The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1857-08-20
The CalaveraS Cave.

VI renowned cave in Calaveras county,
California:
We arrived at I / o'clock at Cave CITY. n
small and almost deserted mining town
where the cave is situated. The curiosity
was first discovered by Capt. Taylor in
1850, while shooting at mark near by his
cabin. After resting few minutes and
taking dinner, we proceeded with our guide
to visit the dark recesses Of Nature. The
tirst and main entrance is on the side of n
hill around the angle Of jutting rock,
about three hundred yards from. the town.
This artificial passage has been cut through
the solid rock about eighty feet. 1t was
with mingled feelings Of awe AMI wonder
that entered those still chambers, which
tor thousands Of years had remained undis.
turbed by the rude voice Of man. felt like
AN intruder upon the secret realms of dark.
ness. AS we arrived at the entrance each
| OF US lit our torches, and commenced in
procession to grope our way with bended
knee through the low and narrow aisles TO
the first chamber, which is called the Know.
Nothing Lodge" The ceilings are high.
dark, and irregular, aud are unadornel 10y
| stalactites.
Leaving this chamber, we next enter
"Resister Hail." where every visitor is ex.
pected TO immortalize his name by writing
1t with charcoal upon the smooth columns
which line the high ceiling. This passage
leads TO Column Room," where there is a
large swinging rock, so nearly balanced
rs 10 almost move 10y the touch Of the hand.
There are several columns standing which
bear evidence Of being worn out by the
lcaplng cascades of water from above. We
| now turned to the left, and crawled our way
through the "Table Passage" 10 the "Chap
ei Room" This chamber presented man,
| objects OF curiosity and attraction. In the
| centre arose natural altar OF stalagmites
while on one side is a niche (worn in the
rocky which very much resembles pulpit.
me beauty OF this room, as well as many
other parts of the cave, has been much
married by visitors breaking of and carry
ing away the most beautiful staIactites. |
was pleased 10 learn that the proprietor has
determined TO protect it from any further
| destruction.
From the"Chapel" was descended slop-
ing passage 10 the "Lake." This is nm ir
regular chamber, at the bottom of which
there is lake Of clear cold water, which
we were informed had been sounded one
hundred feet aud no bottom had been dis.
covered. We amused ourselves by throw
ing stones in the water to see the bubbles
rise long after they had disappeared in the
depth Of the clear water below. Here we
rested short time 10 refresh ourselves with
a driuk from the pure crystal water of this
fountain, unrenected by the light of day'
| and unrufiied by the passing breeze.
Next We returned and FASTENED 10 the
Bishops Palace" This chamber is ir.
regular in form, aud is from sixty 10 ninety
feet In extent. The arched ceilings are
about thirty feet high, suspended from which
are huge stalacttes of various form and
color, from one TO ten feet long. Several
large ones hanging from the centre Of the
Palace" with numerous small branches,
present the appearance Of so many huge
chandeliers, rejecting the light OF our torch
es, and brilliantly illuminating the gloomy
recess of this world below. While admi.
ring these habitations Of solitude, accord
ing to the secret arrangement, every light
was exiinguished. The change of visions
so beautiful TO darkness so profound almost
startled my senses with fear and dread. [
had often groped my way through woods
and fields in the blacklist nights, when eve
ry light OF heaven seemed extinguished, but
not till now did ever fully realize the
painful sublimty of perfec, stiffness and
darkness. AT tirs, there was not n motion
made or word spoken; all seemed at,en
Iive!y listening TO the silence Of Nature. The
death-like siumber that for n time had
bound us was soon broken by song of
praise, in which all joined with real spirit
and devotion. As the sweet strains OF mu.
sic were harmoniously reflected from The
dark arches and columns Of this great ca
thedral of Nature, it seemed as il | never
before felt so impressively the majesty Of
the Creator OF all this grandeur. Alter the
music 1ad ceased one of our party fired a
pistol several times, the report of which WAS
deafening. As the sounds reverberated and
echoed from room TO room, sill they died
( away in the distance, they seemed like the
meanings of departed spirits.
We now relit our torches, and proceeded
TO ascend our difficult and at times danger
Gus way through The "Secret Passage" +"
/ This P th has evidently been worn out by
the water, which, IN the rainy season, rem
ders 1t almost impossible TO visit the cave.
tits so low.in places, its almost necessary to
stoop and almost crawl to avoid collision
with the projecting rocks above Fut The
visitor ia richly paid for all his toll in AS
cending. rs he is usherea into the presence
OF the rcsPendent beauties of e-"BridaI
Chamber" The mos, imaginative poet
never conceived or prinled a place of such
exquisite beauty aud workmanship.. This
oom-the crowning object Of interest
having been lately explored, has escaped
the vandalism of man, and now reflects all
The unbIemiSncd beauties Of nature. 1t is
nearly circular in form, and is abou, eighty
feet IN diameter. Some OF the incrusiations
are massive, while Others are as delicate AS
the lily aud frail as wax. work. In coler
they reflect every hue and expression; some
are as white as nlahasler while ofhers are