Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-02-04
FoR THE STAR
EXCURSION FROM WASHINGTON.

Securing the services Of Capt, James Hal
stead as guide, we prepared for a visit to
HALsrEAD's CAVE. h-s 90
This interesting place is located about four
miles north of Millerton, in the range of hills
west Of the Harlem Valley, and half q mile
south by west from Capt. Halstead's house.
Our route. however, was quite indirect, ascend
ing the mountain by the road directly from
the house, then going along its side through a
forest of about eight years growth, to the
mouth of the cave. The party, consisting of
three ladies and four gentlemen with the guide,
were dressed especially for the occasion, wear
ing cloth caps and woolen roundabouts. The
mouth Of the cave is about one-third Of a mile
from the road, but our party were more than
an hour in going that short distance. 1t was
a iaborious and troublesome task, turning,
twisting and cutting our path through the most
tsngled underbrush that lies in that vicinity.
On eur way We came to the
OVEN,
so called from its resembl blance to one This
Oven is situated in large fragment of slate
rock, about twenty feet square and sixteen or
eighteen high, but rather irregular. 1t opens
towards the east, and is about four feet from
the ground. The bottom of the oven CORES
ponds to the dip Of the rock, and is at an angle
OF ten or twelve degrees with the horizon, as
cending as you 60 in. The bottom is about
eight feet long, and three wide at the mouth,
but enlarging TO five or six as you enter. All
around the sides are holes or pockets, called
by the people, pocket-holes, as tradition says
that in them the Indians baked biscuit. Capt.
Hslstead informed us that the general opinion
of visitors was, that the entire cavity was
formed by the action Of water, and as proof
referred TO the appearance Of these biscuit
holes. Not being quite satisfied with this
theory determined to examine it carefully
and ascertain whether there were any openings
through which the water could enter at the
farther end of the cavity in sufisient quantity
to have made the excavation. On entering I
found biscuit holes in the roof as well as in the
sides, showing cOnclusively that water could
not have made them. On examining the holes
at the farther end, l could find no opening in
any of them, and i also noticed that when I
touched the sides Of the holes the rocks imme-
diately crumbled and fell, and that I could
make any number of these holes with perfect
ease. The result of the examination proves
that the whole excavation has been made by
air. The body Of the rock is slate, but has
some minerals mixed with it that upon expo
sure to the air decays and crumbles to dust,
and this mixture not being uniform the decay
Is unequal, thereby producing the result which
tradition assigns to the ingenuity Of the Indian.
THE GAVE
is but a few rods below the Oven, and we soon
found our way there The appearance at the
entrance is that Of q funnel-shaped hollow,
perhaps twenty feet deep, with a circumference
at the surface of seventy or eighty feet. 1t
was discovered many years since by some
hunters, and for the purpose of finding its
depth threw in their dog, but were net able to
get him out 1t was soon partially explored,
but from the supposed dangers to visitors the
entrance was filled up by blasting some over
hanging rocks 50 that the fragments completely
blocked up the mouth. A few years since,
however, 1t was again opened, and quite thor
oughly explored. For a few years following
it was visited By many people, but Of late years
few enter itS siient halls
Lighting our candles and refreshing our
selves at spring of clear cool water, we en-
tered the cave. The entrance is quite narrow
and precipitous, descending nearly thirty feet.
One Of the ladies declined entering altogether,
although she came with the intention of 50
doing. A second lady, on making about half
the descent, become 50 much alarmed that she
could not be prevailed upon to proceed another
inch, although Capt. Halstead offered to give
her special care and assistance. One repre-
sentative OF the ladies, however, was left to ex-
plore these regions Of Erebus. Having reached
the floor, we found ourselves in a long narrow
hall, about six feet wide, thirty long, and ff-
teen high. There is an Undesirable feeling
on entering a cave for the first time. 1t is not
fear or any other single emotion, but rather ali
OF the fearful, the hopeless, distrust, suspicion,
terror, alarm, dread, and impotence combined.
a, cavity two feet deep may be two hundred
for sught we know, and who would ever return
from a plunge into that abyss. I did net at
all wonder at the decision of the ladies who
vsptured not into this dark and silent place,
only lighted by your single torch, which SEEM
ipgly made the darkness visible. But as We
eRtered this hall, and found ourselves on
level floor where we could stand without fear
Of falling into an unknown depth, all these in
describablc feelings left US, and afterwards we
felt as free and buoynnt as if in the most secure
place, enjoying the light Of summer sun.
This room may De appropriately called
ASSURANCE HALL.
At its farther end we made u second descent
OF about ten feet, and came into
GOTHIC HALL.
As we were descending into this hall we OBJ
served for the first time the beautiful white
stslactiles, completely covering its sides. They
were not large, but very beautiful and wax
like in appearance. Some were as white as
the metallic substances through which the car
Donate Of lime passed. This hall was about
twenty feet wide, eighty or a hundred long,
and seventy high. On the northern side, or
right as you enter, is n beautiful column, or IS
it is called, the
CHIMNEY.
This is standing against the side Of the cave,
and shows about three-quarters of its circum-
ference. 1t is about twelve feet in diameter and
seventy feet high, beautifully encrusted with
carbonate Of lime. II is difficult to believe it
not q work Of art. / think its name inappro-
pirate, and will christen it
"a. DAyA's COLUMN,
after Capt. Halstead' 3 youngest daughter
After leaving this hall, and proceeding on
ward, We enter tho
GALLERY,
or descend a few feet, and passing several
yards enter a third hall. The Gallery is about
thirty feet over the main cave, and presents no
very remarkable appearance. The third, or
RIVER HALL,
Ia In i,othie Hall NOT ou;ta
wide or high, but of much greater length. In
every part OF this hall the water can be heard
running beneath the floor, and by an opening
the left as We enter one can descend to the
stream bat we did not care to venture, as it
was rather difficult and quite muddy. Leav-
ing River Hall, we passed through the
GATE.
This is quite difficult to pass. We ascend
some ten or twelve feet over large fragments
of fallen rock, pass shrough quite a narrow
place, and descend into spacious chamber,
with low roof and descending foOr. There
is another passage leading to this chamber, by
descending instead Of ascending through the
Gate In this chamber the stalactiles disap-
pearcd, the walls were black, and the floor
covered with mud. Fastening through, we