Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1866-04-26
A THRILLING NARRATIVE.
A REMARKABLE CAVE IN CRAWFORD COUNTY
Terrible Adventure of Expso-
ring Party.
TWO MEM LOST IN THE CAVE.

EEANESW0RFH, AIrlt .
EnToRs HERALD-Gentiefnen: write 10 inform
you OF the PARTICULARS of exploring expedition
which left here ON ThIrslly Last, to explore Dead
Man Cave. situated about four miles south of
this place, three-qCarters ola mile west of the
river. The existence of this cave has been known
for some time, though its extent has never been
suspected until recently few weeks since a
party from Louisville, accompanied by citizens of
this place, explored it TO the distance of three
quarters of mile, but stopped by a wide
subterranean river, too deep for f3riing, and
which they had no means Of crossing. The party
which left here on Thursdiy, consisting Of Major
Throckmorton, of Louisville; Captain Holcrait,
Sheriff Swaine, DIR. + 5. ii avn and Lyman T..
Knapp. of this place; Mr.. Jesse Brand IN, of Nash
vlle and your correspondent, went prepared to
make thorough exploration of the cave. Besides
tiie necessary lights, ropes, water proof clothing
etc, they cirrici with then, light but st.uuch
boat. prepared expressly for the occasion, on
which TO cross the mysterious stream that had on
the former occasion. stopped their future progress
The party Set forth in the highest Of spirits, DR..
Hawn. whose sad fate has c,st a gloom over the
entire community was especially buoyant. The
Doctor WAS greatly exher,tel by the prospec: of
an exciting aui adventurous day. and his good
humored Wit ard ready repartee we're the lie and
,oul Of the party.
The expei iton proceeded without delay to the
terminus of the former exploration on the banks Of
MED the former expedition noticed perceptible
change in the Appearance of the stream. which
seemed to be much fuller and more turbulent
punging and roaring in some unknown abyss be-
low. consultation vas had On the bank, to de-
terHilne whether aa attempt should be made to
Cross IFS present swollen condition. Mr. Knapp.
myself and Sheriff Swaine suggested an abandon
ment Of the expedition, but were overruled by
DR. Hlwn, Major Throckmorton, CAptiin Hol-
craft, and Mr. Brandon, VIII ,. while admitting the
dangerous Character of the attempt, declared they
would rlther perish than abandon the expedition
now, and stand the ridicule which such move
ment would entail upon their heads. The boat
Was accordingly launched. and Captain Holcraft,
DR.. Hawn and mysef entered, the doctor playful
y rem 'rkins thit some who were destined to
die another death could never be drowned. We
found the passage much easier than we expected
Captain Holcraft took the oars, while grasped the
tiller and the doctor held aloft the htmbeau. A
few vigorous strokes, and, with sensation Of re-
lief, we felt the keel CRATE up)h the pebbles OF
slop ne bank on the other shore, in still and quiet
waters. A lusty chaer from the doctor made the
cavern ring, and informed the rest of the party
that the passage had been nc accomplished. Cap
tain Holcraft then returned and soon br0a sht
the rem sinder Of the party. The boat was firmly
secured to stout iron stake, brought along for the
purpose, AMI the party proceeded on the expcdi
ton. Directly ahead was wnle gallery, whose
roof was SO high that we could scarcely distn
guish 1t by the feeble iyit OF the lamps, while TO
the right and left the stream ran through another
gallery or chamber, the two intersecting each 9th
er like the arms of a Greek cross. We followed
the gallery before Us for about quarter OF mile,
when it suddenly narrowed, and appareItly came
TO an abrupt termination. After searching for an
outlet AMI hnding none, we were on the point of
reluctantly turning back, when shout OF exulta-
ton from DR.. Hawn proclaimed that he had found
on opening. To the right, aud some distance from
tie termination of the cul de sac, the Doctor had
discovered narrow opening. Crawling through
this on cur hands and knees for distance Of sew
eral hundred yards, We came upon high vaulted
chamber, partially lighted from above. which vas
the most magnificent underground hall have ev
er seen. Thousands of stalactytes and sta lagmtes
hung pendant from above, rejecting the glare OF
the torches in millions of pure rays of dazzling
light. If the ceiling and sides had been literally
hung with enormous clusters of diamonds. the ef
feet could not have been more bewilderng. FOR
a moment the entire party stricken and
speechless. Then the more excitable ones broke
forth in rapturOus applause. Coptain Holcrat de-
cared it was the proudest moment OF his life not
excepting the memorable occasion when, as Cap
tain of the gurboat Oposum, he stampeded the
rebel ligh. art llery below Vicksbnrg. DR.. Hawn
made speech, taking possession of the chamber
in the name OF the Great American people, the
Acadamy of medicine and ''the code.' Mr..
Knapp and myself busted oursel' gathering spec
linens. Major Throckmorton drew willow COW
cred sextant from his breast pocket aud proceeded
TO take "obseryation,' while Sheriff Swayne.
who had be en- entrusted with the commissaries OF
the expedition. proceeded to spread lunch.
After eahausting the solids and fluids and feast
ing our eyes to safety on the indescribable spen
dor of the surroundings, we proceeded to further
discoveries. Numerous small galleries were found,
radiatng in every direction from the central cham
ber, and these were explored in turn, some OF
them coming to an abrupt close, against dead,
blank wall Of rock, and Others gradually narrow
ing, until they could be followed no further
Others forked, branching of into two or three
other galleries. II was found that the thorough
exploration Of the from this point would be
a work of weeks, if not o: months. In one place
was found deep circular hole. apparently almost
bottomlcss. Stones dropped into its gaping
mouth would be heard sullenly plungng from
side to side, until the noise of their descent was
lost in the abyss far below. Mr.. Knapp being the
ghtest Of the party. was let down by strong cord
distance af some thirty yards, when he vigorous
y signiied that he had seen enough by jerking the
rope. He was drawn up, looking a trlhe paler
than usual, and declaring that his curiosity had
peen amply satisfied. Mr.. Knapp said that, after
numerous winged things, apparently bats. fitted
constantly about his ears, viciousy swapping their
mandibles together with devish sort of twifter.
One OF these cold, clammy, and inexpressibly
nasty, alghted on his face, and inflicted severe
bite. Mr. Knapp nearly tainted with disgust and
declared that il the rope had not been tied under
his arms he would have fallen.
Now comes the most painful part of the story.
Tired, and weary OF sight seeing, the party wAs
on the point of starting on the return, when, at
the earnest solicitation of DR. Hawn. we consent
ed to at least partially explore another cavern 1t
was followed but short distance when it sudden
ly narrowed. Mr.. Knapp, going first, passed
through the opening on his hands and knees, and
entered another chamber. DR.. Hawn, who is q
very heavy man. attempted to follow, and became
inextricably fixed in the passage. He could nei /
ther get forward nor back. For three hours the
party worked necessarily, but all to no purpose.
We sent pack to the river and got the iron
stake, with which the boat had been fastened, to
use as a crowbar. With this the doctor might
have been extricated, but hersa new calamity man
ifested itself. One by one. the lamps had burned
ont, until barely enough oil was left to light US on