The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-08-09
Letter From Mammoth cave.

Editors Journal:
This is certainly the most pleasant |
place to spend a week in the western |
country. The fact that the hotel is
one of the best kept, makes it desir-
able; and the company, always gay,
gives rest to everything. Music on
the lawn in the evening, by No. l
string band, promenading on the long
piazzas, and dancing after 8 o'clock,
keeps ore busy most of the time after
leave hours" One trip at o'clock,
taking the whole day for the long
route" and two a day-91 and 3
o'clock-for the short route" are
what are called leave hours" 1t
takes a whole day for the long
route" constant walking, and
about four hours for the short
route" 1t is not so tiresome, how
ever. as one would suppose. The
air is so pure, or something of the
sort, prevent one from being as tired
after making the trip as one-half the
walking would do outside. Circum
stances over which we had no con-
troll prevented us making the long
route to-day, but we were lucky
enough to secure the services of "Old
Nat" the best guide here, for the
short route" and as our party were
small, we were enabled to see all of
interest. So many descriptions of this
cave have been given that we hardly
think it necessary to attempt any
thing like a detailed. account here.
We cannot tOrbear, however, men
tioning the Star Chamber" the
Gothic Chapel" and one or two
Chamber is simply grand, appearing
when lighted up, exactly like the sky
at night, with the stars twinkling and
a comet in the distance. This chamber
is the most noted of any in the cave,
and Justly so. The Gothic Chapel"
is noted for the weddings which have
occurred in it. 1t is quite notable
place, and several have occurred here.
A couple were married here last
week, description of which has al
ready been published in the jour-
NAL. The bride is said to have been
a lady of indispensable loneliness.
After the ceremony, they took the
long route" and returned In the
evening. There are many young la
dies here who would be glad to have
the same ceremony performed In the
same place, should think.
| There are more young people here
than at any other Summer resort l
know Of. They are full of life and
vivacity, and when dressed in their
fancy cave costumes, make one al
most wish he were young again. Peo-
pie are here from all parts Of the Uni
ted States, but more come from the
South. 1t is strictly Southern in
stitution," and you IN" and I'VE
uns" regard it so, and think no other
resort like Mammoth Cave" They
may justly feel proud of it, both as a
natural wonder and as an agreeable
place Of resort.
1.-THE Giants Coffin" or "Gorin's
Dome " are either worth all it costs
to see the whole cave, and are indie
scribable. One must see them to form
any conception of them.
The country about here is very
billy and wild, plenty of game in the
woods, and fish In Green River. As
a fishing or hunting place it is not
surpassed. The river runs within
half a mile OF the hotel, but is not
navigable further than Bowling Green.
The place, after 8 o'clock In the
morning, looks deserted enough, al
most all the visitors being in the cave
after that hour.
We will make the long route" to-
morrow, and will try, if not too tired,
to give our impression of it.
FRIDAY. August 3.
We made the trip to-day and feel
well paid for all the toll it cost US.
Who can tell the grandeur of Echo
River" the beauty of "CleVeland's
Cabinet, or the toilsome journey OF
the Rocky Mountains" We cross
ed Echo River" in one Of the boats
used for that purpose, "Old Nat"
our guide. singing
ar know salvatton's free,
| L know salvation'S free,
Salvation's free for you aud me,
| know salvat1on's free."
in that peculiarly sweet, melodious
voice which only the African race
can command, and the echoes dying
away in the distance reminded one
of the voices of choir and the rich
tones of an organ, the sounds dy-
ing away In the distance In indescrib'
able sweetness. Surely Echo Riv-
err cannot be surpassed as a natural
wonder by anything in nature. Only
those who have seen it can form any
conception of it. So, also, "Cleve-
lands Cabinet" The roof and sides
are covered with gypsum, flowers.
rose, lilies, &C., for more than half a
mile, and is crowned at the end by
the last rose of summer" a beautiful
gypsum formation, six inches in diam
eter, standing out in bold relief over
head. Nothing in nature surpass-
es it.
1t is utterly impossible for pen to
describe that beautiful wonder. the
Mammoth Cave" and one feels af-
ter emerging from it that all the
world. ought to see it and appre-
ciate II.
We go hence tomorrow, regret /
ting that we have not more time to