, 1866-04-16
4 REMARKABLE STORY,
Discovery of Singular Cave In Indiana
Appalling Suffering and Peril OF the
indianapolis UeEa.d.1


ICorrcs pondeuce indianapolis Herald
LEAyExWoH1u. Crawford Co., Ind, April O..
write to Inform you of the particulars OF
an exploring expedition which left here On
Thursday last, to explore Dead Mau's Cave,
situated about four miles South Of this place,
tbree-quarters Of mile west OF the river a
few weeks since a party from Louisville, ac-
compnnicd by citizens OF this place, explored
1t to the distance Of three quarters OF mile,
bat were stopped by wide subterTanean
river, too aeeKlor fordin,g, and which thsy haa 1
here On Thursday, consisting Of Major
Throckmorton. Of Louisville; Captain Hol..
craft, Sheriff Swayne, Dr., E. R. .Hawu, and
Lyman E. Knapp, Of this place; Mr. Jesse
Brandon, OF Nashville, and your correspond
cnn, went prepared to make thorough ex-
plofatlon Of the care. Besides the necessary
carried with them a light but stauuch boat,
prepared expressly for the occasion, on which
10 cross the mysterious stream that had On
the former occasion stopped their further pro-
gress.' =.
A thorough and extended exploration was
made beyond this stream, lasting some hours,
and the party was on the point Of starting On
the return. when, at the earnest solicitation
Of Or. Hawn, we consented to ut least partial
y explore another cavern. It was followed
but d short distance, when It suddenly mar
rowed. slr. Knapp, going first, passed
through the opening on his hands and knees,
and entered another large chamber. Dr.
Hawn, who is heavy man, attempted TO fol
low, and became inextricahly fixed in the
passage. He could neither ret forward nor
back. For three hours the party worked
necessarily, but all to no PURPOSE. Mean
time, one by one the lamps had burned
out, until barely enough otl was left to
thought OF being Imprisoned In that Irving
TOMB was too terrible TO be endured, Tor we
knew that without light VIC could never find
our way back. 4 panic seized upon the
party, and hastily leaving the Doctor and
Mr.. knapp TO their fate, We rapidly, retraced
the town. A supply Of oil, tools, &C., wera
procured, and We returned to the cave, deter
mined to rescue our comrades or perish In
the attempt. The river was crossed, md we
proceeded to the grand chamber where We
had taken our lunch, accompanied bJ numeT-
closely Is ne would, we could not find the
gallery in which the Doctor aud Mr.. Knapp
were entombed. In vain We explored and
shouted, until worn ont ard tntnttng. All to
no purpose. Nearly three days have passed
since we 1rst entered the cave, and during all
that time 1t has been fun of people uselessly
hunting for the two unfortunate men. One
after another Of the various galleries leading
from the grand chamber have been explored
md b1azed with. chalk marks, but still the
missing men cannot be found. The guide Of
the Mammoth Cave Ia Kentucky has been
sent for TO assist In the search.
P.S.-Mr. Knapp has Just been brought IN.
A hunter found him lying ut the mouth OF
what has been generally considered sort Of
link mole, about five miles from the town.
Ar. Knapp's condition is too precarious to
admit OF detailed account Of bis escape, but
from what can gather from his incoherent
explanations, II seems that, finding he conld
not return, he went ahead, m hope Of finding
m outlet. After what seemed an age OF waR-
derlng and groping In the dark, and after
having several times despairingly laid down
to die, he was successful IN emerging from
his living tomb. He tainted on coming TO
the open air, and was In this condition found
by the hunter. A party has Just gone TO en-
ter the cavern BY the way in which Ar. Knapp
came out.