The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-03-26
I'll / s. @ ezIaneous.
"A STORY OF TEFE
MAMMOTH GAVE.

Below we give some extracts from work
OF fiction entitled, "Warwick or tile Lost
Natlonalities OF America" by Mansfield
Tracy Walworth. We will not youcb for
Its authenticity until we hear from the his
torlan OF the cave. Constant Earle, the
hero OF the story, and Stephen, the guide,
are the only parties represented as being
cognlzant Of the adventure, which was no
less than descent into the Rottomlcss
Pit
An immense number of huge coils ofropc
had previously been privately carried to
the spot; also windlass, the working of
which Stephen alone was to be intrusted
with. At the time appointed the two par
ties reached the Pit, ard Earle prepared
for the descent.
Il am ready now, Stephen. Give nv
lamp twist or two of the rope before YOU
nook on to my belt. Let the handle of it
hang within two or three feet Of nv head :;
then If want it l can climb up hand over
mana MAJ and dstach it I'm g 81 Es to ayasa
clear OF the rocks, when they crowd me too
close. must carry small bag of provi-
slons, for there's no telling when | may
come back. When the bag is emptied in
to my stomach can fill it again with ge-
illogical specimens, which | shall knock
of with my hammer when I'm coming
up"
II 'spects, Massa Earle, it'll bother We
heap to git at de lamp agin."
"Never fear, Stephen, | learned in the
gymnasium to climb a rope hand over
hand. I'm sailor enough for that"
The handle of the lamp was soon loop.
ed into the rope and the hook a few feet
below it was caught into tile iron ring at
the back of the adventurer's belt. The
rope passed several times around the cyl
inder OF the windlass and then wandered
away into the darkness of the cave in huge
coils. An ample supply had been laid in
for all contingencies, and when the first
that passed around the cylinder should be
exhausted, loops were ready at the ends of
the other coils to be attached and lowered
into the pit.
"Now, Stephen, give me a farewell shake
OF the hand, in case of accidents. Lower
me very slowly, for want to inspect the
the rocks and their geological formation.
II you hear my pistol fire, wind me up to
you; ifnot, don't attempt to raise me I'M
der twelve hours. Good.by old fel-
| low!"
With parting shake Of the hand he APP
preached the edge of cliff which project
ed a few feet over the gull, and where an iron
wheel grooved on the periphery was secur-
ed to receive the descending rope. The
guide assisted him over the edge, and
| placed the rope in the groove of the wheel
| Then he returned to the windlass, cast of
the clogs, and commenced to turn the CYL
| Under.
Slowly, carefully, descended the human
life, swinging over fathomless space, sus-
| pended by the iron ring which was secur.
ed in his belt behind. The lamp above
his head cast its rays over narrow circle
but broad enough to give u full view OF
the solemn rocks. After a time his perpen.
dicular line Of descent brought him near O
projecting spur of the subterrauean cliff
He discovered that be was passing
subcarboniferous limestone, whose won.
derfully cavernous character has rendered
the State of Kentucky so famous. He
glanced then downward. and shuddcred
at the awful blackness which his feet were
cleaving. One glance upward revealed
the steady glare ofhis lamp close above, and
he saw far away through the darkness the
lamp of the guide secured in a cleft of /;
rock, and diminishing gradually in size
Slowly and solemnly his body descended
in the darkness, and when he looked up
ward again the guides lamp glimmeret
like distant star. Carefully he inspected
the adamantine walls of the pit about him
their even strata or cavernous openings
into which he pecred in vain for a termin
us, witnessing for the first time, probably
the vision of q human face. He was a
length in the midst of utter silence. Tn
cracking of the windlass, which for lon,
time had reached his car, had gradual,
grown fainter and fainter, and at last wa
heard no more. Could Stephen have paus
cd in his LAHORE No! The changing ica
lures of the rocks indicated that every in
, slant he was going lower. The last feebl
clicking sound of human origin had die,
away in distance, and he was alone, hang
ing over the black emptiness Of space.
was unmanly to think of apprehension ye
Might not the bottom of the horrd gu
be near2 He thrust his hand into til
breast of his buckskin Jacket, and, draw
ing forth fragment Of stalactte large
than his fist, dropped it at his feet. Ho'
eagerly he listened He could hear I'll
palpitations of his heart. One, two, tire
four, five, six seconds. No response cam
from below. He counted on to sixty. A
Una a;lanf tho r,poya Whprn had