The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-08-12
THE CIVE 1T BELLAMAR.
A Cuban Wonder.

The special correspondent Of the Cleveland
Leader writes from Matanzas, Cuba. an inter-
esting account OF his visit to the Cave of Bella.
mar, near MataDzas.
rhe cave is the property Of Signor Manuel
Santos Parga, and was accidentally discovered
about ten years ago by one OF hiH workmen
who, while breaking limestone Tor Kid near
by. found his lever sinking through hole
which proved to be the entranceto to On immense
cavern. Signor Parga at once set his men at
work to explore the place, aud With such sue
cess that within year he offered to the public
view the wonders Of the subterIanean domain.
polite guide was in readiness, and as bis Eng
lsb was about match for my Spanish, we got
along fsmousy together, neither OF us being
able to monopoliZe the conversation. NO prep
aratisn is isrequred, as the ground is dry, ex-
cept to remove any superfuous clothing, as
the temperature in the cave is about 6U de-
prees. The guide lit large wax candle, two inch
es ia diameter and made with four wlcks, 80 as TO
give very bright light, and We seeded the
atairs with less trepldation than when ! made
INV 6rst underground expedition. A descent
of about $50 feet brought US to the first and
largest hall, called the "Gotbic Temple, OF
irregular shape, averaging perhaps 2OO feet
wide and GO feet high. In slZa this room
hears no comparison with many in the Mann
moth Cave, but IN beauty tine Palace OF Aladdin
could not surpass it. As the guide held up his
torch we could see the high yaulted arch, stud
nil of the purest white, while the walls we're
lined with IMMENSE columns, where the staiac-
tites pendant from above had united with the
staIacm,tes which had grown up to meet them
below. One of the largest Of these pillars is
called "Columbue's Mantle" about fifty feet
high and ranging from eight to twenty leet 10
width. Its capacious white folds might easily
envelope giaut. Az its foot are several pro-
jecuons, ike men lying upon the ground, or
prostrate IN deep alteration. Opposite this
magnificent column large niche represents
the ssltar," decorated with stalagmites not un-
like images shaped uy an awkward hand in
the primitive state Of art. At the foot OF the
altar on prominent stone, o rude statue,
"The Guardian If the Cave" rises, its solemn
head turned towards the entrance.
FAIRY LAND.
Passing through this grand temple along an
irregular pathway few hundred teet, we came
TO hall varving il width aud height from ten
TO thirty feet, and several hundred feet long,
the sides Of which presented IN exact limitation
of banks OF snow. In some places the water
tr:ckled down the sides like miniature giacierS,
while the ceiling Was covered VIII network
of pendants, some Of tue puresl wniee @ anu
others tinted with delicate rose or straw
cJlor, and ali senli-.ranspareEt when the torch
was held behind them. rbese we're Of every
imaginable size and shape, some 80 Trail aud
oossamer-like that it seemed as II breath
would melt them away, like the delicate tracery
of lcice which sometimes covers our tress on
q winters morning. In other places they lung
so low that it was necessary 10 stoop III pass-
inc under them. Nor were they so very fragile,
tor some sprays as large as pipe stem was
unable to break Off others OF larger size
whom struck with my cane, ring with clear,
long vibration like bell. Several Of different
sizls when struck in succession gave oil the
tones OF the music scale. ilftse furtner on
we came TO room where the loendaa'5 took tnG
70. n of lalga tropical ieaTeS ana ciuS'et9 .u VI
piants. some very broad AID thin, and a. me
t,n NJ q, ah paud.nt vas 3 minute drop Oh Wa
ter. showing ,ka. the work Ut clysta'izatlou 10
still unIu on. S.I!i further ua vas room;
narion. twenty feet N size, which Jemed
closely huGg with beetS ana caffots, "tu an
thc,r fibrous roots attached. ana !aehiIS oGly
tbe color 10 make the aHuslon compete, JOE
these root. seemed peff,aed IN aid9astel. tne
H,Ij nf the B,nr dicloa, go called hecause on
hiS r;sit to the caYo the archbishop blessed it
IN n fir of enthusiasm, Is chaElber of sur
nassInr beauty. It abor. forty feet long
ppud thirty III width aud height. The f. lol,
walls and ceiling are OF dazzling white, AID
s;aIactltes covered with small crystallzaiots
.ans from be vault, above when are orna-
mented With graceful alab4ster curtllns. 10
this hall ls the most beautiful single object IN
this wonderful fairy palace; It'll called "lhe
Mantle of the Virgin" large mass which
falls like d transparent cascade, with beau!l-
full irregular border resembling fringe or lace
work. The surftce is slightly. unduiated, aua
the square facets OF the CRYSTALS clutter rs II !.
were studded with diamonds. Ii this cave WEE .s
the property OF BarDun auc. located ans
ia the Unitec States, be might very properly
call 1t the 'sCaYe OF the Diemonds, fcr ID man!