The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1869-04-29
The Wonderful Cavern Under
Lookout Mountain.
BY AN Ex.EDIT0R.

BY AN Elk EDITOR.
The most interesting curiosity in the
vicinity Of Lookout Mountain is the
immense cavern that lies underneath it
During several years past and especial
ly during the late war, the cave was
used by the Confederate Government
for the manufacture Of saltpetre, large
quantities of which are bedded in it at
various points Several explorations
have been made, hut until recently the
immensity of its extent was unknown.
The Indians, however, have tradition
that the cave communicates with the
Nicajack, and is more than twenty
miles in length. They are also re-
ported to have used it as a depository
for their dead, and investigation proves
this to be true. Capt. Harvey Mathis
who has special peuchant for explor-
ing holes in the ground, made a tour
Of inspection over the distance of two
miles, and reports the cavern to be one
of the greatest curiosities of the kind
he ever visited; that it is more magnif-
icent and immense than Mammoth
Cave. Several persons have penetrated
to distance of eight miles from the
entrance. The cavern is a great curl
osity, and am certain that accurate
surveys of it will exhibit more wonders
and a greater extent than those Of the
famous cave Of Kentucky. This will
add to Lookout Mountain another point
of extraordinary interest and serve to
make the place very attractive to Wis.
itors. The roadway from the entrance
is comparatively smooth to the salt.
petre works, a distance of over a mile
A half mile from the mouth, deep
ravine crosses the passage, and this is
scaled by ladders that are let down
from each side. Passing farther into
the mysteries Of the cavern we encoun-
tered enormous expansions in the rocks
some Of which are limitless, the lights
not pentrating to their boundaries.
Numerous narrow passages lead from
these to other chambers, all Of which
vary in size and character. A theatre
with its stage, side scenes, orchestra,
raised seats, an irregular gallery and
the arched dome frescoed and pictured
next rises around and overhead. An.
other chamber has immense sides, and
from its ceiling are long pendant de.
posts of calcerous formations, which
glitter like stars in the armament Tht
lights flashing on them make them spar
kle and shine like sky full of jewels
The air becomes very cold and damp,
as we descend to a murmuring dark
river, in whose waters eyeless fish
abound. A whisper here Kisses and
surges along the walls like a loud voice
A shout echoes and reverberates and
stuns the ear A pistol shot resounds
like a hundred pounder in the open
air. This stream we named ELENA
River, in honor of fair daughter OF
Memphis. An irregular bridge of rocks
permits crossing to be made by ex
plorers. From this point succession
of rocky lodges and rocks composed
of fragments Of stone, are found ane
present rough obstacle to the pedes
E trian. Toiling over the wearisome as
cent to q distance of third mile, WI
reached smooth and level passage
way. Looking back over the range O
mountain road, were reminded OF a lik'
passage in the iniation ceremonies O.
the Sons ofMalta, and groaning ovel
the memories of both, we named i
f The Rugged Way.
Passing through an avenue, whose
smooth sides reach upwards into il
limitable AMI unexplorable space, We
entered a succession of chambers
whose outlines and contour do mo-
vary much in character. The floors o.
these are generally smooth, occasion
ally they are covered with stalagmites
. and broken stalactitcs, whose fantastic
formations glitter and shine with gor
geous and magnificent reflections. One
room is so like the design of St. Peter:
and St. PaaPs Church, that we namet
|it after that sacred edihce. Mountain
Gus paths appear, and the road becomes
exceedingly rugged; then another Sc
, ries Of chambers are found. One o.
these have an immense round chimney
ascending whittier We cannot conjecture
I The wind rushes through it with
strong draught, and makes a peculiarly
sweet sound in the transit. This w
chose to call "Eulus' Bugle." 1t evi
IDENTIFY communicates with an opening
: to the outer air, somewhere near tina,