The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1872-03-14

anbrde ] to lose % grand . sight. Re-
tracing our steps to the main passage,
We reached the mouth Of the cave
thirteen hours aftsr we entered Il.
Night had fallen upon the outer world,
and It was raining also, We had to
wait until the morrow before We could
again SO the light Of either sun or
stars.
The temperature Of the cave 10 uni
form throughout the year, and beyond
few rods from its mouth eternal
darkness broods there, broken only BY
the faint glimmerings Of the lamp Of
IN occasional visitor. Yet II 10 not
entirely tenantless for W found seven
or eight species Of insects 10 tho crew
Ices and under the stones. two species
Of crustaceans and one Of fishes In it,
waters, all Of them several miles from
its mouth. The fishes and some Of the
insects and crustaceans are totally
blind. not even rudimsntary eyes be-
Ing present. They have NO uss for
eyes for they dwell in perpetual dark.
ness from the beginning 70 the end Of
their existence, = did their proesni.
tors, and - viii also their progeny
after them. At and near the mouth
Of the cave great numbers Of bats hib-
ornate during the winter, In the crew.
ices Of the rocks, but beyond this one
has to search diligently to secure the
specimens Of animal life before re-
ferred to. We found the insects most
plentiful among the decaying frag-
mcnts Of food from the lunch baskets
OF former parties, at our noon halting
place.
The cave isi in limestone of subcar-
boniferous age. and Its formations
doubtless began ~ soon as that region
became dry land, which happen ed be-
fore the close Of that age, and long
before the North American Continent
received its present dimensions and
shape, aud has been going on ever
since, by the slow process Of disinte-
grafton Of the solid rock along the
faces Of crevices. The force which
elevated the land from the carbo0ifer.
Gus sea, although gently aud gradu>
ally, must have caused many fractures
In the rock. These fractures gave pas.
sage to the water which percolated
from the surface. Such waters always
hold much cerbonic acid In solution.
In the presence of which limestone is
soluble, while 1t Is quite insoluble In
pure water. Thus during unnumbered
ages subteranean waters have slowly
enlarged these assures until they be.
came the chambers and passages we
have explored. the water finding Its
exit in an adjacent region occupying
lower level than the floor Of the
cave, carrying with 1t in solution and
susl ension the materials derived from
its walls. Many passages lead. into
the main one, some Of which are yet
too narrow to be accessible. Thus We
may regard the whole - an under.
ground drainage system, Of which GER
tain parts, at least. Of the cave we
have explored constitute the main
channel, the Styx aud echo rivsn be-
Ing visible, pool like sections Of It.
Unmistakable evidence was seen In
MANY Darts of the cave. now dry, Of
the former presence OF currents OF
water which filed and flowed through
them. Our guide infored US that the
quantity Of water flowing through the
cave 10 greatly affected by the wetness
or dryness Of the season. Sometimes,
indeed, Echo river is impossible, be.
cause at one or two points the water
rises to the roof Of the cave. Uniuers.
ity Reporter.