The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1866-04-20
A RErIARKABLE CAVE IN an
DIANA.
A Thrilling Nnrrative-Terrible Advcn-
lures OF an Exploring Party.


A correspondent Of the indianapolis Her
aid. writing from Lcavcuworth, Crawford
County, lnd., gives an account of remark
able cave which has lately been discovered
in that place, and the terrible adventures
of an exploring party Tho story is a
highly sensational one. Tho writer says:
| write to inform You Of the particulars
of an exploring expedition which lott here
On Thursday last, to explore Dead Man
Cave, situated about four miles south of
this place, threc-quarters of mile west OF
tho river. A few weeks since party from
Louisville, accompanied by citizens of this
place, explored it to tho distance OF three
quarters of q mile, but were stopped by
wide subterranean river, too deep for ford.
ing, and which they had no means of cross
ing. The party which left here on Tuesday,
consisting of Major ThrockmorjOn, OF Louis.
vile; Captain Holcralt, Sheriff Swaync, Dr.
+. Rliawn, and Lyman f. Knapp. of this
place; Mr.. Jesse Brapdom, of Nashville, aud
your correspondent, went prepared TO
mako thorough exploration of the cave
Besides the necessary lights, ropes. water
proof clothing, etc, they carried with them
q light but stOGnch boat prepared expressly
for the occasion, on which to cross the
mysterious stream that had on the former
occasions, stopped their further progress.
Tho stream was reached without difficulty,
and by means OF our boat u crossing was
easily effected, aud with light hearts we
went on TO prosecute our explorations.
Directly ahead was wide gallery, who's
roof was 80 high that we could scarcely dis
tinguisl il by the feeble light of tho lamps
whilo 10 tho right and left tho stream ran
through another gallery or chamber, the two
intefsecting each other like the arms of q
Greek cross. We followed tho gallery be.
fore us for about quarter OF milo, when
it suddenly narrowed, and apparently came
to an abrupt termination. After searching
for an outlet. and finding more, We were on
the point Of reluctantly turning back, when
shout of exultation from Dr. Ilawn pro-
claimed that he had found an opening. To
the right, ard some distance from the termi.
nation of the cm de sac, the Doctor had dis
covered narrow opening. Crawling
through this on our hands aud knees for n
distance of several hundred yards, we came
upon high vautcd chamber, partially
lighted from above, which was the most
magnificent underground hail / have ever
seen. Thousands of stalactytes ana stagia.
mites hung pendant from above, rejecting
the glare of the torches in millions of pure
rays of dazzling light. If the ceilings and
sides had been literally hung with enormous
clusters of diamonds. the effect could not
have been more bewildering. For mo.
ment the entire party was awe-stricken and
speechless. Then the more cEcitable oues
broke forth in rapturous applause.
Numerous small galleries were found, ra.
dating in every direction liom this central
chamber, and these were explored in turn
some of them coming TO an abrupt close
against dead, blank well wall Of rock, and
others gradually narrowing until they could
be followed 10 further. Others forked,
branching off into two or three other gal
leries. 1t was found that the thorough ex.
plnration Of the cavern from this point
would bo q work of weeks, il not months
In one place was found deep circular
hole, apparently almost bottomless. Stones
dropped into its gaping mouth would be
heard sullcnly plunging from side to side,
until the noiso of their descent was lost in
the abyss far below. Mr.. Knapp was let
down by a strong cord distance of some
thirty yards, when he vigorously signitied
that hc had seen enough by jerking tho
rope. He was drawn up, looking trihe
paler than usual, aud declaring that his
curiosity had been amply satisfied. Mr..
Knapp said that, after descending dis
tance of fifteen or twenty feet, nunerc u'
winged things, apparently bats, fitted cor
stantly about his ears, viciously swapping
their mandbles together with deylish
sort of twitering. One of these-cold,
clammy and inexpressibly nasty-alighte
on his face and inflicted severe bite.
Tired and weary of sight.se eing, the
party was on the point of starting on the
return, when, at the earnest solicitation of
DR.. Hawn, we consented 10 at le st par
TALLY explore another cavern. 1t was fol-
lowed but a short distance when it suddenly
narrowed. Mr.. Knapp, going first, passed
through the opening on his hands and
knees, and entered another large chamber.
Mr.. Hawn, who is a very heavy man, at.
tempted to follow, aud became inextricably
fixed in the passage. He could neither get
forward nor back. For three hours the
party worked necessarily, but all to no pur-
pose. Meantime, one 10y one the lamps had
burned out, until barely enough oil was left
to light us on our way back to the river.
The thought of being imprisoned in that
living tomb was too terrible to be endui ed.
for we knew that without light we conld
never find our way back. A panic seized
upon the party, and hastily leaving the
Doctor and Mr.. Knapp TO their fate, we
rapidly rctraced our steps, crossed the
river and returned to the town. A supply
of oil, tools, ETC., were procured. and we
return ed to the cave. determined to rescue
our comrades or perish in the atempt Tho
river was crossed, and we proceeded to
tho grand chamber where we had taken
our lunch, accompanied by numerous citl-
zens of Leavenworth. But, search as closi ly
as we would. we could not find the gallery
in which the Doctor aud Mr.. Knapp were
entombed Ia vain We explored and
shouted until worn ont and fainting. All
to no purpose. Nearly three days have
passed since we first entered the cave. and
during all that time it has been full OF peo
pie uselessly hunting for the two uhfortu
nate man. One after another Of the various
galleries leading from the grand chamber
have been explored and bluZed with chalk
marks, bnt still tho missing men cannot be
found. The guide Of tho Mammoth Cave
in Kentucky has been sent for to assist il
the search
PS. Mr. Knapp has just been brought
in. A hunter found him lying at the mouth
Of what has generally been considered
sort Of sink hole, about five miles from the
town. Mr. Knapps condition is too precari.
ous to adnit of detailed account # his
ESCAPE, hut from what can gather from
his inc0herent explanations, II seems that,
& ding he clnld not return. he went ahCa T,
IN hope of finding an outlet Alter what
seemed an age Of wandering and groping