The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1872-07-02

Jdluo lOuBs 1hS iON6I pdIb VI tnC
avenue in width is from fifteen to
thirty inches, and the upper part,
that is from a mans chest to his head,
from four to eight feet. In height it
varies from four to eight feet, the
greater part of the way averaging but
four feet. The heaviest man known
to have passed this tortuous avenue
weighed 263 pounds. The "Fat
Mans Misery" leads to large hall,
called "Great Relief"
Through "River Hall" we reached
"Bacon Chamber" where most visi-
tors think they see fine collection of
limestone hams and shoulders sus-
pended from the ceiling. My impress
sion, however, was that unless told so
by the guide, imagination would never
see the bacon. Leaving "Bacon
Chamber" we went on to the "Dead
Sea-" This is the most awful wild
and solemn view in the cave. Along
narrow, slippery terrace, we passed
deep gulf. which, when illuminated
by the Bengal light, we saw to be
body of water some fifty feet long,
twenty-five wide and fifteen deep.
From the terrace to the water is an
almost perpendicular wall about forty
feet high. There is terrible gran
deur in this place, and as write l
involuntarily shudder at its gloom.
Connecting with the "Dead Sea" is
the river "Styx." As you pass along
you hear the dull sound of invisible
waterfalls. The deep, dark river is
over-arched with rock SO that we
crossed it on natural bridge. The
"Styx" is one hundred and fifty yards
long, from fifteen to forty wide, and
varies in depth from thirty to forty
feet. The natural bridge crosses the
river about thirty-fve feet above it.
Soon we reached the calm and
peaceful lake "Lethe." This is one
hundred and fifty yards long, thirty
feet wide, and has an average depth
Of twenty feet. AS we stood by its
side and peered out over its waters.
we could almost fancy we stood by
the heather stream of oblivion-so
dense was the darkness-so awful
still the scene.
Here we had to embark in boats.
AS they moved away, the reflection of
the swinging lamps in the water was
beautifully sublime. But few hun
dred yards further on we reached
echo River" which is three fourths
of mile in length. Connected with
this river are some of the most de-
lightful impressions we received in
the cave. There are sights more gor-
geous, more awful, more sublime, but
nowhere are the senses Of sight and
sound so beautifully and so charm
ingly brought into unison, as at Lake
Lethe." So here we crossed in beats
which made three trips before we
reached the "other Shore"
Before crossing echo River" our
guide fred pistol and the reverbera-
tions were louder than the heaviest
artillery or thunder l ever heard.
In these waters are found the cele.
brated eyeless fish. The fish are
rarely over eight inches long and re-
semble the common catfish very much.
They have not the slightest trace of
the organ of vision and are almost
transparently white.
have not space to dwell on many
places of interest, but will briefly re-
fer to the remainder of our journey
By tedious aud monotonous route
we reached Washington Hall" )" where
we partook OF the frugal repast set
before us by our guide. Some of the
party complained of a scarcity of pro-
visions, but as every body knows my
we'll merited reputation, as a small
cater, this was of no great inconveni-
ance to me.
The most artistic portion of the
cave is to be seen after leaving the
dining hall. Passing through "Snow-
ball Room" and avenue we came into
"Cleveland's Cabinet" which, in its
extraordinary beauty, is the crowning
glory of the cave. This avenue is
about two miles in length and is a
perfect arch of fifty feet in the centre.
1t is completely incrusted from end to
end with crystalizations of gypsum,