Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-04-28
The Mammoth and Diamoud Cave.

ried and natural beauties and wonders in the
United States-of all that is magnificent and
strange these caves, so mysterious, surpass ali
else beside.
They are located about midway between
Louisville and Nashville. The nearest point
and best route is by leaving the cars at Bells,
at which station every convenience and ae-
commodation may be found to satisfy hunger
and convey passengers to either or both points
of interest.
The Diamond Cave is only one-and-a-half
miles from the station, and is directly on the
road to Mammoth Cave, which is some six
miles beyord-over hill and dale through a
beautiful forest on either side, with the ex-
ception of an occasional habita lou for man
and beast. One scboolhouse, also of some
antiquity, also will attract the attention of
the pa-ser by. No one travelling this road
should fail to dismount and view the internal
convenieuces of this important institu tom
The carefM driuer over this Pix" whose
name have forgotten, will impart some very
valuable information in connection with this
cave-like structure, for in the day of its COM
pletion, 1 am sure that when the '.bole" to
crawl in aud out was closed, not one ray of
light could be admitted-a place in which to
work dark problems and sayings preparatory
t oa political Career A thought that struck
me, when the .'cleUer dr,Uer" told me III ,cds
just IKE the schooI-house that Henry Clay got his
education ia. and that the boys and gals IN these
are srao4s ~-i,hf ~ ~ ba
stranger will further observe similar con-
struction to the few houses which he will pass
on his way-but for the door and chimney
snoke-hue near by. one might think he
was in a cave above earth, but the good dri-
Ter says they are SO constructed as to keep
them cool in summer and warm in winter !;
Taking it Tor granted-leaving outside light
and dir-I dropped the subject of external for
Internal cave meditation.
Much has been written and said relative to
the Great o. Mammoth Cave Too much can
not be said in JnneciiOn with this internal
and meandering pathway. The only thing
one can regret is. that he cannot have more
i7h-say ''gas light in order to satisfy him.
self ut every point.
Should ever BE- permitted 10 explore those
subterraneau avenues and chambers again. /
hope to be aided by some continued strong ar
nfcial light which | have no doubt will soon
br Introduced. 1t was not my intention TO
have alluded to anything but the Diamond
Cave when | commenced this article. there
fore hope to be- pardoned for this REELECTION
The Diamond Cave, | must say. is one OF
the gems of the earth--a rarc specimen Of "A
gem, too for it is gem into which one can
enter.
1t is not one year till July, 1860. since an
entrance was affected by ropes and Indian
ladders. 1t was discovered by NJ. T. II. Low,
of Louisville, who, strange to FAY. had The
fortitude TO work his way beneath shelving
rock. and with rope and candle let himself
down some thirty feet, at which point great
er degree of interest was awakened by dis
covering still deeper and wider opening.
Returning and procuring larger company,
among whom were many scientific mt n. they
commenced exploring this cave, which has
resulted in bringing to view one OF the mos,
pi'CCc iIal Cdi Dt visited.
Mr.. ii. NJ. DOIBEY, who is not only ce
MUS OF rare combination, but perfect gen
tleman, has so constructed the entrance and
all the avenues that no time or opportunity
is lost in accom- 'Iiohing The Object in view
ii wever much may be said in praise of The
Mammoth Cave, il one desires to see both. he
should most assuredly first visit the Nam
moth then The Diamond. 1t is richly worth q
pilgrimage on foot thousands of miles to see
this Care alone; it is rich in grandeur and ex
ceedingly surprising in beauty. 1t is grow
ing Cave--a living reality "a thing of life
beaming joy--a chamber of sparkling gems
The stalactites and stalagmites are still Ia
the process of formation, and although on.
hundred and fifty feet beneath the surface a
the earth, ore cannot help, after being in tLi
place OF wonder and beauty, strong attach
ment, growing interest in every objec
around him, and it will require no little ,fTort
for tue visitor to leave its embrace and as
cend To the open space above. These apart
ments aud avenues are so Illuminated by the
skill of brother DoI5ey that no person. who
will enter this Cave, can tail to be pleased de
lighted and proGted. Although the descent to
the rotunda is some thirty feet, and seventy
bly, adapted stairway that the in and
egress is perfectly safe and easy. The sta
lactites and stalagmiles are found in great
abundance in this rotunda, and are noted
not only for their great length aad beauty
but most of them are so arranged aud con-
structed in their forma lion that musical
sounds aud perfect harmony are readily pro
duced; and the day is not far distant " hen
our friend DoLBEY will construct the Dia'
moad Cave Organ, which will surpass. for
mnsic-makne, all other instruments of the
day. Mr.. DuLBET has not Jailed to honor
himself already in connection with the his-
tory of this Cave in constructing the numer-
Gus chandeliers which, being lit, are elevated
to the superior part of these chambers and
Greaue, thereby giving a most favorable OPP
lOrtuhity to explore this CIu,, aud witness
much OF The beauty aud grandeur which 9th
erwise would be lost.
Sir JouN FRANKLIN is recent discovery
and 10 is passing strange that in making a
Northwest Passage he should at last bc found
in the Diamond Cave. That il mo less strange
than to have discovered the Virgin Mary in
all her meekncss aud humility, and Lots
wife draped in white, four feet ia height.
| might allude 10 hundreds Of items which
would not fail to interest the world, If time
would admit. BosTox.
il is said Of julien that, shortly before bis
death, be entered his house armed with a
large knife, Come here, " said he TO his adop-
led child, girl about eighteen years old. II
am going to let you bear the angels sing .