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


runs slowly in the direction Of Silliman's Az.
enne, and is supplied from springs in the
Gave. AT such times the temperature Of il is
Ss degrees. When the water Of Green River
n0ws into Echo River, at a Temperature higher
than that Of the Cave, n fog is produced,
which in point Of density is not inferior 10 that
oifthe banks Of Newfoundland. Incxperienc.
ed persons have been lost in the fog on Echo
River.
A rise of three feet of water in Echo River
VIII close the avenue through which il runs
near its entrance, which, however, does not
cnt off all communication beyond it, as there
Is a small avenue, called Purgatory commenc.
ing at the end of Great Walk, and terminating
IN the avenue Of Echo River, about quarter
Oh mile from the landing in Silliman's Ave.
nue.. A rise Of eighteen feet Of water, how
ever, fills the avenue of Purgatory, and cuts
OF all communication with the outer world.
Among the great curiosiies Of the Cave
may be mentioned the eyeless fish and craw-
hsh Of Echo River.
The hsh are peculiar species, and are vi
viparous, or give birth to their young alive,
and do not deposit eggs, after the manner OF
most other fish. They have rudiments of
eyes, but no optic nerve, and are therefore
! incapable of being affected by the most intense
! light. The eyeless crawfish give birth to their
) young in the same manner as those provided
I with eyes Both the fish and crawiish are
perfectly white.
! ordinary fish and crawfsh are sometimes
} washed into the Cave from Green River,
! Frogs are also sometimes washed into Echo
! River, and may be heard croaking to the echo
OF their own voices.
The eyeless fish prey upon each other In
shape they resemble the common catfish, but
; rarely exceed eight inches in length.
; % ,o 10 do alf
and extends from Echo River to the pass OF
! I'll Ghor. IL varies in height from twenty to
I forty feet, and in width from twenty to
, two hundred feet. The walls and ceiling Of
this avenue are rugged and water-worn. 1t
7 is undoubtedly of recent formation, as com
) pared to the other parts of the Cave.
4 The objects of interest in Sillimans Ave-
. nue., come in the following order:
9 |. Cascade Hall is two hundred feet in d.
ameter, and twenty feet high. 1t receives its
name from small cascade that falls into it
from the ceiling. The avenue which leads to
5 Roaring River, takes its origin in Cascade
. Hall.
q Dripping Spring is a pool of water that
is supplied from the ceiling. Stalactites and
5 stalagmtes are found at this point.
g. The Internal Region receives its name
$ from the fact that the floor is composed OF
d wet clay, and is exceedingly irregular. II is
almost impossible to pass over It without re-
, ceiving fall
e 1. The Sea Serpent is torturous crevice
g in the rock over head, that has been cut by
: running water, the layer Of rock that formed
the floor Of it having been detached.
$ o. The Valley Way.Side Cut is a small ave-
It nue. leading off from Silliman's Avenue, and
n returning into it a short distance further on.
IS II presents several beautiful points, and is
y worth exploring.
J, 8. The Hill of Fatigue is hard TO climb, hut
e is not otherwise worthy Of note.
I. The Great Western is an immense rock,
:, many times larger than any vessel, the end OF
y which closely resembles the stern of ship.
d The rudder is turned to the starboard side.
n s. The Rabbit is large stone which CLOSELY
!. resembles the animal whose name it bears.
h 8. Ole Bulls Concert Room is situated to
n the left of the avenue. 1t is thirty feet wide,
e forty long, and twenty high. When Ole Bull
l. made his first tour through the United States,
o he visited the Cave, and performed in the
o room which has received his name.
e 10. Siliman's Avenue is named nhonor o.
&c Professor B. Silliman, Sem, of Yale College
e Rhoda's Arcade, which arises in Silliman'
'e Avenue, a half mile from the Pass III Ghor
u is FIVE hundred yards in length, and from five
h to ten feet in hight. The walls and ceiling
carbonate Of lime of great brilliancy and in.
s describable beauty. The floor is covered
., with white crystals of limestone, and is unob
ID tructed by fallen rock. In point of beauty
A. there is no avenue superior to this.
Lucy's Dome is reached by passing through
is Rhoda's Arcade II is about sixty feet in Il.
n greatest diameter, and over three hundred in
al hight, being the highest dome in the Cave.
ie The sides appear to be composed of immense
II curtains, extending from the ceiling to the
70 floor.
At The Pass of Ell Ghor resembles Silliman'.
Avenue, but the cliffs composing its wall.
e present more wild and rugged appearance
n Il is about two miles in length.
The objects of interest in this avenue, pre-
g sent themselves in the following order:
y |. The Hanging Rocks look as though they
y we're on the point of falling and closing tn,
d avenue over which they are suspended but
no rock has been known to fall from the wall.
m CT ceiling in any part of the Mammoth Cave,
e snce its discovery
e =. The Fly Chamber recevesits name from
h tie fact that crystals of black gypsum, of the
IL SIZE of a common house-iy, project from the
g ceiling in great numbers.
3. Table Rock is twenty feet long and pro
IS jacts from the left side Of the avenue about
a ten feet. 1t is about two feet in thickness.
.. Inc oro"n IL Blk leet III diameter, and
h Is situated on the right side of the avenue
about ten feet from the floor. It closely re-
o sembles the object after which it is named
y s. Boone's Avenue leads off to the left
h has been explored for about mile, but
1t nothing further is known as to its extent OIL
e dimensions.
m 6. Corinna's Dome rests directly over the
e center Of the avenue. 1t is forty feet high and
y zine wide. Il was formed by the solvent &C.
= ton Of water, which entered it through fis.
n sure at the top, when the Pass Of FL Ghor was
IS filed with water. Had it been formed after
the water had left the avenue, there would
h have been pit beneath it, as shown at Shell.
n ly's Dome and the Bottomless Pit
Z. The Black Hole OF Calcutta is situated
= on the lett SIDE OF the avenue, and is about
u hiteen feet deep.
.. stella Dome is two hundred and fifty
= feet IN hight, and in general appearance re-
u sem1les Lucy Dome. It's reached by pass
ing through small avenue which enters the
: ieit wall val OF the Pass OF I'll Ghor.
. y. The CHIMES consist OF depending rocks,