Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-04-16
A THRILLING NARRATIVE.
Remarkable Cave in Crawro d Co. In,
Terrible Adventures of Explorers.


Herald, writing from Le~avenworth, Craw-
ford, Ind, gives an account of a remark
able cave which has lately been discovered
in that place, and-the terrible adventures
of an exploring Psrty. The story is a
highly sensational one. The writer says
l write to inform J GU Of the particulars
of an exploring expedition which left here
on Thursday last, to explore Dead Mans
Cave, situated about four miles south of
this place three-quarters of a mile west
of the river. a few weeks since a party
from Louisville, accompanied by citizens
of this place, explored it to the distance of
three-quarters of amile, but were stopped
by q wide subterranean river, too deep for
fording, and which they had no means Of
crossing. The party which left here on
Thursday, consisting of Major Throck-
morton, of Louisville; Captain Holeraft,
Sheriff Swanye, DR.. Z. R. Hawn and Ly-
man E. Knapp, of this place; Mr.. Jesse
Brandon, of Nashville, and your cores
pondent, went prepared TO make a thor
ough exploration of the cave, Besides
the necessary lights, ropes, waterproof
clothing, &c, they carried with them a
light but staunch boat, prepared expressly
for the purpose, on which to cross the
mysterious stream that had on former oc-
c%asions stopped their further progress.
The stream was reached without diff
Guilty, and by means of our boat a cross
ing was easily effected, and with light
hearts we went IN to prosecute our ex-
plorstions.
Directly ahead was a wide gallery,
whose roof was so high that we could
scarcely distinguish it BY the feeble light
of the lamps, while to the right and left
ran the stream through another gallery
or chamber, the two intersecting each
other like the arms of a Greek cross. We
followed the gallery before us for about a
quarter of a mile, when it suddenly mar
rowed, and apparently came to an abrubt
termination. After searching for an out
let, and finding none, we were on the
point of reluctantly turning back, when a
shout of exultation from DIR. Hawn pro-
claimed that he had found IN opening.
To the right, and some distance from the
termination of the e1H de sac the Doctor
bad discovered a narrow opening. Crawl
ing through this on our hands and knees
for q distance of several hundred yards,
we came upon q high vsulted chamber,
partially lighted from above, which was
the most magnificent underground hall l
have ever seen. Thousands of stalactytes
and stalagmites hung pendant from above,
rejecting the glare of the torches in mil
lions OF pure rays of dazzling light, If
the ceiling and sides had been literally
hung with enormous clusters of diamonds
the effect could not have been more be-
wildering. For a moment the entire
party was awe-stricken and speeches..
Then the more excitsble ones broke forth
in rapturous applause.
Numerous small galleries were found,
radiating in every direction from this CEN
trail chamber, and these were explored in
turn, some of them coming to an abrupt
close, against a dead, blank wall of rock,
and others gradually narrowing until
they could be followed no further. 9th
ers forked, branching of into two or three
other galleries. 1t was found that the
thorough exploration of the cavern from
this point would be q work of weeks, if
not months. In one place was found a
deep circular hole, apparently almost bot
tomless. Stones dropped into its gaping
mouth would be heard sullenly ~plunging
from side to side, until the noise of their
descent was lost in the abyss far below.
Mr. Knapp was let down by a strong cord
a distance Of some thirty yards, when he
vigorously signifed that he had seen
enough by jerking the rope. He was
drawn up, looking a tribe paler than
usual, and declaring that his curiosity had
been amply satisfied. Mr.. Knapp said
that, after descending a distance Of fifteen
or twenty feet, numerous winged things,
apparently bats. fitted constantly about
his ears, vieiously swapping their mandi-
bles together with a devilish sort of twit-
ter. One of these-cold, clammy and in
expressibly nasty-alighted on his face
and inflicted a severe bite.
Tired and weary of sightseeing, the
party was on the point of starting on the
return, when, at the earnest solicitation of
DR.. Hawn, We consented to at least par
TALLY expore another cavern. 1t was fol-
lowed but 8 short distance when it sud
denly narrowed. Mr.. Knapp, going first,
passed through the opening on his hands
and knees, and entered another large
chamber. DR.. Hawn, who is o very
heavy man, attempted to follow, and be-
came inextricably fixed in the passage.
He could neither get forward nor back.
For three hours the party worked inces-
sanity, but all to no purpose. Meantime,
n by one the lamps had burned out, I'M
til barely enough oil was left to light US
on our way back to the river. The
thought of being imprisoned in that liv-
ing tomb was too terrible to be endured,
for we knew without light we could
never find our way back. A panic seized
upon the party and leaving the Doctor and
NJ Knonn 20 Ahafr rafn mo -a~S11r-
retraced our steps across the river and
returned to the town. a supply Of oil,
tools etc, were procured, and we returned
to the cave, determined to rescue our com
rades or perish in the attempt. The river
was crossed, and we proceeded to the
grand chamber where-w had taken our
lunch, accompanied by numerous citizens
of Leavenworth. But search as closely as
we would, we cotld not find the gallery in
which the Doctor and Mr.. Knapp were
entombed. In vain we explored and
shouted until worn out and fainting. All
to no purpose. Nearly three days have
passed Eince we first entered the cave and
during all that time it has been full of
people uselessly hunting for the two IN
fortunate men. One after another of the
various galleries leading from the grand
chamber have been explored and blazed
with chalk marks, but still the missing
men cannot be found. The guide of the
Cave, in Kentucky has been
sent for to assist in the search.
P. .S.-Mr. Knapp has just been
brought in. A hunter found him lying
at the mouth of what has generally been
considered q sort of sink hole, about five
miles from the town. Mr.. Knapp's condi-
ton is too precarious to admit of o de-
account of his escape, but from
what I car gather from his incoherent ex-
plantations, it seems that, finding he could
not return, he went ahead, in hope offnd-
ing al outlet. After what seemed an age
Of wandering and cropping in the dark,
and after having several times despairing-
" laid down to die, he was at Iase sue
cessful in emerging from his living tomb.
he tainted On coming to the open air, and
inthis condition found by the hunter.
party has just gone to enter the cavern
by the way in which Mr.. Knapp came
put.
TOPICS AND GOSSIP.