Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-10-02
From the louisville Journal.
Terrific Adventure in the 1Iammouth
EaTA.

q
the Mammoth Cave, nine miles from its
entrance. there is pit, dark and deep and
terrible, known as the 1laelstrom. Tens
Of thousands have gazca into it with awe,
whilst bengal-light3 were thrown down it to
make its fearful depths visible, but none
ever had the daring to explore IT, The
celebrated guide, Stephen, who was deemed
insonsibe to fear, was offered six hundred
dollars by the proprietors Of the Gave, if he
would descend to the bottom of it, but he
shrank from the peril. a few years ago, q
Tennessee Professor, a learned and bold
man, resolved to do what 10 enc before him
had dared %, and, making his .2rraurc-
iuui.,s ai,il glc,.o clse s.' rtoc&.,on. .-e
had himself lowered down by a strong rope
a hundred feet, but, at that point, his cour-
age failed him, and he called to be drawn
out. No human power could ever have
induced him to repeat the appalling expert
ment.
4 couple Of weeks ago, however, a young
gentleman Of Louisville, whose nerves new
er tremble at mortal peril, being at the
Monmouth Cave With Professor Wright Of
our city and others, determined no matter
what the dangers and difficulties might be,
to explore the depths of the Maelstrom. Mr.
Proctor, the cnterprisng proprietor of the
Gave, sent to Nashville and procured long
rope Of great strength expressly for che
purpose. The rope and some necessary
tinbers we're born by the guides and others
to the point Of proposed exploration, The
arrangements being soon completed, the
rope, with heavy fragment Of rock affixed
to it, was let down and swung to and fro
to disloacc any loose rocks that would be
likely to fall at the touch Several were
thus dislodgel, and the long continued re-
yorbatons, rising up the distant thunder
from below, proclaimed the depth OF the
horril chas.n Then the young hero Of the
/ occasion, with several hats drawn over his
/ head to protect it as fur as possible against
any masses falling from above, and with a
I light IN his hand and the rope fastened
rronnd his body, took his place over the
awful pit and directed the half dozen men,
who held the end Of tie rope, to let him
down into the Cimmerian gloom.
We heard from his own lips an account
of his descent. Occasionally masses Of earth
and rocl, went @hizzing past, but none
struck him. Thirty or forty feet from the
top, he SOW ledge, from which as ne judg
! ed by appearances, two or three avenues lee
oil ID different directions. About 8 hundred
! feet from the top Q cataract from the side
! Of tie pit went rushing down the abyss, and,
as he descended BY the side Of the falling
water and in the midst Ct TIC spray, ne felt
some apprehension ,hat his light woald b.
extinguished, but his care prevented this
He was landed at the bottom Of the pit
hundred aud ninety feet from tic top. Ii
found it almost perfectly circular, about /
teet in diameter, with . small opening i
the point, leading to fine chamber Of n
great cxent He found on the floor beauti
iul specimens Of black sick of immense size
yaslY larger than were ever discovered il
any ether part Of the Monmouth Cave, ans
also multitude Of exquisite formations q
pure and white as virgin snow. Making
himself heard, with great effort, by hi
friends, Nc at length asked them to pul
him partly Up intending to stop on the wa
and explore cave that he had observe
opening about forty feet above the bottor
Of the pit. Reaching the mouth Of tina
cave La swung himself with much excrtio
into it, and, holding to the end Of the cop
ID bis hand, be incautiously let it 80, ant
it swuns out apparently beyond his reach
: The situation was a fearful one, and hi
friends above could do nothing for him. J.
Soon however he made hook Of the end Q
lis lamp, and, Nv extending himself as ia
over the verge is possible without falling
lie succeeded in securing the rope. Fastou
I'D II 10 rock, he followed The avenue on
hundred and fifty to two hundred yards I
a point wa,are he found It blocked up by al
impassible avalanche Of rock and earth re
turning to the mouth of this avenue, be be
held an almost exactly similar mouth CT an
: other 60 the 0o0osite OF the bit, but not be
inc able to swing himself into it, he fa3teno
the rora around til BODY, suspended linn
! self again over the abyss, and shouted t
: His friends to raise him to the top. Til
nun was al exceedingly severe one, and til
rome, being i'll adjusted around his bed
cave him he most excruciating pain. b.
: soon ms pam was 1oT&oI'en IN q new an
ofeao'ul Peru. dth '.e W. -iinJ'y ~
, from me mourn Oh 'hV y'' "19 Oh: MUM :
t rom t'e O2I'oh' s"A!,"8 anu '"in6ins
e mlq-a'f' ne heafu faP'o anu oH0i'c'' "o'O
I VI NcffOi dGd dtdi III aDoFc, "iiu SUM iN''i 'e