Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-07-23
MAMMOTH CAVE.
The Very Latest by Telegraph from
the Cave.
A Most Joyous Party---Beaaty and
GaIIantry---HOw we Got There
and Why we Came Away.

and Why we Came Away.
Those who had the the misfortune
TO be like "the rose which Laura to
Emma conveyed" cannot so soon
have forgotten the sheeted rain that
fell on Monday, about the dining hour
with most persons. Belonging to the
juste nilien Of society, the writer OF
this was in that category, and was
thrown behind time a considerable
space for the railroad tide which waits
for no man, and but for an unexpected
delay that detained the train several
minutes beyond the starting point his
prospects of a delightfully."- enjoyable
excursion to the Mammoth Cave
would have been cut off in the earli-
est budding-time Of their existence.
AS it was, he had not a moment to
spare, but he made the trip" never
theIess. Welcomed by that prince of
railroad superintendent, Col. Sam.
B. Jones, and that. most courteous
and affable of business managers,
James Speed, Esq, he soon found
himself admirably provided with a
lower section in a sleeping car, which
would be carefully and neatly spread
at the convenient hour Of early bed
time.
There were several persons who had
contemplated joining the excursion
party, but owing to some coRtretenlps
or another had failed to "cOme to
time" much to the regret and disap-
pO~intTnent Of their friends. But the
party was still large enough for enjoy
ment, but not so numerous as TO be
unwieldy. 1t was soon apparent that
the company had determined to i'm
prove the occasion, and "gO in for
the largest measure of enjoyment,
and without losing sight of that re-
finement so admirable in either sex,
everything like prudery or constrained
formality was put aside. AS well as
can now be remembered under
the circumstances some thirty-siX,
of whom the following names can
be given. 1t will at once be recOg-
nized as comprising much Ofthe ex-
quisite beauty and no little of the
galIantry of Memphis:
James Z. Lawton and wife, d. p.
Hadden, II. H. Potter and wife, Miss
Kate Potter, j. w. McCown, James
Hunter, John SOmerville, Miss Mary
Wright, R. a. Thompson and wife,
F. W. Smith, wife and daughter,
Mrs. T, H. Allen, Miss Mary Allen,
Capt. J. w, Sneed, Miss Mary Tai
bolt, Miss Walker Nelson, j. b. Mar
shall, James Speed, Miss Blanche
Speed, J. Speed Moody, Col. Sam, B,
Jones, g. II. Jones, Miss Alice Jones,
Miss b. Smith, j. II. LenOw and Z.
r. SWayne. There were some Others
but I cannot recall them. Attached
to the party, or attracted by some of
the numerous bright eyes that shOne
so dazzlingly, was Col. d. G. Read, an
attache of the COurier-JOlyHGt of Lou
isville.
Leaving Memphis behind, the train
dashed along at lightning-eXpresS
speed, and soon the National Gene
terry, Wells and Bartlett were left be-
hind. After passing the latter place q
short distance, it was observable that
we had progressed beyond the pre-
cincts Of the shower that had fallen
50 heavily in the city. Occasionally
there was a fine stand Of cotton, and
corn looked luXuriant and promising.
But there were too many Of both
where the late spring, and want OF
culture showed but a poor prospect
for either crop; and some felds-tOo
many for cOmfOrt-made manifest
that more was undertaken than could
be accomplished, and those who had
started Gilt With sanguine eXpecta-
tiOns "gave up the ghost" without
running a hurToW, but yielding to the
pressure of weeds and grass.
Humboldt was made on time, aud
the train 0 poured out its live and
lively freight in response to the sum-
mons 81 the gong. Thirty minutes
being given for the veSper meal, the
heavy influx OF guests was soon dis
tributed Mt the numerous tables, and
the chatter of knives, FORKS, cups,
spoons, with repeated calls for the 81
vices OF attendants, showed that an
unusual hustle was transporting, al
though, in the wayof hotel stock, it is
very evident that few have advan-
tages over the Humboldt hotel. "All
aboard found all in their respective
places, and the thriving city of Hum
boldt was left behind, the shadows of
night awaiting the entrance of the
train, closing around the cOnqueror's
way" and shutting out the view from
crops and other interesting objects on
the route.
We had crossed the Tennessee and
Cumberland, and passed Bowling
Green about daylight. About sunrise
we reached Glasgow Junction, where,
the hotel being kept by 4 brother Of
Mr.. L. !. Proctor, Of Mammoth Cave,
we We're welcomed with true Ken
lucky hospitality, and preparations
Immediately made for breakfast, the
appetites Of the gentlemen being
sharpened by a capital cocktail at
the invitation OF the host, who ap-
peared disposed and anxious to do ev-
erything in his power to contribute to.
the comfort of his guests. The ladies
looked charming, and the voice Of
good nature and melody, combined
with the uncOnstrained girlish laugh,
made the sweetest of music to mortal
ears. After the matitudinal repast,
the excursionistS bestowed themselves
in several ambulSnces, that did the
office of transfer buses" and were
rapidly wheeled to the Cave Hotel,
the transportation costing just one
dollar each. The good feeling preva-
lent could not better be described than
by saying there was not a murmur at
the close packing necessary to accom-
modate every one. The distance from
the Junction to the Cave is between
seven and eight miles, and the route
lies along the crest of a ridge with
comparatively slight fluctuations, but
deep gorges, thiekly wooded, on either
side. About half way the road passes
Cave, said to be very beau
tif1l but limited in extent, yet well
worth an exploration. Further on,
about two miles, is ProetOr's Cave,
discovered during the closing scenes
of the war, and namedin honor of the
worthy proprietor of the Mammoth
Cave, who is likewise its proprietor.
This cave has been explored several
miles, and although not 50 capacious
as it elder companion, is full of beau
tiful wonders, among which are nu-
merous s~talactites pendent from the
grained arches of its elevated. ceilings,
and Stalagmites that seem ready to
meet them half way from the uneven
This cave is well worth a
visit, and should be e by every
of the Mammoth Cave.s Its
discovery was somewhat singular, and
made by a negro, who, afraid of
being forced into the Federal army.
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