The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1860-06-23
THE DIAMOND CAVE.

From an extended report, in manuscript,
on the Diamond Cave, newly discovered in
Barren county, Kentucky, by Prof G. ].
Phillips, Geologist, (late from England) we
are permitted to make the following summa-
~ in regard to this natural wonder:
The cave is situated mile and half
from the Louisville & Nashville Railroad
Bells Tavern, or Glasgow Junction, being
the nearest station. The celebrated Mann
moth Cave is only seven miles distant from
the same point OF the interior of the cave,
the Professor thus remarks:
"In passing on, witness many unique
examples of natural beauty, swelling some
times into sublimity, reminding me of the
chalky cliffs of the Isle of Wight-some-
times followed out into magnificent domes
and pillars, uniting the interesting in geolo
gy with the picturesque in scenery. In walk
ing through the spacious, well furnished
avenues and halls, we pass several wild
chasms. Pillars of stalactites, wearing the
aspect of modesty, yet ready to crumble
and crush the beholder, recall to mind con-
tinualIy the feudal ages. Farther on, we
are reminded of historical monuments of
surprising beauty-now the bold overhang-
ing rocks, and now the deep recess: now
the towering mountain, and now the quiet
and peaceful dell.
Turning our course for a while, we
meet with the climax of scenographical
wonders. We enter halls silent and melan-
choly as death. Listen: we hear solitary
murmur of waters-the echoing of some
thing isolated, perhaps the fall of one drop
of water in some distant hollow. The sta
lactites and stalagmites, how grand On
either side is equal beauty. Beneath, how
dizzy to behold Above, what clouds of
flowing drapery, festoons of romantic rich
ness, architecture, ornament of carved work
in the form of wreath or garlands of flow
ers. of leaves TWISTED together. There, too,
we seem to see sculpture as of the finest
woI kmanship-imitations of some Roman
figures, ready to start up into life. These
figures are from gigantic size to micro
scopic lttleness.
II followed my guide to the cooling wa
tiers. How pure! The murmuring stream
lets pass unperceivable, but we hear their
whispers. In advancing, on the right side,
we see popish figures and groups of ami
mails, birds, fishes, quadrupeds and SER
penis, and many ancient-like forms in ana
tomical structure. In reaching the climax,
we find grandeur unparalleled. Larger
caves there are; but caves presenting great
err beauty and more of general interest, there
are none. In this cave monotony is bro
ken, and many other than inviting figures
present themselves
The full length of the cave is about one
third of mile. The description of vari-
GUS localities and apartments-the Inner
Grotto, Bell Spring. Echo Hall. SINH Dome.
&c, together with special objects of inter-
est, such as the Organ Pillar of Salt, Co
lumbia Column. (sixty feet in diameter. or
namented with fluted stalactites, their crys-
tails magnificent in the light. Armadillo
Stalagmite, &C., occupy much space in this
interesting report, which the author intends
to embody in work to be hereafter pub
lished. Our extracts give but very i'm
perfect idea of his glowing narrative. He
states that during his many years of travel
in Europe. Canada and the United States,
for general observations in natural history,
he has not witnessed such 'gem" as the
Diamond Cave Cincinnati Gazette.