The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-02-19
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lookout MOufafn-..vVOnd e rfnI

party Of Ohians have been exploring the
cave under historic Lookout, and seem to have
penetrated the interior of that sublime and
majestic cninence to point where human
foetstep never trod before, cncountering obsta-
cles and dangers which would have deferred
and turned back less determined spirits. One
Of the party sent an interesting account of the
wonders discovered to the Memphis Post,
which Is published IN that paper of the 18th.
After detailing the spacious halls and chambers
through which they passed and to reach which
they had to squeeze through apertures of al
most impossible snallness, the writer con.
tinues
The character Of the rocks are chiefly sand.
stone. In one or two places we found some
very. fine stagatite formations and some of the
chambers are beautifully flescoed. One Of our
party, who explored Mammoth Cave. seemed
to be as much impressed with the grandeur of
this one. But little did we think that we were
to be the first to discover the greatest wonder
OF Lookout Cave. AS we were climbing over
the rough rocks that impedcd our way, we
discovered small hole ut our feet, lust large
enough to pass through. We found, by throw
ing rocks down, that 1t was narrow passage
to cavern below. The stones seemed to bound
from side to side until entirely lost to hearing
We did not think of attempting to descend
caught the faint roaring of u distant waterfall.
Curiositywas ut once aroused and fear, pru-
dcnce and impossibilities vanished. BY cling
ing to and bracing ourselves as against the
rocks, we safely. reached cavern nearly one
hundred feet below. Here the noise of falling
water became more distinct. and we more eX-
cited and determined TO pass on. Following
in the direction Of the sound we soon reached
another narrow assure in the bottom of the
cave, through this we tumbled rocks, and
1hpnril Thorn hound 81 In "a uf
ly splash into water. There was evidently IL
lake or stream, but our courage was nearly
overcome; we hesitated, fearing to make ano-
thor descent, but the thought of seeing some
thing still more grand and wonderful renewed
our courage, and another frightful pass was
made We now found ourselves standing on
the brink of pretty stream. rollicking joy-
ously over its pebbly bed, and the noise of the
waterfall roaring in our ears reminding us of
the thunders of Niagara. Following down the
stream Il few hundred feet we suddenly found
ourselves on the edge of great precipice,
over which the stream fell plunginy into a
dark, murky looking lake about fifty feet be-
low. The extent of this lake we were unable
to discover by the dim light of our lamps.
The deafening roar of the cataract--the boil
ing cauldron below-the projecting rocks over
hanging the lake, completely honeycombed-
the bright pebbles in the stream rejecting our
lights-the dark impenctrabe abyss below,
and the thunder of the falls reycrbcratinr
through the dark cavcrns, all filled us with
strange and understandable emotions. We De-
gan to realize that we We're in strange and
hitherto undiscovered place. No mark or trace
of human beings could be found to indicate
that others had looked upon this grand spec
taclc. We could scarcely resist the temptation
to explore further, and attempt another de-
scent to the lake below; but we had already
spent much time, and wandered far from day.
light, our lamp was burning low. and we re-
membered the difficult passages that must be
retraced. Reluctantly we turned away from
this wonderful scene, but resolved to return
again better supplied with lights, to see the
wonders of this cavern. DEW,
A view from the top of Look Out, of a clear,
calm day, is worth ride ofhundreds of miles,
and these recent wonderful discoveries below
will add attractive features to the locality.