New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-06-13

stone cross has been erected, to denote that the
distance has been carefully measured The hoor
here rises considerably, which contracts the d.
mansions of the avenue although they are still on
q grand scale About half mile further we came
to the Great Crossings, where FIVE avenues meet.
In the dim light it resembled the interior Of q
great cathedral, whose arched roof ia hundred
feet above it's pavement Turning to the left at
right angles to our former direction, we walked
(still following the Main Avenue) some ten min
utes further, when the passage debouched into a
spacious ball, with a cascade pouring from the
very summit Of its lofty dome. Beyond and adj
Joining il was q second hall, of nearly equal di-
mersions, with another cascade falling from its
roof We turned again to the right, finding the
avenue still more irregular and contracted than
before but had not advanced far before its ceiling
began TO RISE showing long slope of loosely-piled
rocks, lying in strong relief against background
of unfattomabIe darkness.
climbed the rocks and sat down on the highest
pinnacle, while Stephen descended the opposite
side of the slope and kindled two or three Bengal
lights which be had saved for the occasion 1t need
ed stronger illumination than our two lamps could
afford TO enable me to comprehend the stupendous
dimensions of this grandest of underground cham
beers. will give you the figures, but they convey
only faint idea fits colossal characters length, 500
feet; breadth 800 feet hight, l2O feet; area, be-
tan's Council Hall in Pandemomium would hardly
seem exaggerated if offered as representation of
the Chief City, 30 far and vanishing is the perspect-
i've of its extremities so tremendous the span OF
its gigantic dome
est upon the summit Of the hill until the last
fires had burned out, and the ball became even
more vast and awful in the waning light of our
lamps. Then taking last look back ward through
tie arch of the avenue-to my mind the most iG-
pTessiye yew-we returned 70 the halls OF the cas-
cades. Stephen proposed showing me the Fairy
Grotto which was not far of, and 10 accomplish
that end performed a grievous amount OF stoop-
ing and crawling in the solitary cave. The grottc,
which is a delicate staactite chamber resembling
gothic oratOry, was very picturesque and elegant,
ard did not regret the trouble | had taken to
reach IT, Both of US were somewhat fatigued by
this time however; we were trenchng upon the
night hours, and beginning TO feel symptoms of
hunger so we here turned about, and resumed the
most direct way 10 the mouth of the cave.
when we heard TIE tinkling drops of the little
cascade over the entrance | looked up aud saw
patch of deep tender blue set in The darkness. In
The midst OF il twinklcd white star-wniter and
more dazzling than any star | ever saw before. |
paused and drank at the trough under the water
fall for, like the Fountain OF Trevi at Rome, IL may
be that those who drink there shall return again.
When we ascended to the level of the upper world
We found that fierce tornado had passed along
during the day. trees had been torn up by the
roots ard hurled down in all directions; stunning
tbunders had Jared the air. sno the wet earth was
fairly paved with leaves cut off by the heavy hail
yet we, buried in the heart Of the hills had heard
no sound nor felt the slightest tremor in the air
Tie stars were all in their places as | walked
back to the hotel. / had been twelve hours under
ground, in which time / had walked about twenty
four miles. had lost day-a day with its joy
Gus morning its feryid noon, its tempest, and is
angry iunset of crimson and gold; but had gained
an age in a strange and hitherto unknown world
an age Of wonderful experience, and exhaustless
store of sublime and lovely memories. b..