The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1863-11-04
Lost In an Alabama Cave.

! An army correspondent, writing from
Cave Spring Alabama, gives the following
| iEciden: oil an adventure in a cave near that
place:
Half way up the mountain is the en-
trance 10 what is termed "Saltpeire Cave"
The rebels have worked il since the open
ing of the war, and the material, il is said,
besides being plentiful, peculiarly valuable.
Excited by the stories concerning the cave,
] repaired, with small company and a
piece of candle, TO the big thing upder
ground. Half bent over we entered the
! cave, strong current of cold, chilly air al
most extinguish;ng our lights. The pas
sage way is exceedingly narrow, and at
some points it was only afer the greatest
exertion that we succeed il qsueeziue thro
Hundreds OF dark isles led from the maiE
passage, and following which and explor-
ing the principal chamb bers in direct line
with the way we were moving along, we
left the main passage, and crawling on our
hands and knees distance OF 20 or 80 feet
rose in a spacious chamber, hung with
dripping stalacties, and quantity carved, /,
apparently by master artists.
Led BY spirit OF adventure aad an insa-
table curiosity, we travelled on from cham
ber TO chamber, climbing huge rocks TO
higher aisles, descending lodges, crawling
and STOPPING at intervals, until sheer ex-
haustion dictated halt. Turning in what
II II -.
mouth, we traversed path after path, crepi
through narrow fssures, and passed thro'
, lofty chambers that echoed and re-echoed
or hasiy footsteps, until light appeared.
The sound OF a voice reached us, and ia
moment negro appeared who crept thro'
a small aperture, having evidently been
wandering about for hours IN these ls5yr-
inthian passages, unable TO affect an exit.
His frightened features had their effect on
us, and we began seriously 10 discuss
whether we knew the way from the cave.
Apprehensions quicken Cur steps, and,
hurrying forward, we entered what seemed
familiar apartment that offered safe egress
TO the main passage. To our surprise there
was but one way OF exit, and that by the
way we entered 1t was evident we were
lost. An other hour passed in a fruilless
effort to e,ricate ourselves. Hope had al
most expired, and huge drops of swea; ooz-
cd fr ON our over excited foreheads. Our
candles were almost burnt out. No foot
steps where We were. Night was coming
on. Headquarters would doubtless be re-
moved before dawn on The following day,
and night in this dismal cavern, with a
prospect OF being left 10 slarYe seemed in-
evitable.
We have been separated from the main
party, and here we stood, fear-relaxed, &,
gasPing as though the air grew hotter every
minute, every sense Of hearing employed
lis fullest capacity. The negro was speech
less. He was firm The lofty walls OF
rock that shut us in. He was slightly bent
forward, his eyes wide open and his lips
agape, perfect statue of sable Hamlet
listening for voices from the spirit world
His appearance was iuG;crous, but had no
disposition TO laugh. My muscles were re-
laxed. grew pale my clothes were SAT-
urated with Perspiration.
We stood silent as death, drinking in ev-
cry sound with the acuteness of perception
known only to men dangerously circum-
stsnced. ! could count the heart pulsaiohs
OF my comrades, and every breath seemed
quick and la5ored. Suddenly the negro
started as If he caught the sound of loot
steps. We turned toward him as he ex-
claimed, ''G6ily, Massa, hears dem" he
started in the direction of the sound, and
we followed him to lofty chamber, al least
100 fee. in length, so feet in width and
80 or 40 in height From one extremity of
this capacious apartment we discovered a
faint eimmer OF light al the other extreni-
ty, and we were soon greeted by sounds of
voices. leil The cave cared of my adyen-
turous proclivities, and declaring that |
would not soon be caught under ground,
alive and voluntary, without guide.