The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-08-18
MAMMOTH CAVE-COLOSSAL CAV.
ERN-A NEW DISCOVERY.

To the Editors Of the Louisville Courier:
In the fall of 1853, Mr. L. j. Proctor, the
proprietor of the Mammoth Cave, in company
with two assistants, undertook the exploration
of a cave, one entrance TO which is situated in
Barren county, mile and half from the
Louisville and Nashville 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, dis
lance, or dimensions, of this vast subterranean
region, which | have ventured to name Coos-
sal Cavern, and which, in extent, grandeur, and
subliWity, as much exceeds the Mammoth Cave
as thu Platter exceeds any cave heretofore dis
covered. 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 description of the cave,
has conferred the names mentioned below upon
the principal points of interest.
The first mile of the avenue leading from the
entrance of Colossal Cavern runs in north
eastern direction, and varies from twenty to
sixty feet in width, and from ten to forty in
height. Stalactites and stalagmites, 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 en-
tered which is three miles in length, and which
gradually ascends for its entire distance. The
walls, floor, and ceiling of this avenue are lined
with alabaster flowers, of a variety of forms and
of understandable beauty, many of which are over
eight inches in diameter. Like the flowers in
Cleveland's Cabinet in the Mammoth Cave, they
are composed of the sulphate of lime and are
of 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, 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
subterranean flowers are 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 a period of fif
barely perceptible, emerging from the parent
rock at the present time. This avenue is styled
the Floral Temple.
Floral Temple communicates with an avenue
about half mile in length, which leads to a
cascade and the entrance to river. The river
at the point at which it is viewed, is seventy five
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 been
explored, although it has every appearance O.
great length. This body of water is called the
Mysterium. 80
On the right bank of the river Mysterium ar
avenue arises which contains the most magni6
cent collection of stalactites ever discovered
This avenue was explored fag distance o.
three and half miles without discovering q
terminus. At this point in the explorations, q
stalagmite was discovered, which is a perfect
statue of General Washington in military cos
tune. The stone of which this natural statue
is composed is as white as statuary marble
and is exceedingly compact. Washington
avenue is the name conferred upon this portion
of the Cave.
On returning to the Mysterium, an avenue
may be entered which runs directly north for q
distance of quarter of a mile, which termi
mates in dome, and which, in size and gener
al appearance, resembles the mammoth dome
in the Mammoth Cave. This is called Procter's
Dome, in homer of its discoverer, Mr.. l.. j.
Proctor.
From Procter's Dome to the cliffs, on the
banks of Green river, the principal avenue re
sembles 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 il
eleven miles on direct line to the entrance IN
Barren county. The Green river entrance il
in Edmondson county. The avenue which