New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-06-10
RIVAL TO TIE MAMMOTH CAVE or
KENTJCKY
F,om The Jegey.on GIN MOI Eaquirer.

From The Jcger.on civ MO- Enquirer.
We have been furnished The following description OF
q large cave in MARES County, by NJ. Meyer frieds
of ST louis, who explored 1t on Thursday, the lith
ult. The cave is known by the name OF the Big Salt
peter Cave:
GasCOnHde River, ON a creek called Cave Spring
Creek in Township q, Section 81, Range ., west.
He went 10 the cave. guided by Mr.. r. IL. Preweu
Young nun about 25 years old, who was born and
raised about quarter Of q mile from the place
" In front If the entrance small stone bonse,
which the ord settlers thought built by the lndi
ais hut j. now IN ruins.
Tie entrance goes straight in the rock on level
with the surrounding suIiace-rock, Is about one hun
dred I, Il wide and in the center about twenty five
feet high arChcd. MessTs Fredc and Prcwett entered
the cave for near four hsndrod feet where u narrows
to about twenty-five feet wide by fifteen feet high and
presents the appearance OF an ante-chamber; nom
there they passed into large chamber about one
hundred ieet in hight where three galleries branch o
they then passed into the lett gallery, which aseends
near twenty feet bed of saltp,er. This gallery
called the Dry Gallery, and is about five hundred
feet in length the hight varies from one hundred 10
about thirty feet. The ceiling and sides are composed
of solid rock Near the end is a large round chamber
which Mr. Prewett calls the Ballroom and that gem
teman states that bis father bad given balls in tha
chamber tquebily the last In the winter OF loJO,
at which time there was abeut eighteen VI twenty
persons there. They wentin the morning and stopped
all day, and arrived at home IN The evening" cooking
ara eating their meals in their subteuanean saloon,
and had a merry time Of IT,
"Afier exploring this chamber they retraced their
steps and passed into the right branch for fork OF tho
cave where they asceIded Use Of about twelve feet,
and entered another gallery the end Of which ia not
known; they however, explored 1t about three fourihs
OF a mile.
"Mr Prewett states that he has been in this gallery
over miles and did Dot get to the end OF IT, In
this gallery the dropping Of the water has formed stall
actes Of the most beautiful eOnceptons-statnes
Of men and srimals and large columns, supporting
the most beautiful arches form the eeIiDg which IL
from fifty 10 one hundred feet high, which forms
several chambers If various sizes. The ceiling IL
decorated with different groups Of SPAR forming a
variety Of figures which represent the inside OF cathe.
dral. The size II some Of these chamber u about
forty feet wide by over one hundred feet high, anu
lock Ike rooms in some old ieudal castle.
"Ihey were afraid their lights would give out and,
therefore Tetraced their steps TO the min chamber,
from which they assembled the midcle gallery where
large stream Of clear water issue. from the interior OF
the cave and has "a fall Of ebout six feet and falls In
several round marble basins. The water has pleas
anttaste. The water flow, all the year round with
out variation, IN sufficient volume TO drive mill
They ascended the galleries, and found themselves
in several beautiful chambers, leading from one 70 mo
other in which, however, they did not penetrate To
more than siK hundred feet.
There il a strong draft Of air setting IN from mo
entrance Inside Of the cave the atmosphere was
mild
''Tbe chambers are Of unusual hight and extent.
"1hey went in at O'Clock and emerged from tho
cave at 81"