The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-08-09
A Wonderful Cave.

| About one mile southeast of the village
of Hillside, station on the Pennsylvania
railroad, In Westmo reland county, says
the Blairsville NeU Era, there is natur-
al cave, called by the early settlers tho
Bear Cave, which name it retains to the
present day. Why it has received this
name Is more than we can tell. We were
fortunately one of the party who visited
this cave some FOUR years ago, and its
features are indellbly impressed upon our
memory. The party consisted of six per-
sons, all of whom were provided with
hook lamps, twine, firearms, and each an
old suit Of clothes for entering. Taking
the train at BIairsville, we alighted at
Hillside, and after refreshing walk of
half an hour up the gradual slope of the
Chestnut Ridge to the south and east,
reached the mouth of the cave, which at
first sight appeared to be nothing more
than an opening amid large mass Of
towering, moss-covered rocks, into which
the most timorous we're reluctant to enter.
Donning our old clothes, lighting our
lamps, and tieing the outer eud of the
twine firmly at the mouth of the cave. we
entered the subterranean passage carrying
the ball with US, unwinding it as we pro-
ceeded. After traversing a straight but
narrow court or alley for about three hun
drei feet, you come to a room out of
which lead dozen or more passages, each
one to different point in the cave. We
selected what appeared to be most capa-
cious one, and entered to the end of our
twine-some 1,400 yards, or over three
fourths of mile.
The exnlorer Ia at once rayoindad Of his
insignifcance, as he stands amid such
wondrous works of nature, those massive
rocks on either hand being capable of
crushing him to death should sudden
earthly agitation cause them to quit their
places. Or, as he leans tremblingly over
the verge of deep and narrow chasm,
listening TO the .aint sound of the gurg-
ling water below, he feels a chill or hor-
ror as he contemplates his tragic end
should miTstep hurl him into It's depths.
This cavern is of curious structure, being
so formed as to admit of exploration eith-
er way you wish to 90, to the right or
left, up or down Streams of pure spring
water course down through rocky lodges,
and nestle in artificial reservoirs at their
base, giving an air OF comfort to the dirt
begrimmed explorer. The rocks forming
the sides and ceilings of the different
rooms and passages are set with stalac-
tites, sheddiCg off strange lustre when
brought in contact with the light. The
sandy rocks are literally covered with
names from all parts Of the country, and
dated early as 1920.
A number of years ago lady from
Pittsburg lost herself in this cave, and
being unable to regain the course to the
mouth, perished; her whitened bones
were found few years afterward by an
exploring party. being the only vestige
left to tell OF her unhappy fate She had
probably entered the cave unguided, and
thus unthinkingly subjected herself to
an awful death by starvation.
Nothing can be more striking to tie
lover of romance In nature, than this truly
historic cave. The discoverer is not known,
anG it may be this was one of the accus-
toned haunts of savage band OF Indians,
and more latterly the rendezvous of den
of thieves, who infested :his county in
1852. 1t has never been explored to its
fullest extent, but it seems to cover
large area, as our party crossed their
twine two or three times. For some dis
tance, perhaps a rod or more IN certain
places, it narrows down to a small circular
hole, perhaps two feet or more in diameter,
and then into a large, spacious room
Shaped in the rocks are to be seen the
outlines of snakes, lizards, and other curl
GUS shaped reptiles, an0 occasionally the
marks of human feet and hands liz the sol
id rocks,--once supposed to be soft clay.
Bats, both white and black, are found,
l.
the approach of the light, thing to which