The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1859-02-25
A TERRIFIC CAVERN.


Mr.. J. Atkinson, an English scholar and trav,
eler, recently described, in lecture, fearful
cavern, with which he met in the course OF hi.
travels. While travling along the steppe, neaI
the foot of the Altaian Mountains, in Asia, he
said be came to the brink of one of the dry
river beds frequently found in those regions
This was the evident trace Of the sudden diSrup-
lion oil mountain lake, by a fearful earth
| quake, at some period. Travelling along the
bed of the stream, he came to a deep valley,
| about ID miles long aud 4 miles wide, surroun-
ded by mountains, varying from 5000 to 1000
| fret IN height. That this had been deep
mountain lake, was proved beyond all doubt,
| by The sand shells spread over its bed. 81 also
| iound," continued Mr.. Atkinson, ssthe water
line on the cliffs, showing that the depth was
five hundred feet. Nearly opposite TO the
gorge by which we had entered, there was
| another in the mountains TO the north. On
| reaching il | found this was also deep and
narrow ravine, and no douhi formed by the
earthquake ;through this the water had rushed,
draining the lake, and had formed the great
water-course on the plain. We shortly enter
ed the chaSm, which found was about 100
yards wide, covered with fallen rocks, among
which torrent was foamIEg with great fury.
sometimes several hundred feet above the
stream, and then descending nearly to the level
OF the water. AT last we reached spot beyond
which, to all appearance, we could not proceed.
We were now little above the torrent, which
was hidden from our view, and close in front
of Us the rocks rose up like a wall to an enor-
nous height. loud roaring of the water was
heard, which Induced me to suppose it was
til II 4
me it was Shatan's Cavern, swallowing up the !
river. The mouth of the cavern was formed
by rugged arch, about 90 feet vile aud 10 /
feet high. The river entered this, opening by i
a channe! cut into The solid rock it was about /
80 feet wide and 10 feet deep. ledge of
rocks, about IL feet wide, formed terrace .
along the edge ofthe Stream and just above the /
level OF the water. When my astonishment
had somewhat subsidized, prepared TO explore !
the cavern, by placing my packet Of baggage
and my rifle on a rock, and the two Cossacks /
followed my example. The guide watched
these proceedings with great intereste, but when
he beheld us enter the cavern, he was hofri6ad \
and cold, chilling, blast met us. From this
point the cavern extended both IN width and
height. but could form no idea OF its dimen-
sions. We cautiously CROPPED our way on IN the
gloom Tor about eighty yards from the entrance,
when we could see the river bound into
terrific abyss-'black Erebus, while some white
vapor came wreathing up, giving the spot
most supernatural appearance. Few persons
could stand on the brink of this guilt without
shudder the roaring of the water was dreadful
as it echoed in the lofty dome. II was mPossl-
bic to hear word spoken, nor could this scene
be contemplated long-the:e was something
too fearful for the strongest nerves, when trying
to peer into th4Sl horrible depths. We tur-
ned away, and looked toward the entGanc"
for distance the sides and arch were lighted ,
up, but the great space and vast dome were lost
in darkness"