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


We started upon what is called the "I,one
Route" which is nine miles in length
Our party consisted of several friends
from Philadelphia and Kentucky, and q
gentleman from Virginia, and two or three
others, in all about fifteen in number,
seven OF whom were ladies. We were &C.
companied by two guides, so that in event
of over-fatlgue, or other cause, q party
could return with one guide from any
point, while the others pursued their
course. The wisdom of this provision
was afterwards exemplifed.
Tho entrance of the cave is down n
steep doclivityi about three hundrcd.yards
from tho hotal!
Upon reaching the mouth of the cave,
which is, perhips, eight or ten feet 10 d.
ameter, the guide supplies each visitor
with lamp. The ladies and gentlemen,
I'm their cave costumes, and each with a
lamp in hand, present picturesque np-
pearanoe.
The atmosphere of the cave, contrary
to what might be Supposed, is dry and
pure, visitors not experiencing the slight
est oppression in respiration. Indeed,
the purity of the atmosphere of the cave
Is SO remarkable that some years ago per-
sons afflicted with consumption, in vain
hope of cure, took up a residence in the
Cave being ignorant of the physiological
law which teaches that Sunlight, and the
diversion of the mind arising from inter-
course wit b our fellows, are elo.
ments in the treatment Of consumption,
equally as important as that of pure air.
Several osthe cabins formerly occupied
by these sufferers are still to be seem
They have not been used for period Of
more than twenty years.
The temperature of tho Cave Is uni
formly fifty-nine degrees, throughout the
year.
1t is unnecessary to speak here of the
chemical agencies entering upon the for
nation of the Cave. OF the mechanical
agencies concerned in the excavation of
the Cave, water is undoubtedly the chief
one. Centuries ago rivers flowed freely
through all the avenues.
! The loose rocks that are scattered on
the floor of many of tho avenues have
fallen from the walls and ceiling, but in
many instances the points from which
they were detached arc indlstiuct, from
the fact that the rugged surface from
which they have fallen is either smoothed
by the action of wafer, or covered by crys-
tails OF the carbonate or sulphatc Of limo
In those parts of the Cave where no rocks
have fallen, the floor presents the appear
ance of the bed of o river, and is covered
with gravel, sand, or clay, according to
the rapidity of the flow of water at the
time Of the deposit.
For the comfort of visitors it may be
stated that no rocks have fallen since the
discovery of the Cave.
After leaving the small archway near
the mouth Of Cave, the sides of which
are walled with rock, which the sa tpetre
manufacturers obtained from the floor at
this point, and which is called the Mar
rows, the visitor enters the Main Cave,
which is six miles in length, and which
varies from forty to one hundred feet in
height, and from sixty to three hundred
feet in width.
After passing the Narrows we entor the
Rotunda. The height Of the ceiling is
about one hundred feet, and its greatest
diameter one hundred and seventy five
feet. The floor is strewn with the re-
mains of watts, water pipes, aud other ma
terials used by the saltpetro miners in
1872. The wood Of which these materi-
ais are made is in good state of preser-
walton and shows no indications of decay.
TO the right Of the Rotunda, Audu-
bon's Avenue leads off for about half o
mile, to a collection OF stalactites. During
the winter millions of bats hibernate in
this avenue.
On leaving the Rotunda, and passing
huge overhansing cliffs to the left, which
closely resemble the cliffs of the Kentucky
river, after which they are named, the
Methodist Church IL entered 1t as
eighty feet in diameter and about forty
feet in height. Here, from the gallery or
pulpit, which consists of ledge of rocks
twenty feet in height, the gospel was OK.
pounded more than fifty years ago The
benches, or logs, occupy the same position
which they did when first placed in the
Church.
A short distance beyond the Church,
the Grand Arch is entered, which leads
to the Giants Coffin This arch is about
fifty feet high and sixty wide. TO the
left of the path leading to the Giants
Coffin, are found two immense rocks, many
tons in weight, which have fallen from
above, and are standing in an upright pc.
sition, upoo their narrowost base. These
are called the Standing Rocks.
The Giants Coffin, which occupies a
position few steps in advance of the
Standing Rocks, is an object of inter.
est. 1t is huge rock forty feet long,
twenty wide, and eight in depth. The
striking resemblance to coffin is instant
ly recognized by all beholders. 1t has
been detached from the side of the ave-
nue. against which it rests.
On the ceiling little to the left of the