Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1858-07-03
THE CAVE NEAR PRAIRIE Du CHEN

iQu Chlen there IS large OaHleieSS cave
which, according to the accounts given OF
lit, must be of considerable consequence
The editor of the Leader says that the
bluff beneath which it lies, in be Little
Kickapoo valley, is over 400 feet high
The cave is entered by small openings,
the largest not being over feet in diam
eter, and The other not over three feet.
Entering the largest opening, we found
ourselves in low hall varying in width
from ten to fifteen feet, narrowing to an o.
pening large enough to admit wagon a
few yards ahead. Passing through this
opening, We came to wider, higher and
longer hail. the roof of which is dotted in
stumps Of stalactites, the long and needle
like points having been broken off by the
numerous visitors heretofore. At the far
Ither end of this hall is huge siaagmite,
with circumference at its base equal to
that of barrel, which narrows svrnetri-
cally as it rises, the diameter at the top,
about four feet from the floor, being six
or eight inches where it has been broken
off. Near this is an opening leading to
the largest and most magnificent chamber
in that part Of the cavern. A precipice
extends across the cave, which abruptly
terminates farther advance in straight
direction. Standing on its brink and
holding and flaming torches as far out as
possible, we could see the walls widening
in all directions; stony icicles, cleaning
white in the pervading sombreness, hang
ing from the projecting rocks; the roof, a
perfect dome; and everywhere, in corners
and on shelves, on the floor, and clinging
to the walls, grotesque and beautiful cal
Gorgeous formation to which fancy might
give the shape Of fiends or fairies, or bril-
liant specimens of antique vasery. A cir
cular hole in the r cks which form the
precipice, just large enough, by tight
Squeezing, to allow one man at time to
get down, (ladies with or without hoops
would hardly make descent,) afforded
us the means of entering this, the main
room in the cave. We found broken
and rotten ladder lying at the bottom Of
the cave, and Mr. Stuckie informed us that
he found the ladder there when he ex-
plored the cave for the first time, over 10
years ago.
After exploring all The rooms, passages
and openings of lesser note, looking at the
frozen cascades which fall from crevices in
the walls, securing as many specimens of
the icicles, clusters of incrusted pebbles,
crystals, &c, as we wanted, we retraced
our steps and soon came out into the de-
Iicious air and welcome light of day.
In the smaller entrance, we discovered
waterfall, and beyond that two Of us en-
tered, unexpectedly, what appeared in the
uncertain light of our candles, to be We
ry large, high room filled with myrials of
forms Of inanimate beauty.
This. as well as other grottos in the Vi
cinity, has been frequently visited and de
scribed; but each description shows some
new feature, and we never grow weary Of
hearing of ehe mysteries of Nature; for
Age cannot withor nor custom stale
Her infinite variety.
The door are uniuviting and insignifi
cant muddy looking holes as need be-
bat they lead to halls draped in eternal
might, to fluted columns, dome-like roofs
with cleaning stalactites, grotesquel y-sha
lped rocks, and all the curious and beauti )
! fu formations TO be found in Natures sub
terranean retreats.
A CASE OF DOUBTFUL IDEKTITY.-Rob-
EFT McAuley went from Lucasville, Scio
to county, Ohio, about six years ago to
California, leaving family behind. Du-
ring his absence they have been receiving
letters from him and Only short time a
90 they received letter from him, in
which he stated that it was his intention
to return home. He also wrote that he
was sick. During this week gentleman
presented himself as Rot ert McAuley, and
said he was out of money and not able to
walk home Mr.. Hallam Hampstead kind
lly volunteered to take the sick man TO his
supposed family. He was taken to a near
relative in the neighborhood, where his
wife las he claimed, lived. The wife was
sent for. She came, but failed and utter
lv refused to recognize him. She said he
was an imposter, there being no resem-
blance between him and her husband.
The gentleman endeavored to relate
I circumstances to convince his wife and
friends that he was no imposter-and did
seem TO know almost everything that 1t
would be supposed Mr.. MeAuley ought to
know. The family and brothers still re-
fuse to acknowledge him, and we under
stand he is now il this city, sick, and out
of money.
What adds TO the mystery of the whole
affair is the seeming fairness of his whole
story. He knows all his neighbors and
every thing about their history, yet his fam
lily don't know him. Some of the neigh
bors say it is him but others deny it.
The whole mystery will be solved in
time. He is now in this city, and will
perhaps 50 upon the legal charity OF the
townships Portsmouth Rep.
THE REWARD OF MURpER.-The con-
/ duct of Mr.. Buchanan in appointing to q
Lucrative Office George w. CLARK, the well
known murderer Of Barber in Kansas, ex-