Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-08-18
UNDERGROUND.
A Nashville Party at Mammoth Cave.
To the Union and American.

To the Union and American:
NASHVILLE, Aug. II, lS14.-It was at 5
O'Clock Thursday morning, the 18th inst,
our p rty, consisting of Mrs. w +. Moore,
Misses Meggie Miller, Maud Chadwell,
LOxe Caldwell, Annie Wilson, Julia Black
man, Ella Rankin, aud MeSsrs. L. w.
Caldwell, Ed. II. Vaughan, Jno. /. Chad
well, Dan DOnelsOn, aud Leslie Warner
were comfortably seated in Louisville and
Nashville Railway car, destined for Mann
moth Cave, where We arrived between one
an two o'clock that evening.
II wing partaken heartily Of an excellent
diner, we adjourned to our respective
roOms TO prepare for the short route, and
at o'clock We entered that much talked-Of
'.hOle in the ground under the guidance
Of an old culOred individual, known as
"Old Nick who, according to his own
version has served in that capacity for
tluy-seyen years. We found him at first
very talkative and apparently witty, never
theless, it is well known that he has been
perpetrating the same old Jokes on different
parties for 10 these thirty-seven years. He
remarked Gas he, of course, does Of every
party that he guides through) that 1t was
the best natured aud liyeliest party that he
had conducted through for years.
Among the most noted objects OF inter-
est to be seen in the short route may be
mentioned "McthOdist Church. with pull
pii. in which service was once held, the
..Amphitheatre,r 'sGiant's Coffin" "BOt-
tnmlessness PHI" "Bridge Of Sighs,S and
the "Bridal Chamber where a marriage
once took place. 1t seems that the
fair and blushing bride had faithfully
promised her immediate parental ancestors
that she would never marry on the face OF
the earth, and she did not, but married I'M
der it From the Bridal Chamber we visit
ed the old arm chair, by some called the
"Devirs Chair in which Jenny Lind and
other noted characters are said to have rest
ed. Then came the greatest Of all the
Mammoth Cave wOnders-the justly re-
nowned Star Chamber. As we halted, and
our guide announced the place, We imme-
diatelv cast our eyes s'alOft, and it seemed
as if we had suddenly come TO all opening
in the cave, and as if twilight had let her
curtain down, and pinned it with a star"
We gazed in silent wonder and awe at
the beautiful stars, while way to the right
We could discern the outlines Of a cOmmet,
Cnrobably relation Of the slate lament
ed''). Our admiration was.heightC ned when
Nick, taking all the lamps and leaving US
I'm Egyptian darkness, caused the cloud to
pass gently over and obscure the stars for
few brief moments but this soon passed
away, and it was again "a heavenly night"
he then caused the pale moon to rise 10 the
dim distance, all constituting the grandeSt
scene in the entire cave. Once more we
had lamp and stick in hand and hurried
on To the mouth Of the cave where we ar
rived at seven O'Clock. Having partaken
of a hearty supper the time was passed
away pleasantly, dancing and promenading
until late hour.
The next morning, trough and ready"
We prepared for the ''lOng route" having
been Joined By Louisville, Baltimore and
81. Louis party, making in all forty-seyen
persons, and with Nick as our principal
guide Che having several assistants) We
were in the cave at nine o'clock, and a
right pretty sight it was to see the ladies
(who are undoubtedly the chief delight
and attraction Of cave party) in their fan
tastic costumes and swinging lamps, wind
ing their way through the cavern.
After leaving the main avenue we came
10 the Fat Mans Misery" then the "Bam
Gallery" 50 called from its slight nesem-
blance to hams in a smOkehOuse; two of
our party, however, could see more reSem-
biance TO the dream Little BO Peep had Of
her little sheep tails, and il was cOnse-
Quently dubbed "BO Peep Gallery"
From there 10 the dead Sea Echo" and
'.Riyer Styx,- up to which point the party
were entertained by an excellent string
band. Then we visited 'AIartha's Vine
yard" and washington Hall, where We
had an excellent dinner sent in by the
hotel prOprietors. We reached the termi-
nus 10y 4 o'clock, and returned to the hotel
at 0 o'clock after being III the cave just
twelve hours, having walked eighteen
miles and twelve the day before, making
thirty miles Of Underground travel.
Our party returned to the City Of Rocks
on Saturday evening at $50 o'clock, in ex-
cellent spirits and highly pleased with our
trip to the cave. TIMOTHY TIBBs, JR.