The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-08-02

Clevelands Cabinet Is mile aud three
quarters long, sixty feet wide, and from ten
10 twenty feet in hight.
The walls and ceiling of this avenue are
literally lined with alabagter flowers of every
conceivable variety, and understandable beauty.
On entering Cleyelands Cabinet, the OBJ
jects Of special interest present themselves in
the following order:-l. Mary's Bower is
fifteen feet in hight, and forty in length, the
walls and ceiling Of which are covered with
rosettes Of gypsum. 2 The Cross consists Of
two creviees in the ceiling, which intersect
each other at right angles, and which are
lined with flowers of the plaster OF Paris. IL
is about eight feet in length. 3. The Nam
mary Ceiling is formed of nippleshaped pro-
jections Of gypsum. 4. The Last Rose Of
Summer is about eight inches In diameter, and
is Of snowy wilderness. It rests against the
ceiling, in the center Of the avenue. 6. The
Dining Table is fifteen feet wide and thirty
long. II consists of a fat rock that has been
detached from the ceiling q. Bacchus
Glory is an alcove, three feet in height, and
FIVE feet in length, the whole interior Of which
is lined with nodules of gypsum, which in size
and form resemble grapes. II is situated TO
the left Of the Dining Table. Z. st. CeciliR's
Grotto is remarkable for the size OF the stueco
flowers found in it. &. Diamond Grotto is
lined with crystals of selenite, which, when d
light is waved to and fro in front of them,
sparkle like the gem after which the grotto is
named. 8. Charlotte Grotto is the terminus
Of leyelandis Cabinet. The walls are covered
with fbrous gypsum. 10. Cleyeand's Cabi-
net is named in honor of Professor Cleveland,
the distinguished mineralogist.
The Rocky Mountain is one hundred feet
high, and is formed entirely ofrocks that have
fallen from above. On the top Of the Rocky
Mountain there is stalagmite, two feet high
and six inches in diameter, termed Cleopatra's
Needle.
On the far side of the Rocky Mountain is
gorge seventy feet deep, and one hundred
wide, termed Dismal Hollow.
| The Cave, at the Mountain, divides into
| three branches. That to the right leads to
Sandstone Dome, which is interesting from
the fact that the top Of which il is composed
indicates that the top of the Dome is very near
the surface Of the earth. The branch to the
left communicates with Groghan's Hall. The
central one is termed Franklin Avenue, and
extends from Dismal Hollow to Serena's
Arbor.
Franklin's Avenue, as before stated, ex.
tends from Dismal Hollow to Serena's Arbor,
a distance Of a quarter of mile. Ityaries in
length from thirty TO sixty feet. II has
wild and gloomy appearance.
Serena's Arbor is twenty feet in diameter,
and about forty in hight. The walls and cell.
ing are covered with stalactitie corniees, col
umns, grooves, ogees, ETC., many Of which are
semi.transparent and sonorous
Groghan's Hail. which constitutes the end
Of the Long Route, is about seventy feet wide
and twenty high. The left wall is covered
with stalactitc formations, which are white
and semi transparent, and of great hardness,
fragments of which are worked into orna-
ments.
The Maelstrom is pit, which is one hun
bred and seyenty-iye feet deep and twenty
wide. There are avenues leading from the
bottom, which may be seen when light is
lowered into it, but which have been imper-
fectly explored.
A peculiar kind of rat is sometimes found
in Groghan's Hall, as well as other parts Of
the Cave, which is a size larger than the Nor
way rat. The head and eyes resemble those
of the rabbit, and the hair of the back is like
that of the gray squirrel, but that Of the legs
and abdomen is white. Cave crickets and
lizards are also found there
The Cave crickets are about an inch long
The body is yellow, striped with black. They
are provided with large eyes, but seem TO d.
rect their course mainly by their antennn or
feelers, which are enormously developed
They are sluggish in their movements, and
unlike other crickets, observe an eternal
silence.
The Cave lizards vary in length from three
10 five inches. The eye is large and promi.
nent. The body is yellow and dotted with
black spots, and is semi-transparent. They
are sluggish in their movements.
The abundance of animal life at this point
would seem to indicate that there is com.
munication with the surface Of the earth at no
great distance. Bats are found in all parts Of
the Cave.
The Gothic Arcade is entered from the
! Main Cave by ascending flight of steps, IF
J teen feet in height, to the right Of the Gothic
Galleries The objects worthy Of note are the
following:
/. The Seat of the Mummy consists of a
niche in the left wall of the avenue, about
forty yards from the steps, Just large enough
for human being to sit in. The body found
in this niche was that of female Indian,
dressed in the skins of wild animals, and or.
namented with the trinkets usually worn BY
the aborigines. A few feet distant, the body
of an Indian child, attired in similar man
ner, was discovered in a sitting posture, rest
ing against the wall. They were both in a
state Of perfect preservation. There can be
no doubt but they wandered into this avenue,
and becoming bewildered, sat down and died
in the position in which they were found. A
person lost in the Mammoth Cave, without
any hope of escape, would undoubtedly die
in very short time That this is the case,
the history of those who have been lost in il
seem to prove. Thus, on one occasion gon.
tleman wandered from his party, when by
some accident his lamp was extinguished. In
endeayoring to make his escape, he became
alarmed, and finally insane, and crawling be-
hind large rock, remained in that position
for forty.eight hours; and although the guides
repeatedly passed the rock behind which he
was secreted, in search for him, he did not
make the slightest noise, and when finally
discovered, endeavored TO make his escape
from them, but was too much exhausted to
run. In another instance a lady allowed her
party to get so far in advance that their voices
could no longer be heard, and in attempting
to overtake them, fell and extinguished her
lamp, when she became so terrified at her
situation that she swooned, and when discov.
cred few minutes afterward, and restored,
was found to be in state Of insanity, from
which she did not recover for number Of
years. Not a year passes but the guides have
to go in search Of persons who have been
foolhardy enough to leave their party, and
who in every instance become speedily be-
widered, and when discovered are in the act
Of crying, or at prayer. In such cases the
guides are oyerpowered with kisses, embraces,
and other demonstrations Of gratitude. The
proper course for persons to pursue when lost
in the Cave, is for them to remain in the place
where they first became confused, and not to
stir from It until rescued by the guides. They
will not have to wait more than from three to
ten hours from the time at which they should
have returned to the Hotel.
q A short distance from the Seat of the
Mummy is large stalaetite which extends
from the floor to the ceiling, termed the Post
Oak, from its fancied resemblance to variety
Of oak.tree that grows near the Cave.
Q. The First Echo is the name given to that
part Of Gothic Arcade which passes over Pen.
sacola Avenue, the floor of which, when for
chilly struck, emits hollow sound.
4, The Register Room is about three hun
dred feet long, forty wide, and from eight to
sixteen in height The ceiling is white, and
as smooth as though it had been plastered
In this room hundreds of persons have dis
played their Bankruptcy in everything pertain
} ing TO good breeding and tasto by tracing their
obscure names on the ceiling with the smoke
Of a candle.