Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1860-06-23
VISIT TO "CORAL CAVE"

glecful company "f pleasure seekers ourselves
among the number, visited tli4 wonderful and nj
trnc,ivc curiosity IN Saturday Last. We left Placer
vile at O'clock An reached Bailey, t" cnty min
utrs after eight, where We Iart"ok &c an cNc,lrnt
breakfast and S,on after lri for the cave. five niles
beyond Bale, :, over first rate. mountain road,
At turn IN lnC road, near tho foot of WHISKY 7 IT
Till. we suddenly came to the mouth of the cave,
where We courteous'F rrcci, cd b, the prop,it
tore, MessFs. Maere / Smith.
Descending short fight of steps, voluntarily
stoppcd the very threshold Of the first ard main
room, IN gaze with awe and admiration on the biii.
iantly beautiful scene before us We krenly allied
md were frrciblv impressed with the strength and
beauty Of the oft-Quutcd and exquisite words Of
kcats-"A thing OF beauty is Il joy forever while
gazing TN his gra dy magnificent work Vt The great
Architect Of the I diverse. II is Enthusiastically "a
thing II beauty" Pendant from tl,c ceiling innu.
Merable stAlectitcs. Singly aud in clusters, some
gtterins in the purity Of their alabascr WhiJencS'
Others Of raricgaed colnrS, presented ofuu
rivallCd beauty; while oh tic cciinS itself every tint
Of the rliubsW Is softly and Unanimously blended.
Wherever the eye turned it rested On sL'Lcuts an
EtalagnIitcs, Of all shapes. sats and We lad almost
aid colorS-f"r some are slightly tincturtd with
blue, green aud red. Here, on the light, it We may
use the expression, is frozen waterfall with iciclcs
hanging round it. Passing this VIC arrive In front
# the natural pulpit, some tN Give feet in height,
ever which rich natural drarcrv. of stainless white.
falls gracefully. A little farther, and come To
the Ladies' cr." the dome Of which its 10 Isl
attractive feature. being perfect IN IT'S proportions
aud neatly colorpd The "Music Gallery" in the
hall ,Is at,d CnlN E.otu nnC
Is surpass iug'y beautiful carvings of uncqnal!rd
richness. grace AMI h,Auty suspended above, throw
o shadow. light aud wayy C: tie "Not, tin,s -:
morn, over II. The best Nl,w Of il IS from li;t
cminence directly in frant Of 1t.
We have given but an imperfect sketch Of IL fcN
prominent objects this snsulArIy beautiful cave.
We have not the trmerity to attempt 10 1--WE cor
rect description If 1t. We leave the task to more
competent hands we confess our inability to d.
Justice to the subject. II must be to be arprc
etstCd. Not ipton. how ever glowing or graphic
can do il justice.
The principal room is one hundred feet in lerg
from ten ~ thirty feet in width, and tho same in
height There are several smaller rooms, and lake
at the end Of the large room which has not vet been
explored. The rooms finely illuminated hy
lamps. aud railing placed in nconvcnicut places Il
protect visitors from soilinE their clothes and "e'p
ping up in their prospecting tour. Up u SNtrr
day at noon nine hundred and seventy visitors lac
registered their names that number has been great
~ increased since then. One Of the proprc,ors IL
formed us that the average was about forty day.
The trip can be easily made from FlacCrvI'e t.
The cave and back III day By starting at o'clocl
in the morning Baley's is reached in coed tint
0ov breakfast Rest There, m E1ur mr. two dr,vC
down 10 the cav, remain there I" hours IN cX
aiming it.--return to Railty's IN time tor dinner
aud theu eff for home Bailey kcepa q GrSt elias.
hotel, is courteous and accommodating. las th(
largest and finest ballroom in the county, ai"ay!
open aud ready for use, and spreads table tia
would please an cpicurc. The rad is one Of iht
best in the State. lending through the best culu
Na;ed ADD prc,ticst part Of FL Dorado county.