massive
walls rising to hight Of eighty or hunsred feet
supported ceiling here smooth and polished, and
there sprineizg into Titan-like arches ponderous
stalagmtes covered the vast area, while from
every crack and creyice Of the overhanging rock
staactites OF the most delicate tnts aud transpa-
rent purity were suspended so fairylike drapery
never yet adorned palace hall, nor mortal I'm
gers ever wOye tissue elaborate, so purely beau
full and spirt-like as this The Cavern Gnomes
had gathered here their choicest treasures Myr-
lads Of lmpd diamonds glittered on the cold, gray
from grOiDed arch and rocky cornice cleaning
crystals, wreatbs Of feathery coral and many
other rare and costly minerals were here in wild
profusion.
And now before us looms up awful in the dark
cess a mighty mass OF chaotic ruin. Some terrible
CONFUSION OF nature seems to have crushed the
vast dome, and filled it's shattered rafters in one
tremendous, insurmountable barrier. The light
from our torches fails to penetrate the brOOding
night above, our guide has disappeared, and for
moment all is doubt and hesitation. We are about
retreating when sudden exclamation from one of
the party attracts all eyes and far, far above,
CLOVIS Iuddy light, speck in the intense dark
ness, solitary star breaking through rent clouds;
il is the torch of the guide, and as he stands there
three hundred feet above u.s. on the crest OF that
ruined mountain, we seem again the victims OF
some horrible dream, ourselves sinking deeper and
deeper in that lOathsOme pit the Pharos-llght OF
hope growing fainter, fainter
It. was q relief when our guide again Joined us
and as the ladies of our party had already over
tasked their strength it was decided to foregO fur
Their exploration and turn our steps lightward
The point we had reached was three miles and a
half from the entrance, and still beyond us, for
fire dreary miles stretched this mighty cavern
TtcO hours and half had elapsed since our disap
pearance from the upper world and yet not one
half of the limit of the cave had been reached.
What unparalleled wonders lie in that dark domain
cannot ay. Mr. Dewey, who has explored every
accessible part of the cave, informs me that its
different passages measure full twenty miles in ex-
tent, and that its deeper recesses contain number
less halls of immense size, and mineral treasures
sufficient TO supply all the museums and cabinets
of the earth.
The atmosphere in the cave is unvarying in its
ten perature, Summer and Winter the thermometer
remains a fixture at 40, the most intense cold at
the surface, or feryid heat, not producing vara-
tion of more than two degrees. You may well be-
eve that the change from this temperature to one
of some go was anything but agreeable, and was
attended by that peculiar sensation which in coun
try parlauce is termed " willing"
Emerging from the cave at p. NJ. we ex-
changed the costume of the cbrysalis for the but
terly adOInments of the upper world, and after
paying our attentions to a bottle of excellent
claret, for which we were indebted to the wise
foresight of one of our own number, we attended
our fair companions to a luxuriously spread dinner
table, and in social converse, enliyened by many
pleasant Renaissance Of the days adventures,
closed al that is worth telling Of our visit to
HOwE'S CAVE.
| should be committing an act of great injustice
were | to omit giving Mr.. Howe the credit which
is due to his great perseverance and energy.
n. T. II.