Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-03-30
THE mAmmora CAVE.

man who had formerly beer well know
| guide at the Mammoth Gave, in Kentucky
and as he gave Us very lengthy descrip.
ton of some Of the wonders Of nature as
there exhibited, we have felt inclined to
make very brief journey, in imagination,
through that celebrated cave. The travel.
ing season will soon commence, and those
who desire to visit the cave will doubtless
wish some information concerning it, es-
pecially if they never beheld its wonders.
Besides, there arc many who peichance
will never visit its subterIaneous receesee.
but who would nevertheless be pleased to
know something Of the wonders
of nature as there displayed. From
information obtained from Mr.
Henry A. Hughes, jr., the guide above re-
ferred to, and from other sources, we have
prepared the following description, which
embraces the principal objects of interest,
though by no means all, as there are many
avenues in the cave that have never been
explored, aud are consequently never en-
tered by visitors And after all has been
said that can be said, the magnitude of the
subject, and the sublime manifestation Of
natures efforts at some distant period in
the worlds history as there exhibited,
would render vain any attempt at perfect
description. ...-s-.,, a. ,.l,, s.. e
| The Mammoth Cave is situated in Ed
mondson county, KY, about seven miles
from Gave City, station on the Louisville
and Nashville railroad. The cave is but
few hundred yards from Green river, and
the entrance to it is one hundred and
ninety-four feet above that river. This
entrance is about twenty Ave feet in height
BY about thirty in width; and, above the
opening, during the entire year, mist or
fog almost constantly arises, except at
times when the temperature of the air
within and without the cave is the same.
There is one peculiarly about the cave in
this, that it breathes but once a year, the
air entering the cave during winter and
going out during the summer. The aver
age temperature of the cave during sum-
mer and winter is 50 degrees. Therefore,
a change of seasons is unknown in this
subterranean world, and day and night,
morning and evening, summer and winter
have no existence there.
The visitor or visitors to the cave, hav-
ing provided themselves with lamps con-
taining lard oil, and other necessary con-
veniencee, such as food, warm and COM
Portable clothing, etc, after leaving small
archway near the mouth of the cave, enter
what is called the main cave, six miles in
length, and varying from forty to one hun
dred feet in height, and from sixty to three
hundred feet in width.
The first object of interest is the Ro-
tunda, the greatest diameter of which is
one hundred and seventy-fve feet. On
the floor of the Rotunda are to be seen she
remains of vats, water pipes and other
materials used for making salt-petre in
1912, the wood of which these instruments
were made, owing to the temperature of
the cave, showing no indications of decay.
To the right Of the Rotunda, Audubon's
Avenue leads off for about half a mile, to
a collection of beautiful sialsctites.
Many years ago it was thought that con-
sumptives would be benefited by residing
permanently in the cave; and cottages
were built at the entrance of Audubon's
Avenue, but the experiment did not result
favorably, as the ajority OF patients. who
made a trial, died within few weeks.
Short trips into the cave are however said
to be beneficial to consumptives.
After leaving the Rotundo, the visitor
sees the Methodist Church, 80 feet in
diameter and about 10 in height. Here,
about fifty years ago, the gospel was
preached, and the benches or logs then
used for the audience occupy the same po-
sition at this day After leaving the
Gothic Galleries, the Grand Arch is en-
tered, leading to the Giants Coffin, which
is huge rock, forty feet long, twenty feet
wide, and eight in depth. From the Giants
Coffin to the mouth of the cave, deep cuts
or ruts we're made, over fifty years ago,
by the wheels of carts used to convey salt
peter to the mouth of the cave. and even
yet the impressions of the feet of the oxen
that drew the carts are plainly visible.
A noticeable spot in the main cave is the
Dripping Spring, where the water drops
winter and summer with the regularity of
the click of pendulum or the ticking of
watch. Another feature worthy of men,
ton is the Mammoth Egg, so named by
the guide, whose name has heretofore been
given. This egg is seen hanging from the
ceiling, is thirty feet long aud fifteen feet
wide, and is remarkable curiosity.
The Star Chamber is perhaps one of the
most attractive objects to be seen in the
cave, with the exception of Echo River.
This Chamber is sixty feet high, seventy
wide, and about 500 feet in length. The
The ceiling is Of black gypsum and is stud
ded with white points which, seen by the
the light of the torches, has striking re-
semblance TO glittering stars.
In the Mammoth Cave, there are two
routes, one known as the Long Route and
the other as the Short Route. The Long
Route is reached by leaving the main cave
at the foot of the Giants coffin.
On this Long Route, Martha's Palace,
Side Saddle Pit, Minervas Dome, the
Bottomless Pit and Reyellers' Hall are
objects of interest. The bridge over the
Bottomless Pit is three feet wide. The
pit itself (though bottomless) is said to be
126 feet deep. At theReveller's Hall it is
the practice with visitors who are so in
clined to initiate Bacchus by bringing forth
whatever edibles ard drinkables they may
happen to have at command
We have not space to describe in detail
all the objects of interest to be met with,
but will state that in addition to those
above described are The Scotchman's Trap,
Fatman's Misery, Great Relief, Bacon
Chamber, the Dead Sea, the River Styx,
Lake Lethe, the Great Walk and Echo
River. The water of Echo river is re-
markably transparent, and rocks can often
be seen from ten to twenty feet below the
surface. In the waters of this river are
found small fish of peculiar species.
They are blind, in color are white, and in
form are said to resemble catfish about
eight inches in length. Like fish found in
waters on the surface of the earth, those
blind fish are said to prey upon each other,
after the manner of pike and other rspa-
cious species of fish.
Among other noted objects are Rocky |
Mountain, Dismal Hollow, the Mselstrom,
the Gothic Arcade, Vulcan's Smithy, Bo-
naparte's Breastworks, the Lovers Leap,
Napoleon's Dome, the Labyrinth, Pensa-
cola Avenue, Martha's Vineyard, Roaring
River. Portia' s Parterre and Ole Bulls Con-
cert Hall, where the distinguished violin
ist is said to have given, in former years,
sn exhibition of his skill. .4
At Martba's V neysrd the guide Hughes,
several years since, came very near losing
his life. The party he had been leading
had stopped to rest, and the guide was as
cending a ladder, with water for the yisi-
tors, when the bale of the bucket became
detached, causing Hughes to fall on the
solid rock He was badly stunned, and re-
mained senseless for some time, but by the
use of restoratives, was revived and
brought the party safely out. And here it
NAV be remarked that visitors who make
the tour of the Mammoth Gave shoud new
er leave their party, as they are la