Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-03-06

| "osSh tOh thO
and on the opposite side of the river. /
in company with Mr.. Healey, an invalid
who was travelling for the benefit of hi,
health, took seat in the latter, which
was in charge of Benton, the third mate
and before noon her crew of six mer
we're filling the casks with pure, fresh
water.
The springs we're found at the foot O
an abrupt, rocky cliff, not far from q
stream of considerable size, tributary te
the Rio de Luzza. Behind this cliff a
range of mountains rose to great hight,
presenting serrated front, resembling Q
vast wall, half ruined, which hemmed the
island in.
The eight casks were filled in less than
two hours, and the officer in charge, as
10th to leave the island as ourselves pro
posed climb up the broad, wooded val
ley, which formed the bed of the stream
which we had ascended from the river
There was no one to raise an objection
We were subject to the orders Of none
who could oppose such measure, and
Ue were disposed to make the most Of our
opportunity. Besides, the labor cf tilling
the water casks would well account fol
the better part of the day. Therefore
away we went, leaving behind with the
boat colored boy, an assistant of the
steward. A laborious walk Of mile and
half, over rocks and the trunks of fallen
trees, brought us to point where the
valley rapidly narrowed down, and was
finally abruptly terminated by dead
wall of rock, seven or eight hundred feet
in hight. Turning sharply to the left 0
narrow chasrn penetrated the solid rock
affording q channel for the troubled
stream, which had worn its way
through granite through score of centu
ries Of ceaseless flowing.
1t was dark, forbidding canon, more
like the entrance to subterranean vault
than the bed OF q stream. The rocks
overhead-hundreds of feet above--so
nearly Joined from either side as scarcely
TO allow the light of day to penetrate the
gloomy chasm down to the water. (
Urged by curiosity, we endeavored to
explore this passage, to ascertain if il
led into vast subterranean cavern in
the mountain side, or debauched on a
valley far above. But this we found
almost impossible. With every step the
difficulties and dangers of the way were
multiplied. The rocky border of the
stream was so narrow as in many places
scarcely to afford foothold, and the
greatest care was constantly required to
avoid fall into the boiling, rushing wa
ters that Numbered along beneath. We
proceeded in this manner, with great care
and labor, for at least half an hour, yet
had not accomplished more than hun
dred rods from the entrance of the pas
sage. 1t was useless to attempt to pro-
ceed farther. There was no sign of light
ahead. Indeed, the gloom seemed to
deepen every moment, aud the ceaseless
roaring of the torrent we'll nigh deafened
ua. We paused to rest an instant before
retracing our steps to the boat.
"What q pity we haven't a drop Of
grog along" said one. These damps
will be the death of us. /
Il would take pleasure in drinking to
the good health of the old demon that
lives here" added Healey, in joking
way. "But as | haven't the means of
doing him that honor, I'll just leave my
card here, to let the old fellow know who q
been in to call upon him, and to stand as
record of this VISIT -
He picked up fragment of gray mari,
or soap-stone, and reaching as high as
possible, began to record on the wall his
name, with the date of our visit to the
spot But scarcely had he touched the
stone ere be dropped his hand, and
glancing with look Of surprise toward
the opening between the jutting rocks
overhead, wonderingly exclaimed, "How
dark it gets u
This singular fact was observed with
astonishment by all the party. The
darkness had suddenly increased to such
an extent that we could but dimly dis
tinguish each other, and the irregular
outlines of the walls were quite obscured.
"a thunderstorm |" was the involun-
tary exclamation that dropped from the
lips ef each.
For heavens sake let US get out of
this fearful place as soon as possible"
said Hesley, excitedly. Itrequired only
such an expression of alarm, in addition
to the threatening appearance OF the sky,
to awaken the most serious apprehension
in the minds OF the sailors, who are pro-
verbally the greatest OF towards when
upon the land, though brave enough on
There IVES q Simultaneous rush toward
the mouth of the canon, regardless Of
the darkness and the difficulties of the
way. Too late; the storm was upon u.s.
A distant roaring sound was heard, the
reverberations Of which swelled from
wall to wall, filling the gloomy recesses
of the rayless cavern, and the granite
foundations beneath our feet trembled as
with an earthquake shock. The rising
wind soughed with mournful sound
among the arches Of the everhauging
cliffs. The rain began TO fall, but
lightly and in fitful gusts.
1t was a time of fearful suspense. All
nature seemed hushed, as il but pausing
10 gather together her powers for one
mighty convulsiou.
With an energy that only the conscious
ness Of imminent peril could have lent,
we made oar way, struggling over
heaped up piles of rock and slippery
beds Of mari along the narrow border Of
the turbulent stream toward the entrance
Of the dark chasm. We reached il, and
III che odvnnfara of a hes.ar liCht