Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-06-27
A STRANGE STORY.
Discovery Of q Cavern in the
Palisades. near New York.

The Metropolitan Record has a corre-
spondent who writes to that journal to
say;
/ am the discoverer of an immense
cavern in the Palisades of the Hudson,
fully one mile in length, and at least
half mile wide, with vaulted roof,
higher than that Of Trinity Church, sup
ported by innumerable pillars, which
must have been erected by the hand OF
man many centuries since, and furnished
with iunumerable side recesses, ante
chambers and long winding passages Of
the most wonderful construction.
Ruins of what have evidently been
altars, erected thousands Of years ago,
are abundant, together with the moulder-
log bones of beings of enormous stature,
as belonging to race of giants that for
merIy inhabited the earth. The floors
of this remarkable cavern are as smooth
and hard as granite, though covered deep
with the dust of centuries. Here and
there lower deep is discernible through
the all-pervading gloom, with spacious
stone steps leading thereto. From these
mysterious cavities the sound of rushing
waters fall upon the ear, with other re.
verberalions of a strange, unearthly
character. The cavern, it is manifest, is
not like the Kentucky cave-a freak of
nature--but, as already conjectured, the
work of man in some early period Of the
worlds history. Cabalistic signs cover
the bases of some Of the pillars, while
figures bearing close resemblance TO
sphinxes, deaths heads and mummies,as
If of Egyotan design, adorn various
portions OF the walls and root. II is GER
tainly passing strange that the existence
of this remarkable subterranesn palace
(for it richly deserves the name) should
have so long remained profound mys-
terry, lying as it does close to the most
populeus city in America. Its grassy
roof, even now, constitutes the favorite
play ground of thousands of unsuspect-
iug school children, as we'll as the favor
ite resort of innumerable picnic parties
on summer afternoons. Its mode OF dis
covery by myself was as follows: Wan
dering along the Palisade ridges one
afternoon last summer, for recreation and
study, / sat down to rest myself under
the shadow of tree. Immediately after
ward couple of rabbits darted past me,
and the endeavor to capture them brought
me to small crevice in the hill,partially
concealed by clump Of shrubbery.
Into this crevice the animals darted, and
roofing up the sbrubbery in order to
dislodge them, judge of my surprise on
discovering an opening spacious enough
to admit the eutran0 of mans body.
A feeling of fear at first crept over me,
and looked around to see If any person
was near to help me examine the place;
but not soul at the time was in calling
distance; and so, after recovering my
self possession little. | resolved to look
in-not, however, Without some serious
misgiviugs as TO the possible presence of
some huge anaconda that might deprive
me Of my head. Gradually mastering
courage, in / went, and to my surprise
discovered that the farther | went the
wider grew the aperture. My courage,
however, had been severely tested, and
after makiBg such observations as the
darkness and close atmosphere would
permit, ] CROPPED back to the light OF day
and carefully closed up the entrance to
the place, mentally resolving to return
next day to pursue my explorations My
6rst impulse was to communicate the
secret 10 some friend in whom | could
coufide; but the reflection that the
cave might contain hidden treasure,
which, 10 that case, would have
to be divided, persuaded me that
ii we're best to keep the secret pri-
vate. The next day was stormy, aud l
did not 90. but providing myself with q
dark lantern, on the following morning |
renewed my research, with what result,
exciting my wonder and smszsment, you
are slready informed. From that day to
this, my explorations have been on an
average Of once q week, unless inter
milted by III health Every succeeding
visit reveals something new, and the
marvels Of to-day are quite thrown into
the shade BY the yet more startling dis
ooveriss which break on the eye aud ear
To- morrow. A remarkable circumstance
which | have forgotten 70 note is,
that the atmosphere 10 the body Of the
cavern is perfectly pure, though have
not been able 20 discover any outlet or
inlet for ventilation, apart from the ori.
fce through which | obtained ineress
Ny theory is, that the rushing water IN
the sub-csvern furnish the means OF re.
neuing the atmosphere. There are siaall
pools Of salt water imbedded in The hoor
of the cavern, bot no fish inhabit them.
y of