Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-09-21
21. L 3 D 8.

M INC PlboSA Gnu VI NllAt HAS al " " i'~un
considered the longest avenue of the Nam
moth Cave, nine miles from its entrance,
there is a pit, dark and deep and terrible,
known as the Melstrom. Tens of thousands
have gazed into it with awe whilst Bengal
lights were thrown down it to make its fear
fol depth visible, but none had the daring
effort TO explore it. The celebrated guide
Stephen, who was deemed nsensible To fear,
was offered six hundred dollars by the pro
prietors Of the cave if he would descend to
the bottom Of it, but he shrank from the per.
Il. A few years ago, a Tennessee professor,
learned and bold man, resolved to do what
no man before him had dared do, and
making his arrangements with great care and
precautiou, he had himself lowered down by
strong rope hundred feet, but at that
point, his courage failed him, and be called
aloud TO be drawn out. No human power
could ever have induced him to repeat the
appalling experiment.
a couple OF weeks ago. however, young
gentleman Of Louisville, whose nerves never
trembled at mortal peril, being at the Nam
moth Cave with Professor Wright. OF our
city, and others, determined, no matter what
the dangers aud difficulties might be, to ex.
ploTe the depths of the M@lstron. Mr. Proc
tor, the enterprisiug proprietor of the cave,
~
great strength, expressly for the purpose.
The rope and some necessary timbers were
borne by the guides and others to the propos-
ed point Of 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 dislodge any loose
rocks that would be likely 10 fall at the touch.
Several were thus dislodged and this long
continued reVefbarations, rising up like distant
thunder from below, proclaimed the depth of
the horrid chasm. The young hero of the
occasion, with several hats thrown over his
head to protect it as far as posss bic against
any masses falling from above, and with
hight in his hand and the rope fastened around
his body, took his place over the awful pit
and directed the half dozen men, who held
the end OF the rope, to let him down into the
Clmmerian gloom.
We have heard from his own lips an &C.
count of his descent. Occasionally masses of
earth and rock went whzzing past, but none
struck him Thirty Or forty teet from the top
he saw ledge, from which. he judged by
appearances, two or three avenues led off in
different directions, About hundred feet
from the top, cataract from the side Of the
pit went rushing down the abyss, and, as ne
descended by the side Of the falling water,
apprehension that his light would be extln-
guished, but his care prevented this. He was
landed at the bottom Of the pit, hundred and
ninety feet from the top.
lie found it almost perfectly circular, about
eighteen feet in diameter win snaon ono,
ing at one noint leading 70 6,,a g. ~
no great extent. He found on the floor beau
tiul specimens of black slick of immense size,
vastly larger than were ever discovered in any
other part of the Mammofb Cava a,'d nlsa
multitude of exquisite formation. as ,,,,ro and
white os vroin si,o,g ;.fe ~ L anu
with great effort NV his fr,enSs ba ia go,
asked them IN MN him nartI,, i,,a,,,i97,,'-
to stop on the wav and eInlors roro
had observed onanin, aho,,t f,r,,, So.
the bottom of The mir
REACHING the mouth Of tLo+ooro bo.,,..,.
himself with mpch axertion into;+ a,d ,o157
inc the end of the rone in bis bond hair1
eaDtiouslv let il 90 IA II a,Ii -
emily bevond bis reocb rIo r.
fearful one and he frionds ahonooa,,I4 ="
nothing for him. som Lowever bo nod
hook Of the eEd of his lamn. and bv oxfend1
inc hin1self as far ovar tho yorc,o a., ,,ossiblo
without falling. he succeeded iE secnI,no Tho
rome. Fastening # to rock he follo,.o9 -
avenue one hundred and iftv mr. two hundred
wards to point where he fonnd # bIocl,o5 h.,
an irapassable avalanche Of roct and oorth
Returning to The mouth of fbis avenns bo
UeHetu --.~osly sr,rs,, s.t,giI "a an
other on the opposite side of the pitt but not
being able to swing himself into it, he re.
fastened the rope around his body, suspended
himself again over the abyss, and shouted TO
DIS In hi fo ho 4, ...ft