The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-05-30
Tuesday Morning, May 80, 1866.

Tuesday Morning, May 80, 1866.
Letter from the Empire State.
ALBANY, May, II, 1865.
TO the Editor of the Press:
HowE's CAVE.
In the little town of Schoharie. about thirty
i've miles from the city of Albany, is situated
the most extensive cave, probably, to be found
In the Northern States.
It was discovered by William Howe in 1912
and by him and his son-in-law, Mr.. Northrop !,
1t has been explored Is miles in one direction.
and several miles in two others. Travellers
ana visitors are usually, however, conducted
INTO the bowels of the arth not over or Z
miles.
A VISIT TO THE CAVE. ~
On Saturday morning last, in company with
thirty Others, the writer took the Albany and
Susquehanna railroad cars, bound for the cave.
Passing through section of country strongly
Teminoing one OF the scenery from Paris to
Bethel on the Grand Trunk Railway, in two
hours we were deposited at the station called
Howe's Cave. The hotel is only few rods
nom the railroad, andRn full view OF the cars.
Inc mouth OF the cave is under the hotel
Each being armed and equipped with a
torch, we descended two long flights of stairs
INTO the cellar of the hotel and the mouth of
tne cave. The opening in the rock as at pres
ent enlarged, is about Is feet high and 10 feet
WIDE at the base. This opening is made in
the solid rock, which is OF grey limestone
This limestone, when burnt, makes the dark
grey lime, and where 1t is to be covered with
stucco or painted. it is said to be superior to
the ordinary lime. III
Probably your readers are aware that per-
ambulating subteranean worlds, it is neces
sary for people to lay aside their fine garments
and assume such covering as they never in.
tend to appear with again In the outer world
Our party, thus excelling Falstaff's troopers,
torches in hand, proceeded along Though the
nrst passages, presenting a scene for paint
er or comic monthly, when about 40 rods
from the entrance we came to the first room,
called
WASHINGTON HALL.
1t is called hall because of its resemblance
to many modern lecture halls. 1t /, about 60
feet high, 80 feet wide and 40 feet long. In
'front.' OF the visitor as he enters the hall, is
platform much resembling rostrum; in the
rear is gallery raised about twenty feet
above the level of the hall and directly over
the passage-way to the cave. On limestone
shell over the rostrum is a rare collection OF
curious shaped specimens of rock. resembling
dough-nuts and other kinds OF small cake.
We are told by the loquacious guide that these
are petrifed cake, which he prepared for a
wedding party which took place within the
cave some years before. Such stories as this
and others OF the guides, we received with
many grains of allowance. nesa
The ascent from the hall to the gallery was
accomplished by means of a ladder. Here we
saw curious stalactite, which the guide in
forpied us was Mrs. Washington's hood, which
SIZE left hanging on that peg on one occasion
xuho eho md he Wis fad fko 90
The hood very closely resembled what the la
dies call shaker bonnet, having, however, a
rather large cape. In the extreme rear of the
gallery was the fw -
CoNvICT's TOWER.
The base of the tower reminds one of the
tower of a church, as it appears where it joins
the main part of the building. The tower is
entered through low, regular doorway, and
within reminds one of the north tower OF
Kings Chapel, Bowdoin College, whence the
bell has been often so mysteriously extracted.
In this tower are some very beautiful sta
lactites of limestone, pendant from the pro
jections of the walls of the tower. Within,
the tower is perhaps s feet In diameter and
100 feet in height, though to us the-top was
lost in darkness, our torches not being spffi-
cient to send light to the top. -
After leaving the tower and Washington
Hall. the passage is quite narrow and not over
tending over 1000 feet. when after ascending
a winding staircase we reach the
CHAPEL. oh
The chapel is beautiful room of an i'm
mense height-said by the guides. to be 200
feet high, 40 feet wide and 90 1eet long. The
limestone projecting from the wall about 25
feet, resembling the side gallery of q church
and pulpit in front, gave the name to this
room. Unlike Washington Hall, the floor Is
very uneven, indicating q lack of skill or
taste in the architect of this chapel. The
worshippers probably sit on the ground and
praise the Most High for his wonderful dis
play of power and majesty.
In this room the guide had some rare spec.
linens of stalactites. One half of humaa
figure he called the "old man of the cavern. ,"
Another, which he facetiously said was his
granddaughter, was the image of human
intus half grown. Passing over as rapidly as
possible one mile Of our journey we came to
PENIS eRoTTo.
where, we we're told, William Penn made his
first treaty with the Indians. With little
stretch oi the imagination Penn's image can be
seen in the wall and before him on a stump
tot limestonel is a broad-brin, Quaker hat
which Is Penn's hat "Penn's Grotto" is NOT
large room but is quite beautiful There are
many glitiering stalactites and the endenta-
tons OF the solid rock are unique and striking,
One hardly can believe this was not executed
by hand, so regular and systematic does ever '
thing appear 10 be arranged.
After leaving Penn's Grotto, "whilessWoe ali
dozen rods In advance Of the rest of the par ty,
the long expected but dreaded sound of rush.
ing water smote my ears. 1t came like
knell, for it informed us that our fur.he'e pro-
gress into the bowels Of the earth, If rot en-
tirely prevented, would be seriouslg I'M ler
rupted.
After descending q long passage about 5O(
feet at an angle of about 45 degrees we, came
upon the brook, which was about two feet deer
and extended nearly across the cave. The
guide said we could proceed no farther, but
feeling adventuFOusly inclined, in compan,
with another Of the party, started on AMI
soon half the company and the guide followed
Wading onward to ones knees in the water
which was cold as any spring water, abou
100 rods, we reached the
ECHO CHAMBER,
which is most appropriately named. The guid
also called it the Ghost Chamber, and assert
ed that he had often seen, but more ofte
heard, ghosts there. Suiting his action tosnl
belief he stepped into little niche In the wa
which he said he did for greater safety, b
commanded silence.
All was still as death. Soon by breathin
operation similar to that which elocutionist
cause their pupils to practice, no was able t
create aseund which certainly did not seen
to have been made by any mortal organs
sounds which in any other place would hav
been impossible. A whisper there sounde
louder than an ordinary conversation tone
And in conversing with the usual tone {
voice 1t seemed louder than one would natuI
ally suppose the human voice could expant
The guide discharged pistol. The effect wa
stunning and for number OF hours after tina
sound was ringing In my ears. 1t was loude
there than the report Of any cannon In tn
oman air T avar hoard One who has NOT az