The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-04-28
LOST IN THE "CATACDMDS."

thrilling description of visit to the "Cata-
combs" and the losing of one of the party
who was exploring the darksome regions Of
the dead:
1t had been our continued intention to visit
the "Catacombs, but the curiosity was
somewhat allayed by fearful picture of a
few hours stay in them, given by our talent
cd artist, Mr.. Wacutt. BY his industry and
genius he had carried away warmy-con-
tested prize from an academy sustained by
the Government, the possession OF which
gave him the right to visit many places,
among which were the "Cataconhs. lie
did not, however, avail himself OF this priv
ilege until party Of English and American
officers arrived, with permits from the Gov
ernment, and proposed that he should &C
company them. They set out one noon.
making the entrance near the Hotel Chung,
preceded by a guide. This entrance. nor IN
deed any other, is not striking character.
They entered low doorway, and Immediate
lv commenced descending narrow spiral
stairway, old, worn, and dirty. lie counted
sixty steps before arriving ut the end. where
a narrow gallery, cut through the soft stone,
presented itself. The passages they travelsed
were 50 low and so narrow, two could scarce
ly walk abreast, while the ceiling bore the
marks of torches carried through it, perhaps
centuries before. Numerous other passages
crossed or led US from this, and our friend
was fast coming to the conclusion that these
narrow burrows in the earth were anything
but the grand excavations he had been taught
to expect, when they came suddenly upon a
chamber hcwn from the solid rock. The
guide lit number of torches, and distribute
ing them among the rocks. called upon the
party to mark the effect The glare of light
upoii the white rocks. reflected by the lofty
ceiling, sustained by huge pillars tf masonry
and daShing with flashing starts towards the
gloomy reccsscs, and yet sloomicr entrances,
as if attempting to penetrate and drive back
the nyht-had certainly very startling cf-
feet.
10 one who had explored the Mammoth
Cave in kentucky. had travcrScd great fields
of night, crossed lakes, and heard the mys-
tcrions rush of unseen rivers, and watched
the long line of rcd lights descending prcc-
piccs, this view of the "Catacombs' dwin-
died into utter nsignticancc. BIT humanity
throws an interest around objects nature
cannot approach. The doubtful origin OF
these chambers, the mysterious use assigned
| them in ages gone by, the fact that, above a
great city rung out its busy life all served
| to create an awe no mere exhibition OF ma
turc, however magnificent, could call into
existence.
| Our friend wished to do in the Ca tacomhs
as he often had done during summer 5 resi-
dcnce near the Mammoth Cavc-watch the
effect of lights leaving him, so as from a good
view to secure IL sketch Of the strange inter
Tor. lie seated himself without speaking tc
| the marty that vtpnt ON net noticing his
movement. The groupings and lights, as INC
son'p"'y 'e.s ''l'l' WIZ ..' '"','y a.. e
a''u IN =, '''c '.l'"'e','cr' a., 10 ''io2 "p
t'o"eneo inc 'ur''cr .''u Vi 'ie N.Y. .'i''ii,
Ier ne rose 10 follow, M ' ,.e'l s,iae'
''Sappea'anee '':o o'.e ol '.e ~" san", .hs
~ many VI p" men .io'e "no $500 Wv
pil'1'pai PasSass-a MN anu ''e mas
.ei'1" ,o,"ai" OILY III Inc oaihe'a 'l'''' I'M.
ii.o,at'ly 'oI!o".a' 10 stumble oyer p'i'
VI s'o',cs' lie rose ana again ','S,c''''S
lo'""', i', against Pi,i"i' a'', leu : I c
stunned ana olee,nhg: ne ea'i',o ms .1e'
anu ica''a'eu; ms iirSt 'he"g',l was .,ia'
.ic parry WIN ,hc'r Sulac ""ula return Una,
wa. mas hcN'' '''at' missing num- my VI "o"iu
re'Iace ''cir steps IN ms search 10 a''e'lP
'o',o"i''s 'heh "o''o oe madness, i'' .ou'o
oh,y sioulc ms way III hil''a aari,hcHs' .ll'o
"i,hi'o"'' ana perhaps uhrN Piorcu passages
| wh.'e remaining III one place. nc a' t'aS'
oe III 'lie route best known 10 inc sulucs
90 seating himself nc counted INC weary
lh'nu'es' mat seemed hours, III that dreary
Mal'ns' th'hsllnct remembrance OF s,ol'e>
lolu MN OF persons VINO had disappeared ah'
per,Sl'eo III these fearful depths. came up &c
maze. .,,i more uhoearabic tins terrible posillon
mere was no sound OF ME, save from 'l'
$40" dropping OF water that seemed the very
ol sohlode Itself.
| Hours seemed wearing away. Once he
thought he heard the sound of steps, and
starting up, he felt his way along-hastcn-
ing to meet them. In his cropping he found
as he thought, the gallery by which they
passed out, and he turned along it, but meet
ing no one. paused, hesitatcd, and then re
turned lie walked back, as he thought
toward the chamber from which his compan
IONS mad vanlshed-but, after bllnd!y push
ing on ne became convinced from the dis
lance he had traverSed' that ne had mlsset
ms way and was indeed lost. 1t requlret
out a moment to realize his position; and tn
coM rersplrallon started from every pore a
he qua so: What days might clapse before
IN inns labyrinth of winding passages, n
could be ioutrd-What suffering what dealt
seemed inevitable There was no utlllt,
no" III remaining stlll-he might stumble
upon the track OF his irlends-msht lind th