Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-08-09

end this attempt az informing
the world of the details of this great dis
covery. The ripping splash of waterfall
no where visible, first attracted our atten-
ton; we were progressing along the broad
arched way, toward the sound, pausing
here and there to admire the rich
groinines and basso relieves, that ornament
ed and fretted the roof, when suddenly 1t
seemed as if we had emerged into the upper
world in the night, such was the sense OF
freedom and Vastness which impressed
itself upon us, and upon advancing our
lights there was revealed one Of the most
beautiful and unheard Of spectacles
that ever rewarded the eyes of a
curiosity seeker on earth, or under it, either.
At distance of about three or four hum
dred feet from us there stood a broad gla-
cier-like curtain, hung upon upper darkness,
and sweeping the encrusted floor with an
embroidery of fame. Looking upward to
our right, much nearer to US, there was
curious mass of cathedral shaped spires,
whose points are lost in the gloom. This
portion of the cavern seemed based on a
substructure of lava and basalt, with SUI
per-imposed stratum of some cretaceoQs
formation, such as is found near Hot
Springs. The combination of these two
elements, with the wear and tear due
apparently to time and the action
of water, has produced the most
fantastic groups of wild bluffs, buttresses
and pinnacles, bearing more or less resem-
blance to human architecture; and the cur
tain is magnificently stained and tinted with
the iron oxides and sulphur, distributed by
distilling moisture in the disintegration of
the soil. This has sent down the draperied
folds of this immense piece of tapestry
from natures loom. What appear as floods
of pulverized drift glowing with all the hues
of red, yellow, crimson, and aqua marine,
which sweep in long riven-like avalanches
from its base, to the left over
the floor and down steep ravines,
lodging and curdling like snow wreaths,
on the lodges and crannies of the former
basalt. The right hand portion of the
curtain nearest the cliff is one luminous
mass of color. Passing from the warm
light of this the eye rests with repose upon
the cool middle ground of the picture and
proceeds with delight from the absolute
purity of its aerial tone and the purple
shadows that relieve 1t TO the after sunset
glow ofthe extreme left. The most extrava-
CANT dream of fairy fancy has never yet
imagined the subterranean palace of gnome
or elm protentate, so exquisitely beautiful.
In looking at this gorgeous and bewildering
of streaks and blotches, purple and crimson,
green azure and golden, it is hard to realize
the fact that the artists hand OF nature alone
has producedit. The different groupings, re-
semb,ances and vrai-semblances are as in
finite and varied as the fancy of the be.
holder, and the position and numbers of
the lightS-the cloud effects being as clearly
defined as upon an evening sky. A closer
approach revealed one opening in the fringe.
through which we crept at much discom-
fort 10 cur hands and knees, and emerged at
q distance of about seven feet upon sort
of stable rock" broad ledge about seven
ty-five feet wide which abutted square
against the breast of cataract which
leaped from the upper gloom, too
high and dense to be penetrated by the
rays of light from our lamps, and roared
below us as it struck bottom many feet be-
low in what we first thought was an unex-
plorable abyss. This waterfall is about two
or three feet wide and escapes from some
where aloft with sufficient force to leave a
space of thirty or forty feet between it and
the perpendicular mural surface of the rock
behind it. AS it passes the etable rock" its
volume (Which flashed with solid splendor,
as high up as we could illuminate it, is
broken or rather divided into fine threads
hecked with spray drops, which, lower down,
is a ribbon Of foam which shimmers and
yibrates as it is swallowed in the open throat
of night below. Some distance to the right
we made secure the rope ladder and our
Well-digger cautiously, with a candle
fastened to his hat, descended and made |
fast the ladder below; several of our party
followed; we found that the face of the
rock, down which we came, was at the
right of the waterfall, a rude, broad, crag-
ged stairway extending high above us, and
that the waterfall which leaped from above
poured itself into stream OF crystal water
Of considerable size, which came rushing
with railroad speed through a narrow
with square cut sides, rough |
hewn in the shale.
Down stream some hundred yards it |
OVerspreads the broadened channel, as Level |
as a pavement, there sleeps in a chain Of
oval pools the footprints of waterfalls long
since receded, the third of which is per-
feet vase of pellucid water, upon the bot |
tom of which lies the deep red deposit char
acteristic Of the famous mineral waters of |
this locality. Indeed, this whole stream is
red sulphur, so called, being strongly i'm |
pregnated with iron and other minerals |
which future analysis will make known.
Here then is the "Fountain of Youth" and |
health hidden in the rock-ribbed hills, Sc
cure from the beginning hitherto from the
intruder's step-whether the knightly heel |
of De Leon, or the moccassined foot Of the |
Indian brave.
CT nrnaSnd tho
channel and stood under the fall. When |
our lights were perceived by those left on
the table rock, as we were told, for it was
to hear, they shouted that we
were making rainbows on the mist pillows
with which the gorge was filed. The ef-
feet of full Illumination Of this cave will,
we are confident, reveal it as a wonder of
the world. The brilliant coloring of the
formation caused by the combination of
iron, sulphur and other things is, as far as
we are advised something new under the
sun.
A consultation Of our watches indicated
the hour Of three in the evening and for
the first time the thought of relinquisbing
our enterprise awoke sensations of alarm
at the risk we had run, decoyed on by one
after another to this Fairie
cascade.
Upon assembling for the return trip We
elected a guide and agreed to abide his
decision until he should appeal to the rank
aad file for counsel-and turned our foot
steps sturdily back, objects we had once
seen were remarked from time to time I'M
til cur guide in emerging as he supposed
from the Hong and labyrinthian dehle at
the entrance of which We left the lamp
called out, "what has gone with the
lamp" A vigorous search was at once
instituted for it; which we merely supposed |
had gone out. But to our CONSERVATION |
we concluded that we had missed the way |
"a council Of war decided us to leave an |
other lamp at this point until we could press |
forward on our new course, hoping it would |
at last prove an avenue of escape. After |
about an hours anxious walk, to our sur |
prise we saw the glow of daylight ahead, |
and pushing forward found that we we're |
from the mouth OF another cavern |
long known here, and at least eight miles |
from the one through which we had en- |
tered the earth. We sent a scout, who |
soon returned with the welcome addi- |
ton of an OK cart, in which primitive |
vehicle we disposed our tired limbs and |
went at very deliberate pace to our hotel,
eight miles distant, where we arrived about |
dark tired, foot-sore, hungry and sleepy. |
The whole country side here is excited over |
a fr0o erIp NOyl L. IapI