Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-07-19
A CALIFORNIA CAVERN.

A correspondent who dates his let
ter Consumers Copper Mine, I" writes
as follows: -'. s .-ffl s-L -.s-.
Having just completed temporary
Summer residence on the rocky and
somewhat broken banks Of the Mid
die Fork, / hasten to inform friends
/ and the public generally concerning
/ 8 curiosity that. If thoroughly explo-
red, may eventually eclipse the
bounding leaps Of Niagara, or the play
ing cataraets Of Yosemite. Why caves
/ exist, how formed and for what rea-
son deposited in the silent bosom and
lqpiet recesses Of terra TrHld. am at
a loss to determine and willingly leave
the performance Of that part Of the
1 cultivated attainments to the geOlOgi-
cal fraternity.
But that one of these wonderful
freaks of Nature is within a stones
/ throw Of where 1 now sit writing, Is
certainly q reality, and that its grand
eur and magnificenee present mar
velous' piece of workmanship, all that
have witnessed it will testify. It was
discovered in 1869, but the discover
er's name have yet to learn. There
are three entrances into its elegant
and beautifully finished apartments.
In company with a partner, andarTn-
ed with two candles, We wandered
through its various, avenues, ,hallsand
subteTranean passages for four hours,
frequently finding openings so small
that it was necessary to lay down, and
then, with a wOrm-like movement of
the body, obtained entrance.
The cavern is embedded in 8 solid
mass of excellent marble, and can be
favOrably compared with that pro-
cured in Italy, that has been the
theme Of poets, and admiration Of
travellers, from time immemorial.-
Columns and pilasters, Ornamented at
their capitals with vOlutes and mOdil-
lions, at irregular intervals. enlist the
Visitors attention, while fine repre-
sentations OF tapestry, corniee and
freseo work are engraved and visible
on its walls. Every form Of stalacite
Imaginable dropping hang suspended
presenting all the variegated colors Of
The rainbow, and brilliantly sparkle
from the pale light of q candle like a
thousand diamonds, while like pro-
portion of stalagmite underneath, with
their sugar-coated surfaces, are con-
stantly presented to view. Here and
there are carelessly piled bruised and
broken fragments Of those appropri-
ate emblems Of Infinite Wisdom that
have succumbed to the normal des-
tructive qualities of man. Curiosity
seekers, from appearances, evidently
tried to blacken or mar the innocent
features Of the honest cave.
Several years ago two Germans,
while hunting, fetched up at its vesti-
bule. Fatigued from their perambu-
lations on top, they laid down their
guns, left Fido, and experimental be-
low. They went, and went, and went,
sometimes walking, st Others creep
ing, over bOuldeTs and under bould-
ers, up Windings and down windings,
in small rooms, then large ones, thro'
avenues, narrow defles and halls,
each going in 8 different direction,
yet terminating at the same place.
Finally, exhausted nature asserted her
laws and stopped the proceedings.-
Terribly beWildered, with peFplexed
thoughts of uneasy imaginations, they
reclined that night on q long-to-be
remembered bed Of marble. During
the meantime FidO stood as sentinel
at his post, and the following day
some miners travelling the path that
skirts the river bank, were attracted
hither by the mOurnful petitions Of
he anxious dog,-by barks, pats and
nodding of the head he pantomimed
his wants. The Germans were res
cued from the impending doom Of
horrible fate, and, doubtless, forever
after treated kindly their faithful dog.
There are many compartments TO
tnis singularly constructed fabric that
have never yet been visited by man;
for in dozen different places the
openings in the rocks not being suf1- |
eient to even admit the hand, but by
applying the candle the light would |
stream into apparently splendid and |
capaciOus vaults beyond. No telling
but but what, IL worked and thorough |
ly examined, q man might become
lost and wander within its meander-
ings for days, and probably never
emerge from its slumbering recesses.