The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-08-10
Mammoth Cavc-ColossalSCav ern-
A New Discovery.

- A New Discovery. ~
Editors Louisville Courier: In the fall of
1858, Mr.. l.. j. Proctor, the proprietor of the
Mammoth Cave, in company with two sssist-
ants undertook the exploration of cave,
one entrance to which is situated in Barren
county, mile and half from the Louisville
and Nashville Railroad, and ten Lliles from
the Mammoth cave. Up to the time of the
explorations made by Mr.. Proctor, nothing
was known as to the direction, distance or
dimension of this vast subterranean region,
which | have venturea to name Colossal
Cavern, and which, 10 extent, grandeur, and
sublimity as much exceeds the Mammoth
Cave, as the latter exceeds any cave hereto
fore discovered. Since the explorations of
Mr. Proctor were made the writer of this ar
ticle has verified that gentleman's obserya-
tons, and in order to facilitate the descrip-
| ton of the cave, has conferred the names
mentioned 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 Stalactites and stalag-
mites of almost every conceivable 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
lance. The walls, floor and ceiling OF the
| avenue are lined with alabaster flowers of a
variety of forms and of indiscribable beauty
many of which are over eight inches in
diameter Like the flowers in Cleveland's
| Cabinet in the Mammoth Cave, they are com
posed of the sulphaIe of lime, and are 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
ceilings, from time to time, by their own
weight. These flowers always form in ave.
nues destitute of moisture, and with exceed
ing slowness. The seasons required for the
successive growths of subterranean flowers
are not to be reckoned by months, but by
centuries; for, as can be observed in the Man,
moth Cave, where gypsum flowers have been
watched for period of fifteen years, the
crystals that compose them are barely
perceptible, emerging from the parent rock
at the present time. This avenue is styled
the Floral Temple. .s ~
Floral Temple communicates with an ave-
nue. about half mile in length, which leads
TO cascade and the entrance of a river.
The river, at the point at which it is viewed
is seventy-fve feet 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 being explored, although
it has every appearance of great length
This body of water is called the Mysterium.
On the right bank of the river Mysterium
an avenue arises which contains the most
magnificent collections of stalactics ever
discovered This cavern was explored for a
distance of three and a half miles without
discovering a terminus. At this point in the
explorations a stalagmite was discovered,
which is perfect statue of Gen. Washington
in his military costume. The stone of which
this natural statue is composed is as white
as statuary marble, and exceedingly compact
Washington Avenue is the name conferred on
this portion of the Cave.
On returning to the Mysterium, an avenue
may be entered which runs directly north
for q quarter of a mile, terminating in a
dome, which in size and general appear
ance resembles the mammoth dome in the
Mammoth Cave. This is called Procter's
Dome, in honor OF its discoverer Mr.. l.. J
Proctor.
From Procter's Dome to the cliffs, on the
banks OF the Green river, the principal ave-
nue., resembles 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
to the entrance in Barren county. The
Green river entrance is in Edmonson coun-
ty. The avnue which leads from Proctor:
Dome to the Edmonson county entrance
is named Green River Avenue. The wall:
Z and ceiling of Green River Avenue, for q
distance ofthree miles and half, are covered
with nodules of gypsum, which resembl.
snow-balls.
Seven days were occupied in the first ex.
lplorations of 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 during thu
j explorations.
Besides the avenues briefly mentioned
seyenty-fve others, which intersect Their,
have been counted, the extent of which j:
not known, and the aggregate distance which
has already been explored is not less thar
forty miles.
hope, atno distant period, to give more
detailed account of Colossal Cavern, which
presents such vast field for subterreanear
research to those who take an interest il
! troglodytean lore. G. w. WRIGHT,
Prof Chemistry in Ky. School of Medicine
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