The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-01-27
Another Mammoth Cave.

- 1888 M WsI
During the latter part Of the late war,
cave was discovered near pineyille,
Mcdonald Couuty, Missouri, but the
times were so unsettled that beyond 4
careless superficial examination OF the
more accessible portion OF il no general
explorations have as yet been made
Mr.. G. g. Carpenter, gentleman re.
siding in Piueyille, in company with
one or two Of his friends, gives the fol.
lowing us the result Of an expedition
made recently il search Of the won
derful:
The location Of this new subterrau-
can wonder is sixteen miles southeast
Of Pineville, Mcdonald county the en-
trance is on Sugar creek, in rayine
bearing the suggestive title Of Ba.
Hollar," You make your entrance into
the bowels Of the earth through a vol
canic assure seven feet wide by twenty
feet in length you soon lose sight Of
daylight aud fud yourself ID long Gu
trance hall fully one hundred yards id
length, which terminated 10 the bat
room, SO named by the explorers ftom
the thousands OF bats that swarmed
within its dark aud hidden recesses;
they flew about in swarris, making u
terrible noise in the arched roof above.
This room has three sides; each with an
aperture opening into smaller caverns OF
side rooms. The dimensions Of the
room we're takeu BY MIR. Carpenter, aud
found to be 50xl30 feet, the ceiling
about twenty feet from the tioar. Pas.
slug from this room, q walk Of about
four hundred yards, through spacious
hall, aud we find ourselves in Barnum's
Museum, SO called from the number Of
strangely shaped staIactites found there.
This room is 10 the shape ofaborse-shoe.
Nature must certainly have intended
this room for church, since the room
IS arched in purely Gothic style, with
dome aud columns, aud to huish of and
make it complete, pulpit near the
centre. The walls Of this magnificent
cavern are 100 feet high, but one OF the
most remarkable features about it is a
fountain Of pure water, four feet in
diamater. Turning northward We find
room sixty ieet wide and filed almost
full of glisteniDg formation ofstalaet-
ties, which hang 10 curiously formed
pendants IRON the roof. To the south
Of this room which should be named
the bottomless pit, since IL apparently
has neither bottom, Sides nor roof The
darkness within this place is appalling.
Turning to the enst the party walked .
distance OF about quarter Of mile
when they came to fight of natural
steps, forty or hity 10 number, termins
at'ng In wide platform, which formed
the entrance 70 u mammoth hall, sup
ported BY Corlnthian pillars of various
thickness and endless 10 number, all
white as snow aud gllstening as though
studded with millions OF diamonds.
ihls hall Is probably 200 feet ia width,
and communicate with . number Of
passages leading on ~ various dlrectienss
none OF which have as yet been explor.
ed. proceeding on their way, the cx-
piorers iound river OF running wafer,
coming, no one knows where, aud going,
no one KNOWS where Il is about nifty
ieet VIDE and three feet deep. Tiie
party followed ITS course down strcais
70 the Tails, where the water goes rosr'
ing over preciplce into the darkness be-
low Ihe eparty retraced theirslepstotbs
mammoth hall, crossed the river aud
proceeded on their way. They passed
room after room Of endless shapes ard
iuil oil natural curiosities. Miles ot
caserns were passed through; each hay-
ing oatfe,s 10 others, and all dark, but
an iuli q beauty When Lighted up with
torches or lamps. d lake Of pure water
was soon reached, which was at first
supposed to be a river. Here u rude
boat or dus-oat had been brought by a
fugitive during the late var. He hat
explored the hike during the war, and
Went northward nutA ne thought h'
was eomiug 10 waterfall, when he re
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