Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1859-08-14
Mammoth Cave--COIossOI Cavern--i
New Discovery.

Froa The Louisville XVI courisr-l
EprroRs LOUISVILLE CoUHIER In the fali
OF 1855, Mr.. J. l. Proctor, the proprietor OF the
Mammoth Cave, in company with two assie-
tauts, undertook the exploration Of a cave, one
entrance 20 which is situated IN Barren eoun-
tv, a mile and a half from the Louisville snd
Nashville railrosd, and ten miles from the
Mammoth Cave. % to the time Of tha-ex-
piorstions made By Mr.. Proctor, nothing was
known az to the direction, distance, or timsn-
sious OF this vast suhteranean region, which ]
have veptured 70 name Colossal Cavern, end
which, in extent, grandeur and sublimity az
much exceeds the Mammoth Cave az the latter
exceeds any cave heretofore discovered. Since
the explorations Of Mr.. Proctor were made,
the writer Of his article has verified that gen.
tleman's observations, and. IN order to fseill-
tate the descriptions o. the cave, has confer
red the names mentioned below upon the prin-
cipsl points Of interest.
The first nile o. the avenue leading from the
entrance Of Colossal Cavern runs 10 8 North
eastern direction, and varies from twenty 10
slxty fe,t in width, and from ten to forty In
hight. s.alaettes and stalagmitsa Of almost
every conceivable form and great variety Of
color are found IN this avenue. This Is esl'ed
Stllo Avenue, from the stalaetite formations
which are found In Il.
On leaving Salls avenue, an avenue ia en-
tered which Is three miles In length. and whirh
gradually ascends for its entire distance. The
walls floor and ceiling Of this avenue are lined
with a,abaster howers Of a variety Of forms
I and OF indescribable beauty, many OF which
arc over eight inches In diameter. Ike the
flowers IN CleveIahd's Cabinet In the Nam
moth Cave, they are composed Of the sulphate
OF lime, and Of a pure white color. On the
floor OF this avenue successive crops Of stucco
flowers may be observed resting one above
another. which have detached themselves from
the walls and ceiling, trom time to time, by
their own weight. These flowers always foTn
in avenues destitute Of moisture, and with ex-
eeedng slowness. The seasons required for
the successive growths Of su5terTanean flowers
/ are not 20 be reckoned By moTths, but BY CEN
turtles for as can be observed IN the Nam
moth Cave, where gypsum flowers have been
attached for a period OF fifteen yesTs, The crys-
tails that compose them are barely percsptible,
emerging from the parent rock az the present
time. This avelue. is styled the Floral Ten
pie.
Floral Temple communicates with an avenue
about half a mile in length, which leads 20 a
cascade and The entrance Of a river. The river
at the point al which il is viewed, is seventy
Eve feet wide, and gives an echo louder than
that Of any river in the Mammoth cave There
being no boat upon the river. il has not been
explored, although it has every appearance Of
great length. This body Of water is called the
Mystsrium.
On the right bank Of the river Mysterium an
avenue arises which contains the most magnif-
I cent coilec,io u Of stalactites ever discovered
THIS avenue was explored for a distance Of
three and a half miles without discovering a
terminus. At this point in the explorations a
stalagmte was discovered, which IS a perfect
statue Of General Washington in military COS
tune. The stone, OF which this natural statute
Is composed, is as white as s~tatuary marble,
D aud FL nwaanAfu~fHr nnrwnrN WnmhfumHnm
avenue is the name conferred on this portion
! Of the cave.
On returning 10 the Myster.m, an avenue
may be entered which runs directly North for
a distance Of a quarter Of a mile, which termi-
mates in dome, and which, IN size and gene
raj appearance, resembles the Mammoth Cave.
This is called Proctor's Dome, in honor OF its
discoyerer, Mr.. L. J. Proctor.
From Proctor's Dome 10 the cliffs, on the
banks Of Green river, the principal avenue, re-
semblss In size the main cave 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 a direct line 10 the entrance In
Barren county. The Green river entrance is in
Edmondson county. The avenue when leads
from Proctor's Dome to the Edmondson county
entrance is named Green River Avenue. TIE
walls and ceiling OF Green River Avenue, for a
distance Of three miles and a half, are covered
with noiules Of gypsum, which resemble SNOW
balls.
Seven days were occupied In the FIRST ex-
piorations o. Colossal Cavern by Mr.. Proctor,
and the second entrance was discovered on the
fifth day, which was the first and only time the
light OF the sun was seen daring the explora,
] tons.
Besides the avenues briefly mentioned, seven
ty-fve others, which i~ntrrsect them, have been
counted, the extent II which is not known; and
the aggregate distance which has already beer
explored is no. ess than forty miles.
Hope, az no distant period, TO give a more
detailed account Of Colossal Cavern, whi,I
presents such a vast field Of subterranean re.
search 70 hose who take an interest to froglO-
duffaa lore. c. ". WRIGHT.