The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1873-11-07
CHE selarietta 5ollrnal.
Marietta, Georgia, November 2, 1873.
Correspondence Of the Journal.
THE MAMMOTH CAVE.

ised you another letter detailing my
recent visit to the great American
wonder, the Mammoth Cave--and
giving you some of the incidents of
the Long Route" will now at
tempt it by informing you that the
question was so often asked me by
those who learned | had visited the
Cave, "did you go to the Long
Route 2" that resolved upon Sec
ond visit, and determined, if posi-
BILE, to accomplish what no one una
BILE to walk, had ever even attempt
ed, though dissuaded by many of
the more fearful and timid people,
and even by the agent at the Caves
mouth aud guides, not to attempt
the passage of the Fat Mans Misery,
yet / was urged on by an "irrepress-
BILE" desire to try it, at least, and if
| stuck fast in the tortuous windings
and narrow defles, to be quarried
out! So hiring two stout men, ! set
out from Glasgow Junction, just nine
days after my first visit, and after
rough ride Of nine miles over arath-
er poor and billy region, ! found my
self once more at the entrance of
the great cave. had this time
provided myself. with better hands
barrow than ! had on my first visit,
and hiring and extra hand, and en-
gaging The youngest and strongest
colored guide, William Garven, |
was once more carried down the
steep rock stairs and was soon at the
Narrows, and though, as before, the
wind blew our lamps out, we went
on to the place where the Short and
Long Routes diverge, and, passing
over the Bridge of Sighs-which
spans the Bottomless Pit-we passed
on to Reveler's Hall, and next to the
Valley of Humility-so called, be-
cause the visitor has to stoop in pass
ing it--and next came to the Scotch
mans Trap, SO named because a
large fiat stone stands up on its edge,
holding only by very few inches at
its top, which, should it break, would
let down the huge stone and com
pletely cover the passage-way at
this place; and a Scotchman some
years ago, utterly refused to proceed
when he viewed the very frail hold
the stone had above; hence its pres
ent name. But, even should the
stone fall, no one would be finally
imprisoned in the dark profundities
of the cavern, for those outside would
come to the rescue very speedily,
and sledge or blast the distractions
away, and thus relieve those who
might be beyond it.
We were soon in the Buchanan
Way, so designated because you
have to hold your head to one side,
which was, it is said, the way Jas.
Buchanan carried his head. And
now we come face to face with Fat
Mans Misery-here now is to be
fully tried my powers of endurance
and also perseverance. The kind,
hearted young guide tells me to sit
still and rest till he and two of the
men 90 forward to examine the
route and decide upon the best plan
of attack. My heart beats wildly at
the bare thought of failure, and,
nerving myself up to the most deter
mined Sticking" point, resolved
mentally, to go through it, or ex-
haust every plan and effort in the
attempt. The guide and men hav-
ing returned, smiled and shook their
heads, saying, "Well, let US try it if
you are determined to go it," but we
tell you now that it will be tight
squeezing, and may take the "bide
offp Being thus semi-encouraged
and emi-discouraged, they knocked
the wooden legs out Of the hand>bar-
row, SO that it could be gotten
through, and, picking me up "iust
dry so," they set out with me along
the narrow winding passage. VIII
it be a failure or success ! men
tally unused, as the passage way
was getting more and more difficult.
My firm resolve upbore me in the
midst of all the pulling, and grunt-
ing, and squeezing, till at length
we reached the tightest place Of all,
when they sat me up upon the damp,
slippery edge of the rock, and asked
me if I thought nom that ! could
make itg ] viewed the situation for
q moment with kind of trepidation,
and feared that it might, possibly, be
a failure after all my ''firm resolves"
but, being buoyed up and animated
with the thought Of accomplishing
the heretofore uninterrupted feat, by
one like myself, and Of finally get
ting to see the famous rivers in the
cave--the home Of the blind fish
and especially Of hearing the sounds
on The renowned Echo River, ! CRIED
out to my men "Forward !"
William, the guide, with a serio.
comical expression resting upon his
ebony face, at once caught me by
the limbs, and, walking backward,
Mr. Satterfeld holding up my head
and shoulders, pushed IN till we got
fast in the very ''pinch" Of the pas
sage, ard Enow came breathing
spell, and a talking and a planning,
as to whether we had better go for