The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1868-07-29
Discovery Ofa Cavern i'm the
Palisades n car New York.

Palisades IA ear New York.
i The Metropolitan Record hasa cor
respondent who writes TO that journal
to say:
/ l am the discoverer Of an immense
cavern in the Palisades Of Hudson, full
Iy one mile in length, and at least half
a mile wide, with roof, higher than
that ef Trinity Church, supported by
innumerable pillars, which must have
been erected BY the hand Of man many
.centurics since, and furnished with in.
Vulnerable side recesses, ante-chambers
and long winding passengers Of the
most NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. =.
Ruins of what have evidently been
altars, erected thousands of years ago,
are abundant, together with the
mouldering bones Of beings of en-
ormous stature, as belonging to race
of giants that formerly inhabited the
earth. The floors of this remarkable
cavern are as smoo and hard as gran
lite though covered deep with the dust
of centuries. Here and there lower
is dis elnlble through the all pervad-
ling gloom, with spacious stone steps
leading thereto. From these mysteri-s
Gus cavities the s)und Of rushing waters
fall upon the ears, with other revcrbc~-
rations of a strange. unearthly charac-
ter. The cavern, it is manifest, is not
like the Kentucky cave, freak of ma
ture, but az already conjeetured, 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 a close resems
blance to sphinxes, deaths head, and
mumies, as if of Egyptian design,
adorn various portions of the walls and
roof. 1t is certainly passing strange
that the existence of this remarkable
subterranean palace (for 1t richly de-
serves the name) should have SO lorg,
remained a profound mystery, lyirg as
it docs clo"e to the most populous city
in America. Its grassy roof, even
now, constitutes the favorite play
ground of thousands of unsuspecting
school children, as we'll as the favorite,
resort of innumerable pic mic parties
on summer afternoons. Its mode of
discovery by. myself was as follows.
Wandering along the Palisade ridges
one afternoon last summer, for recrea-
i ton and Study, sat down to rest my :.
self under the shadow of tree. Im-,
nediately afterwards couple of frabbits
darted past me, and the endeaVor to,
capture them brought me to a small,
crevice in the hill, partially concealed
by c,ump of shrubbery. Into this,
crevice the animals darted, and roofing,
up the shrubbery in order to dislodge
them, judge of my surprise on dis
covering an.opehiug spacious uough to
admit of tie entrance of mans body.
i A feeling of fear at first orept over me, +,
and 1 locking around toyseeif any per-
son was near to help me examine the
o ace but not soul at the time was
in calling distance; and so, after re-
covering my self possession little, L
resolved to look in-not, however,
without some serious misgivings as to
the possible presence Of some huge an,
aconda that might deprive me of my
head. Gradually mastering courage,
in 1 went, and to and to my surprise
discovered that the farther [ went the
wider grew the aperture. My courage,
however, had been severely tested, ana
after making such observations as the
darkness and close atmosphere would
permit, I groped back to the light of
day and carefully closed up the enter.
ance to the place, mentally resolving to
return next day to pursue my explora-
tions. My first impulse was 20 COM
municate the secret to some friend in
in whom 1 could confde but the re-
fleetion that the cave might contain
hidden treasure, which. in that case,
would have to be divided, persuaded me
that it were best to keep the discovery
private. The nextday was stormy, and L.
did not 60, but, providing myself with
dark lantern, on the following morn
ing l renew my research, with what.
result, exciting my wonder and amaze
ment, you are already Informed. From ct
that day to this my explorations have
been on an average of once a week, unless
intermitted by Ill health Every sue:
ceeding visit reveals something new,
and the marvels of to day are quite
thrown into the shade by the yet more
starting discoveries which break on the
eyes and ears to morrow. A remars-
able circumstance which have forget.
ten to note is, that the atmosphere in
the body of the cavern is perfectly
pure, though l have not been able to
discover any outlet or inlet for ventila-
ton, apart from the oriice through
which obtained iagress. My theory
is, that the rushing waters in the sub
cavern furnish the meaDs-ef renewing
the atmosphere. There are small pools
Of salt water inbedded in the floor of
the cavern, but no fish inhabit Them.
! For that matters indeed, no signs Of
animal life are visible. In all that
dark, deserted mansion, death like
silence reigns, broken only by the,
wall of the before mentioned cnseen'
waters in the recess beneath.