The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-01-11
A Visit to the Saitpetre Cave IN BartS,
Comfy, On.


The editor Of the Atlanta Commonwealth, It
seems, awaited himself OF the New Years hol.
tdays, and the leiZure afforded By he break
ing of his press for the purpose of gratifying
a long cherished desire to visit that great
curiosity, the Saltpetre Cave, in Barlow co ,
Ga We make the following extract from q
very interesting description of his visit which
we fud published in the columns of the Cea-
monpealth, of the 9th inst:
The lightwood for torches being ready we
commenced the ascent to the mouth of the
Gave, which we found 10 be some twenty five
Feet Wlds, anu as many or more high
We now descended = rather precipitous, slip
perry and very roagh decliyity, probably
down one hundred ana fifty yards to The floor
OF the first and principal chambe which
covers not far rom quarter OF an acre, and
Ia denomiuatad the 'Baii Room - The torch es
were now ligh Led ana We commenced the ex-
plorations, guided by Mr. Harden and accom-
panied by three other gentlemen.
no" l;tr We Travelled, or over how much
area, We are una bic to stale, but 1T must have
been over several acres. Now We would find
ourselves III large cham bers, with marble
Saulted ceiling, ofau inc0nceivable variety
OF fantastic convexities. aud then almost on
htfIonfs pursuing Our Onward course through
narrow passages beneath low arches: some
tunes we would find ourselves on q pleasant,
level, velvety bare floor at other times on
vast hesps, 70 or 80 leet deep, OF the earth
rich In saltpetre, awaiting release from its
hiding pi ace, and compromising with other
ingredients to fulfill lis mission Of deaf h to
the enemies of our country, or 10 subserye
ana promote the Interests Of manufactures
and commerce
Above us and around us all the time were
objects OF wonder and admiration. Over
head, nigh and ragged were the succession
OF archts, apparently Of the same marhle
haribsss and natural whiteness of the greater
part OF the sides of the cham bers and pas
sages, ard the forming staiactites. Ali
around us at intervals, near the walls. and
on me chamber HoOIs, were other staiactltes
FORMING. IN numerous cases those forming
above and those belo " had met, needing but
little and from the magination to invest
them with the shapes of men aud animals,
and beautifully chiselled columns. Here
was one With full bust and gracefully fall
ing skirt, looking like petrified giantess
then another. reminding one of the sea-
horse yonder n third, called the elephant,
and yet others, like little BONES, (the SIN oke
having discolored tn en- and one VIII ch ira
dition says is a monument to an Indian lost
centuries ago in its subterransan labyrinths.
After spending nearly two hours m ost plea
surably in the cave, we returned, in the
highest degree gratiIed.
The deposit here has been pronounced by
Professor Pratt, of Uglethorpe University
and by Professor Emmons. to be the riches
IN nitre OF ANY they had examined, a nd TO be
1nexhausnh,e. There numerous pass.
HgCe which have never been followed to their
termini, they are believed, and some of tn an
known, to extend To other chambers, con-
tanning immense piles of the dirt. An analy-
sis h as demonstrated that it con tains from
twenty. five to thirty three per cent. OF
nitre--each hushel yielding from fifteen to
eighteen pounds.