Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1859-09-01
From the Louisville Courier.
Mammoth Cave--CoIossaI Cavern--A New
Discovery.

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From the Louisville Courier
Mammoth Cave--Coiossal Cavern--A New
Discovery.
Editors Louisville Courier: In the fall
Of 1858, Mr. l.. j. Proctor, the proprietor
of the Mamoth Cave, in company with
two assistants, undertook the exploration
of n cave, one entrance of which is situated
in Barren county a mile and a half from
the Louisville & Nashvillee Railroad, and
ten miles from the Mammoth cave. Up
to the time of the explorations made by Mr..
Proctor, nothing was known as to the
direction, distance or dimensions of this
vast subterranean region, which / have
ventured to name Colossal Cavern. and
which, in extent, grandeur and sublimity
much exceeds the Mammoth Cave as the
latter exceeds any cave heretofore discov-
cred. Since the explorations of Mr. Proc
tor were made the writer of this article has
verified that gentleman's observations.
and in order to facilitate the descriptions
of the cave, has conferred the names men
toned below on the principal points of
interest.
The first mile of the avenue leading
from the entrance of Colossal Cavern
runs in a north eastern direction. and
varies from twenty to sixty feet in width,
and from ten to forty in height. Stalac-
tites and stalagmites Of almost every con-
ceivable form and great variety of color are
found in this avenue. This is called Stillo
Avenue from the stalactitic formations
which are found in it.
On leaving Stillo Avenue, an avenue IS
entered which is three miles in length. and
which gradually ascends for its entire dis
tance. The walls, floor, and ceiling of
the avenue are lined with alabaster flower,
of a variety of forms and of indescribable
beauty, many of which are over eight inch
es in diameter, Like the flowers in Cleye-
lands Cabinet in the Mammoth Cave. and
they are composed of the sulphate of lime,
and are OF a pure white color. On the
floor of this avenue successive crops Of
stucco flowers may be be observed resting
one above another, which have detached
themselves from the walls and ceiling from
time to time, by their own weight. These
flowers always form in avenues destitute of
moisture, and with exceeding slowness.-
| The seasons required for the successive
growths of subtefranean fowe-sare not to
be reckoned by months, but by centuries:
for, as can be observed in the Mammoth
Cave, where gypsum flowers have been
detached for period of fifteen years. the
crystals that compose them are barely per-
ceptiblc, emerging from the parent rock at
the present time. This avenue is styled
the Flora Temple.
Flora Temple communicates with an
! avenue about half mile in length.
which leads to cascade and the entrance
river. The river, at the point at five feet
of which it is viewed, is seventy
wide, and gives an echo louder than that
of any river in the Mammoth Cave
There being no boat upon the river it has
not been explored, although it has every
appearance OF great length. This body Of
water is called the Mysterium.
On the right bank of the river Mysteri.
um an avenue arises which contains the
most magnificent collection of stalat:tes
ever discovered. This avenue was explor-
ell for distance of three and a half nsiles
without discovering terminus. At this
point in the explorations stalagmite was
discovered. which is perfect statute of
General Washington in his military cos
tune. The stone of which this natural
statute is composed is as white as statuary
marble, and is exceediBgly compact
Washington Avenue is the name conferred
on this portion of the Cave. i s1s
On returning to the Mysterium, an av-
enue may be entered which runs directly
north for quarter of mile, terminating
in dome, which in size and general ap-
pearanee resembles mammoth dome in
the Mammoth Cave. This is called Proc
tors Dome. in honor of its discoverer.
Mr.. l.. J. Proctor.
From Proctor's Dome to the cliffs, on
the banks of the Green river, the principal
avenue. resembles in size the main cave of
OF the Mammoth Cave. The entrance to
Colossal. Cavern, on the cliffs of Green
river, is one hundred and fifty feet above
the bed Of that stream, and is eleven miles
on direct line to the entrance in Barren
county. The Green river entrance is in
Edmondson county. The avenue which
leads from Proctor's Dome to the Edmond.
son county entrance is named Green River
Avenue. The walls and ceiling of Green
River Avenue for a distance of three i..iles
and half, are corered with nodnles of gyp-
sum-: which resembles snow balls. -
Seven days were, occupied in the first
lexplorations Of Colossal Cavern by Mr..
Proctor. and the second entrance was dis
covered on the fifth day, which was the
first and only time the light of the sun
was seen during the explorations.
Besides tie avenues briefly mentioned.
I, seventy five others; which intcrscct them,
have been counted, the extent Of which is
not known; and the aggregate distance
which has already been explored is not less
than forty miles,
| hope, at no distant period, to give q
more detailed account Of Colossal Cavern.
which presents such vast field for sub
terranean research to thpse who take an
interest in fregIodyean lore.
i C. w. WR,curT.
4 Prof Chem In XIV. School Of Medicine