The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-09-28

DlooHleTs uelnOllSh1ng a SanuWlch a
Polish girl, revealed against the dark |
back ground, devouring pie, and chat
ting firtatiously with a theatrically
dressed peasant boy at her side; party
of feminine zouaves below, quarreling
loudly over bottle, and specimens of
loveliness of both sexes, in all sorts of
odd costumes, standing and sitting
around in all imaginable positions and
corners, whila above them all on a pro-
jecting rock, sata specialized female with
pencil in one hand, and lamp in the |
other, striving to draw pen picture of
the flashing, picturesque scene before
her. After the health and safety of all
parties were duly swallowed we took up
our lamps and proceeded.
Through the "valley of humility.
we went, bending lowly, until we came
to 8 scotehman's trap" asmall opening
through which we descended, and over
which is suspended, as by a thread, a
huge rock. Every head was "duckedn
in haste when going through the trap,
and many an anxious glance was cast
back at the strangely placed rock for
should it fall, it would entirely cut off
all communication with the outer world,
| and form a blockade no Southern or
Yankee ingenuity would raise. A short
distance from the trap we were shown
the fowl rock, "a MISREPRESENTATION
OF a setting hen, and then we proceeded
with ludicrous efforts to squeeze through
fat mans misery" narrow winding
avenue, nearly a hundred yards in length.
and in some places scarce wide enough
to allow a common sized Individual to
proceed with comfort. There was great
putting and painting by the substantial
part Of our party when the misery was
over, and we stretched our cramped
limbs in the wide passage called great
relief" After our rest of afew moments
we commenced the long walk down
" river hall'' to the "dead sea- Creep
ing down q long ladder, resting directly
over a deep pit, we reached terrace
leading along the wet, clayey shore of
! the sea.
"Niclx' threw a Bengal light down
tleside, and IS the blue CLEAN fell across
the inEy water, lighting up the rugged
sides, it bore such an unearthly, terrible
appearance, that weinstinctively Rugged
our stout walking sticks, and the damp
rock wall, and proceeded swiftly and
shudaeringly On our way to the "river
Ssfyx.' The q styx" is aboy;t one hun
drea aaa Atty yards long, from ten to
forty feet in width, and in depth varies
from thirty to forty feet. Above the
river rises a natural bridge over thirty
feet, across which is thrown a strong iron
railing. All the rivers in the cave are
supposed to have subterranean COM
munication with each other.
After traversing a long hill of rolling
rocks we reached "Lake Lethe," which
we crossed in low, leaky boat. This
lake is one hundred and fifty yards long,
from ten to thirty feet wide, and from
three to thirty deep. The ceiling rises
nearly hundred feet above it.
The old scow carried fourteen of us at
q time, all sitting as Chick" COM
manded, livery calm' on the sides of
the boat. Looking from the shore, it
was weird sight, the drifting down of
the narrow barge, filled with bright
forms, the lanterns sending red glow
over the still, black water, and against
the rocky sides, and old "Nick" stand
ing tall and immovable at the PROV, like
the grim ferry man of Death.
The farewell song from the shore was
answered by the echoing voices of the
floating party, and then they drifted
away out of sight, down the tideless
waters, under wall scarce foot above
ones head, and out into the far-famed
8" Echo river" At times the water rises
SO high in this connecting passage
between the lake and river as to make
it impossible.
The water of g Echo river" is very
clear, DIR. Wright says: $50 clear and
transparent at times that the rocks can
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