The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-08-10

Ter nOldlng lime III Soiutioh. iuc hcAe
apartment is called the CoonS Council
Chamber, bearing evidence of having been
the scene of many congregations of that
cunning and sagacious animal From its
roof hang massive rocks that appear ready |
to fall upon the head of the intruder. The |
Bats Lodge, Rugged Mountain, and Coon's !
Chamber, with the passages between them,
form the connecting pass way between the
:"o m;.in Demonstrating north and
south-of these subterranean regions.
From the Coon's chamber, one enters the
principal Eastern avenue Of the cave. Turn
ing South around Delta Island the avenue is
100 feet wide, and very lofty. Proceeding
down this passage a short distance the visitor
comes to the dining hall, where n large stone
jar is placed to catch the filtering of the
water from a SPOT in the roof so feet high,
which gathered drop by drop as if it were
crystal nectar, gives to the thirsty visiter
a cool and refreshing draught, purer than
any other fountain can supply. Here the
dinner baskets are deposited to await the
travellers return from the excursion down
the avenue TO its southern termination
Passing from the dining room, the visitor
enters the drawing rooms, one of natures
most gorgeous subterranean, apartments
which she has fitted up in wanton extrava-
| gance of the arts she employs, capacious
enough to entertain company Of thous-
and Jewellers. Next to il, comes the
Junction room, another splendid and
capacious apartment, sparkling with the
light of the lamps as studded with
gems. Here the passage divides, one lead
ing to the right and the other to the left
around large island called the Continent"
The way grows narrow and low and the ex-
| plorer is brought down upon his hands and
knees, and as be crecps through the narrow
way he is arrested at every step by the ex-
quisitestalactic iormations whichsparklelik
myriad5 of gcms.in the light of his lamps
As be emeigeS at last into the Pillared hall
the magnificent and unrivallcd view COM
pensatcs for all his humiliation and labor.
Here is temple Of gorgeous beauty where
everything lovely in external nature, seems
initiated in cquisite sculpture; an abode
where the spirit hosts of departed artists
seemed busy at their labors, forming mimic
specimens of gigantic architecture and
graceful sculpture; and rearing in beautiful
stalactics gardens of the loveliest flowers
and shrubs. The process still goes OH, and
year by year, new forms of beauty and
grace arc developed.
In this dark and silent labratory Of ma
ture, the spirit of beauty has for ageS-be-
fore the eye Of man was opened upon IFS
euolanting creations-wrought at its handy
work, and it is still celebrating new forms
for the worship of its devotces All within
this temple is of alabaSter whitcness and
purity; and its walls and pillars, illuminat-
ed only by the rays of q feeble lamp, glow
with the rays of a thousand gems.
Next comes Calypso's Bower, another
magnificent apartment of varied colored for
nations. part were blue, others yellow,
and others of as pure white as the frozen
snow. From the roof hung magnificent
pendants of stalactitcs, and from the floor
! perpendicularly beneath them were rising
alabaster columns whose capitals had been
formed from the roof and were ready to
crown them as they assembled through the
slow processes of ages to their places.
From this enchanting paradise of beauty
the explorer dcscends into Purgatory, anG
travels over rugged way-made by sill
and disobedicnce-over loose rocks dowr
dangerous precipiccs; through low anC
deeper and deeper into the lower re
!. gions, till he comes to branch avenu,
8 which opens with lofty and spacious en-
:. trance leading TO the east. Into this b,
: turns to examine one Of the most beautiful
and interesting portions Of the cave Fairy
Grotto, Neptunes Retreat, and the Hermit
Cell are all filled with the wonders ant
y beauties of the Stalactite formations. Be
- yond the lIernit's Cell the passage seems I,
% have been closed by drift of sand, which
if it were removed, would probably open
long avenue beyond.
Returning TO the principal avenue an,
, proceeding on South, the visitor passes tn
= Moread, a massive stalactite formation, an
comes to a frightful figure in marble Gale
y, the " Alligator" Farther on the RICH
OF hand side - t,,e,, .;f.,i aI.ts-.a- .hrs..@
IS work not made with hands, unstaincd h.
nc human ambition and pride. Farther o
Is arc the cascadcS, now dry, but the purper
&C dicular sides OF the rocks. now smooth by tll
q current, show that once these dells echoc
- the music of falling waters Next is Ger
LII SCOTS reception room, not splendid il
ornaments, but lofty and spacious. IIel
81 the passages appear closed up in all diret
u tons to further progress beyond.
H. Returning upon his footsteps hundre
LII yards the visitor finds a narrow passae
Ut leading tothe East, called muddy fork, lead