New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-06-13
ectins rock, - near to az ss the water would a.
low. after which be az Stephen carried US one hx

one upon their shoulders and deposited us in it. 1t
was rude, square scow, well plsstered with liver
mud Boards were laid across for the ladies', the
rest of us took our seats on the muddy gunwales,
the guides piled their paddles, and we were a!ioat
on Lethe. One hundred feet above our heads hung
the vsulted rock; halfway down there ran a regu-
lar cornice, arched on the under side aud with
Jagged edge, showing that there bad formerly been
two grand corridors, placed vertically, which some
COW usion had broken into one. Either end OF this
mighty hall was lost in the darkness but the sound
of our voices rose to the roof and reverberated
along il until the seemed like the voices OF unseen
beings speaking back TO us out of the distance
The water has steady temperature ofo4. it's
clear, apparently of pae-g color and pleasant
to the taste. 1t had very perceptible current,
and flowed in diagonal course across the line Of
eur march, or as nearly as could estimate IN the
direction ofGreen River.
After ferriage of about hundred yards, we
landed on bank of soft mud beside a small arm Of
the river, which had overlooked the usual path.
We sank to our ANGLES in the moist tenacious soil,
foundering lab0riously along until We we're brought
TO halt by Echo River, the third and last stream
This again is divided into three or four arms,
which, meandering away under low arches finally
unite. At present, owing to the high water. there
is bat one arch open, so that instead of the usual
single voyage of three-quarters OF mile, we were
again were the guides obliged to carry us on their
shoulders through the shadows and once we sue
ceeded in passing along a narrow ledge of rock
oyerhanging deep pool, only by using Stephens
foot stepping stone. After crossing the second
branch of Echo River we found ourselves at the
foot of steep bill of loose sand, beyond which we
could see masses Of rock piled up almost to the
ceiling of the lofty hall. This was the commence
meDt of purgatory, portion OF which domain we
were obliged to traverse account of the difficulty
Of getting through what is called the Second Arch.
Stephen here entered the boat alone, lay down
on his back in the bottom, shot under low pro-
iecting rock, and was soon lost to our sight. Un-
der tie guidance of Mat we climbed the sand hills,
mounted the loosely. piled rocks, and after short
puTgatOrial experience descended again to low
arch opening ON the last branch Of tcho River.
AS we stood on the wet rocks peerng down into
the black transluceDce of the silent, mysterious
water, sOunds-frst distant, then near, then dis
tant sgain--stoe to us from under the gr0lned
vaults of rock First, the dip Of many oars; then
dull, mullled ZEAL runbling away like the echoes
of thunder; then a voice marvell0usly sweet, but
presently Joined by others sweeter still, taking up
the dying notes they faded into silence, and pro
longing them through remOter chambers. The
full mellow strains rose until they seemed sung at
our very ears then relapsed like ebbing waves, to
wander off into solitary halls, then approached
again, and receded, like lost spirits seeking here
and there for an outlet from the world of darkness
Or was it chorus of angels come on some errand
of pity and mercy to visit the Stygian shores
AS the heavenly harmonies .hickened, we saw
CLEAN on the water, and presently clear light
floating above it's miIrOred counterfeit swept into
sight. 1t was no angel but stephen, whose single
voice had been multiplied into that enchanting
chorus.
The whole party embarked in two small boats,
and after last voyage Of about two hundred yards
were landed beyond the waters, and free to ex-
plore the wonderful avenues of that new world of
which Stephen is the Columbus. The River Hall
here terminates, and the passages are broken and
irregular for a short distance. A few minutes of
rough travel brought us to large circular hall
with vaulted ceiling from the center of which
poured cascade of crystal water, striking upon
the slant side of large reclining boulder, and
finally disappearing through funnel-shaped pit in
the floor. 1t sparkled like shower of pearls in
the light of our lamps as we clustered around the
brink of the pit to drink from the stores gathered
in those natural bowls which seem to have been
followed out for the uses Of the invisible gnomes.
Beyond Cascade Hall commences Silliman' save
nue., passage about twenty feet wide forty fifty
in hight, and mile and half in length. The floor
is in some places smooth and firm in Others broken
and rough, with deep dips which often commune
cate with smaller passages or sde-cuts' that
after winding through the rock for some distance
find their way back to the main avenue. The
walls on either side have bold, projecting cornices
above which springs well-arched ceiling. There
are few objects of special interest in this avenue,
but was never tired of watching the procession
of lamps as they wound up and down its rocky
floor, and the picturesque play of light and shade
on the gray walls and cornices, the inches and ho
low vaults.
After a steady walk of mile and half-the
- = Il -
reached gigantic bluff. which, facing us, divided
the avenue into two parts. That to the left retains
the name of Silliman, and continues for nearly
nile further without leadiDgto any result The
other was called " The Pass of FL Gbor" by some
traveller who had been in Arabia Petraa-but the
name is pleonasm, 81 ghor signifies a narrow,
difficult pass between rocks. While we rested
few minutes some broad stones at the base
of the cliff Stephen climbed up TO the platform be-
hind the broad cornice Of the wall and brought US
down a handful of fbrous gypsum AS white as
snow. Tie ladies eagerly appropriated pieces of
il as specimens, but he observed depreciatingly:
"You will throw that away before long"
Our lamps were replenished and we entered FL
Ghor, which is by far the most picturesque avenue
in the cave. Ii is narrow, lofty passage mean
dering through the heart of mass of horizontal
strata of limestone the broken edges of which as
sumo the most remarkable forms Now there are
rows of broad, fiat shelves overhangng your head
now you sweep around the stern of some mighty
vessel with its rudder set hard to starboard; now
YOU enter little vestbule with friezes and mold
ings of almost Doric symmetry and simplicity
and now you wind away into a Cretan labyrinth
most uncouth and fantastic, whereof the Minotaur
would be a most proper nhabitant. 1t is con-
tnual succession Of surprises, and, to the appreci
alive visitor, of raptures The pass is somewhat
more than nile and hayfin length, and termin-
ates in curious knot or ENHANCEMENT of passages
leading to two or more tiers of avenues.
We were now, according to Stephens promises,