Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-09-30
The Mammoth Cave.

We have been favored with the following OK
tract from letter from friend visiting Ken
| lucky:
EIIzABErHrowN, KY, Sept. 23.-Last week
we went to the Mammoth Cave. No one can
form an idea of its grandeur without seeing it.
I cannot do it even plrtial justice, yet it you
will take the trouble to read my imperfect jot.
ting will try to tell you something OF what
saw: The lorg route is about miles. We en-
tered about o'clock a. M, diued in the cave,
and got out between and s p. w. The en-
| trance is beautiful grotto with ovcrhauglng
rocks covered With moss and trailing vines most
artistically arranged, lovely little waterfall
clear as crystal tumbling down from height OF
% or 80 feet. We descended by rocky steps,
| and for a mile or more the wall is rugged, III
some places not over or ~ feet high, at others
exceedingly lofty. Here We found the old watts
| and wooden pipes used III 1917 Tor maklog salt.
petre, which was extracted from the earth OF
the cave This wood is perfectly sound, and
| there are yet to be seen the wheel tracks ana
prints of oxen feet made when hauling the
earth aud saltpetre. Next we came to the
| church, spacious room with large PROJECT
| ing rock on one side, used as pulpit when
| the Methodsts held service there We passed
long halls with rocky walls and finely arched
roofs, all of which are so exqulsltcly tinted that
| mans most perfect masterpiece lr irescoinig
| would, 10 comparison, sink into mere dauo.
| Then, there is the rotunda, so high in the cen
ire that do not think you could see the top.
Another hall, looking like it had been plaster
ed, is thickly studded with little black excre-
SCIENCES, having the appearance OF flies. The
Scotchman's trap and fat mau S misery, place
some 60 feet or more long, where one has to
| 20 half bent and turn sideways to pass through
the crevce in the rocks. Next We went through
large balls and long passages, all varying IN
their curious pits, high domes and wonderful
| stalactite formations, up the sleeps OF tlme
enormous rocks masscd into great hills, which
we climbed. Then through ClllamoD, Alley.
i miles, rugged but pretty; down hills and
places SO perpendicular they have been com.
pelled to have wooden steps down, down into
the bowels of the earth, which the guide calls
the internal regions there we find the Dead
Sea" great lake Of water surrounded by high
walls of rock, over which we looked into It's
black depths. Passing through long avenues
we arrived at the river, and at the trst cross
ing we walked over on boat or floating bridge.
A little further on is the River Lctfle," ia
good drink Of whose water is said to render one
ublivious to the cares OF life. As did not test
its efficacy, [ can only repeat what was told
me- this we crossed 10 q DOdt I'D lpuI VI ave
minutes. On, a short distance, we crossed this
or another river on floating bridge: After
traDp,over a deep sand covered avenue, down
hill and steep rocky steps through little
more sand, we reached "Echo River and had
fat boat ride for or of mile, which was
delightful, and rested US very much. Begin
ming the ascent, we came to "Martba's Vine.
ward" where the walls and roofing are hung
with great kuobby punches, resembling huge
clusters of grapes, which are constant y form,
ing from the moisture Then the SNOWFALL
Chamber, in which the excrescence pendant
from the dark arched roof bears close resemb-
lance to real snowballs, hence the pame. Next
is washington Hall, with large rocks about
the floor on which we sat while our dinner was
being spread upon an immense fat surfaced
rock near the ceutre and most welcome sight
it proved, though | assure you we did not con-
6ne ourselves to optic enjoyment entirely.
After good rest we wandered 90 through long
passages and halls of exquisite beauty, their
walls and roofs covered with stalactite, shell
work and flowers SO perfect in their loneliness
as to beggar description. have never seen
carving 10 marble half so attractive. ! From
these we entered the Diamond grotto, which
is brilliant beyond conception. Tearing our
selves from such objects OF enhancing interest
we climbed the Rocky Mountains, dense
body of rocks almost impossible to scramble