The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1867-07-19


which the water loft the main Cave tc
reach Echo River, after it had ceased to
flow out of the mouth of the former iutc
Green River. In other respects it is
not of particular interest.
The Wooden Bowl Cave is next in or.
der. 1t receives lis name from the fact
that a wooden bowl, such as was used by
the Indians in early times, was found in
it when it was first discovered. The cave
itself is of the shape Of an inverted wooden
bowl. Black Snake Avenue leads of
from this point across to the Main Cave.
1t receives its name from its serpentine
course, and black walls.
Continuing our course, we next enter
Martha's Palace by passing a steep de-
cLylty and pair of steps, called the Steps
of Time. This palace is about forty feet
IN height and sixty in diameter. There
is no particular object Of interest, here,
and it is difficult to imagine why it should
have received SO grand name
A spring of clear water Id found n
short distance beyond Martha's palace.
The Side.Saddlo Pit, over which there
rests dome sixty feet in height, ia reach
ed by passing through what 10 called the
Arched Way, the walls, floor and ceiling
OF which bear evidence that it was once
the channel of running water. This pit
is about ninety feet deep, and at It's widest
part about twenty feet across.
Minerals Dome is situated about TWEEN
ty feet to the left of the Side-Saddle Pit.
1t is fifty feet in height and ten in width.
The Dome and Pit, DR.. Wright states,
have been cut out of tho solid rock by
the solvent action Of water containing car
bonic acid in solution. They are still
onlarging. The aperture leading to tho
Pit presents the outlines of side.saddle,
hence tde name.
We next arrive at the Bottomless Pit
the bottom of this pit, however, is now
known to be but one hundred and seventy.
five feet from the surface. Its width
varies from fifteen to twenty feet. A sub.
stantial wooden bridge, termed the Bridge
OF Signs, is thrown across it, from whence
it may be viewed in safety. This pit is
beautifully lighted up by the guide, who
throws Bengal lights down, showing in
their descent every part from top to bot
tom.
Shelby's Dome, sixty feet in height,
rests directly over the Bottomless Pit
The Pit and Dome have been found, and
are still enlarging, by the same cause that
e2cavated the Side-Saddle Pit.
1t is remarkable fact that wherever a
pit is found in the Mammoth Cave, there
is corresponding dome of nearly equal
proportions above it. There arc but two
Or ,hree exceptions to this rule.
We next enter an apartment about
twenty feet in height, and forty in dame
ter, which is called the Revelcr's Hall,
from the fact of its being the custom of
visitors to tarry here for time to discuss
the terrOrs of the Pit, and refresh them.
selves with the potables usually carried.
Proceeding, the Valley of Humility is
entered, very properly named from the
fact that it is necessary to bow very low
to pass through this valley, the ceiling
being about four feet in height. The
ceiling 10 smooth and white, and appears
as though it had been plastered. At the
end Of this valley we have to pass under
what is termed the Scotchman's Trap
Tho trap is a circular opening about Eve
feet in diameter, over which IS suspended
huge rock standing at an angle of forty
five degrees, and sustained by an appar-
emily delicate support at the top, causing
the visitor shuddering sensation while
passing under it. If this rock were to
fall, it would completely close the ave.
nue. leading to Echo River.
Beyond the Scotchman's Trap is found
a narrow, tortuous avenue, fifty yards in
length, called the Fat Mans Misery
This avenue has been out out of solid
rock by the mechanical action of the
water. The lower part of the avenue
varies in width from foot and half to
three feet, and the upper part from four
to ten feet. Contrary to the general i'm.
preston, says DR.. Wright, there never
was man too large to pass through Fat
Mans Misery. Probably the late Hon
Dixon II. Lewis, of Alabama, was an ex
ception to the rule
At the end of the Fat Mans Misery
the avenue Suddenly rises to the height
of from ten to twenty feet, and of width
of from forty to sixty feet. This is called
the Great Relief which name all the visi.
tors, whether fat or lean, will willingly
accord after their contracted experiences
in the last passage. From the ceiling
immense modules of ferrugiuous limestone
project:
River Hall extends from Great Relief
to the River Styx. 1t varies in width
from forty TO sixty feet.
The Bacon Chamber is situated on the
right of River Hall. 1t receives its name
from the fact that small masses of rock
project from the ceiling, whichin size and
appearance resemble bacon hams.
About forty feet below the terrace
which ledas to the Natural Bridge, is a
body of water, fifteen feet deep, twenty
wide, and fifty in length, termed the Dead
Sea. 1t is quite as gloomy in appear
ance, saws DR.. Wright, as its celebrated