The Tiffin tribune. [volume] (Tiffin, Ohio) 1848-1859, 1856-07-04
9 Q NRUNI0ArKp


iiVueiVh Vi caves 1he Mammoth. This
IS the WTAEDorrE CAva. ia Indiana,
Crawford County. about thirty miles
from New Albany.
Behold me then ia company with n
valued friend on board one Of the U. 81.
Mail Boats which leave Cincinnati every
noon, for Louisville. There we arrived
IN due time, Louisville presents quite
contrast to the Queen City the latter is
busy. aud crowded, and energitio-the
former seems petri6ed in sluggish indo.
lenoe, The ominous ticket "To LET"
appeared couspicuously or too many hui.d.
ings. But to pass on TO New Albany, a
young Hoosler town. that seems destined
TO outstrip entirely it's lazy old neighbor
at the Falls. We had not visited New
Albany for nearly year. and were agree.
ably surprised to note its great improve
ment in that time. Buildings, handsome
and costly, have sprung up as BY magic.
But we were bound FOR the cave. We
therefore took seats IN or rather ON one of
those antiquated vehio es which rejoice
in the name STAeE. Much 10 our woe
and discomfort, we found that the inside
was already occupied TO an alarming OK.
tent. Nothing was left therefore, but to
mount to the top. One of us had the
happiness of securing a seat with the
driver on the box the other, with rueful
Iphiz. squatted down upon an immense
package of printing paper which was
doubtless destined for the Corydon print
ing office. Az length, attor Eve hours
wearisome ride, we reached Corydon,
where the Stage stopped. And allow me
to say word concerning the ancient vii
lage. In days ofyore. it rejoioed in be-
ing the Capital of the Territory Of Indi-
ana but has been left altogether in the
shade in the onward march Of our pro-
gressiye age. At present, il has the dig
nifty ofa County town. 1t contains about
800 inhabitants. As cur dusty stage
passed along The main street, eyory man,
woman and child seemed to have nothing
to do but to stare. The carpenter drop
ped his plane, the storekeeper his parcel,
the blacksmith his hammer, the typo his
stick, and the damsel her sewing, to gaze
with distended countenanccs, on the un.
wOntedspectacle of two strangers in Cory
don.
Here we hired buggy to travel the
ten miles which still INTERVIEWED between
us and the cave. This journey led us
through wild, uncultivated country,
where nature reigns supreme. At length
we reached the Cave House, the residence
of the proprietor, Henry P. Rothroch.
We found him hospitable and kindheart-
ed man, and ready to accompany us at
once to the cave. But first we habited
ourselves in a suitable manner in old
clothes which could not be injured. Ger
tainly we did not present tn appearance
of New York gents a Ia mode. My friend
was adorned with = long tailed blue coat,
which has long been the subject Of song.
His neither extremities-but l forbear,
remembering the ancient proverb: He
tiat lives in a glass house, etc. NY
own appearance must have been ridicul-
GUS enough.
Now for the entrance. The poet sings;
Faoilis descensus Averni.
And SO we found it. Avernus was situ-
ated just in the centre Of the hill. We
on entering found ourselves in a spacious
hall which is called THE ARonED En-
TRANCE. Each Of us being provided with
a acandle, we marched along the corridor
until we reached the New Cave Door.
This name is to distinguish it from the
old cave, which has been known these 80
years. Entering the New Cave, we soon
came to The Hill of Difficulty brightly
nane4) Here we were forced to Chamber
over immense stones in every imaginable
position. But our troubles were not end.
ed FOR Monumental Mountain yet re-
mained to be climbed, which rises to the
height of70 feet. When its summit is
reached, the visitor sees stretching 10
feet above him. the vast dome ofthis gi-
gantic hall, The ceiling is covered with
many beautiful formations staIaotitss J
which look like icicles, The Rugged Pass
almost exhausted our patience, but our
courage revived when we looked upon the
beautiful ISLANDS of white rock which
seem like fairy land In one place, we
saw THz THRONE, with magnificent stone
drapery' The Bishops Rostrum, the
Chapel, the Vestry were there, but no
bishop, nor clergy We also passed thro'
Purgatory, but escaped therefrom with
OFT priestly aid--altho' staunch Protes-
tants. Bishop John Hughes Of fNew York