Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-07-29
THE WONDERS OF CALIFORNIA.
TH2 CALAyERAs CAVE.

TenoWneu cave III CaiaVeraS county, CALIFORNIA:
| We arrived about IL O'Clock at Cave City, a
small and almost deserted mining town where
the cave is situated. This 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 re-
cesses of Nature. The first and main entrance
is on the side of 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 and wonder
| that l entered those still chambers, which for
thousands of years had remained undisturbed
by the rude voice of man. l felt like in
truder upon the secret realms Of darkness. As
We arrived at the entrance each of us lit our
torches, and commenced in procession to
grope our way with bended knees through the
low and narrow aisles to the first chamber,
which is called the ssKnow- n othing Lodge"
The ceilings are high dark, and irregular, and
are unadorned by staacttes.
Leaving this chamber, we next enter 'sRe-
gister Hail. where every visiter is expected
to immortaize his name by writing it with
charcoal upon the smooth columns which line
the high ceiling. This passage leads to ssCol-
umn Room,' where there is a large swinging
rock, SO nearly balanced as to almost move by
the touch of 9he hand. There several col
umns standing which bear evidence of being
worn out by the leaping cascades Of water from
above We now turned to the left, and crawl
ed our way through the ssTable Passage to
ham cla Enr tod
many objects of curiosity and attraction. In
the centre arose natural altar of stalagmites,
while on one side is a niche (worn in the rock)
which very much resembles pulpit. The
beauty of this room, as we'll as many other
parts of the cave, has been much marred by
visiters breaking off and carrying away the
most beautiful stalactites. | was pleased to
learn that the proprietor has determined to
protect it from any further destruction.
From the ssChapel' we descended sloping
passage to the ssLake." This is an irregular
chamber, at the bottom of which there is a
lake of clear cold water, which we were in
formed had been sounded one hundred feet
and no bottom had been discovered. Wea-
mused ourselves by throwing stones in the
water to see the bubbles rise long after they
had disappeared in the depths of the clear water
below. Here rested short time to refresh
ourselves witli-a drink from the pure crystal
water of this fountain, unrefiected by the light
of day and unruffled by the passing breeze.
Next we returned and fastened to the .sBish-
ops Palace This chamber is irregular in
form, and is from sixty to ninety feet in ex-
tent. The arched ceilings are about thirty
feet high, suspended from which are huge sta
lactites of various form and color, from one to
ten feet long. Several large ones hanging
from the centre of the ssPalace,'' with numer-
Gus small branches, present the appearance of
SO many huge chandeliers, rejecting the light
of our torches, and brilliantly Illuminating the
gloomy recess Of this world below. White ad-
miring these habitat;ons of solitude, according
to a secret arrangement, every light was ex-
tinguished. The change from visions SO beau
tiful to darkness SO profound almost startled
my senses with fear and dread. had often
groped my way through woods and fields in the
blackest nights, when every light of heaven
seemed extinguishcd, but not till now did
ever fully realize the painful sublimity of per-
feet stiffness and darkness. At first there was
not motion made or word spoken all SEEM
ed attentively listening to the silence of
Nature. The deathlike slumbcr that for
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 music
were harmoniously reflected from the dark
arches aud columns of this great cathedral of
Nature, it seemed as If 1 never before felt so
impressively the majesty Of the Creator of all
this grandeur. After the music had ceased
| one of our party fired apistol several times,
the report of which was deafening. As the
sounds reverberated and echoed from room to
room, till they died away in the distance, they
seemed like the meanings Of departed spirits.
I We now relit our torches, and proceeded to
ascend our difficult, and at times dangerous
way through the .sSecret Passage" This path
has evidently been worn ont by the WATER
which, in the rainy season, renders it almost
impossible to visit the cave. 1t il 20 low, in |
places, that tits necessary to stoop and almost
crawl to avoid a collision With the projecfing |
rocks above. But the sisiter il richly paid
for all his toll in ascending, - he Il nshefsd
into the presence Of the resplendent beauties
of the ssBridal Chamber. The most tmagin-
atiye poet never conceived or painted place
OF such exquisite beauty and vorkmanship-
This room-the browning object OF interest
having been Lately explored has escaped the
vandalism Of man, and now rejects all the un-
hle,,f.hod beauties Of nature. It is nearly cir
~rIsr IN FORM and Is about eighty faetfn di. |