The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-08-10

except this uncertain circular which, how
ever, stated that "good plain boards might
be had among the farmers, and certainly we
could well afford to put up with that. And
SO we start ed out, resolved to make the best
of every thing, making health the foremost
aim, and all things else secondary we
went forth like Abraham OF old, who knew
not "whither lie went" We expected to
have occasion to cultivate the singular virtue
of Mark TapIey in "Maytin Chuzzlewlt' who
took great credit TO himself for being jolly
in the most discouraging circumstances, ana
we have net been disappointed!
Fortunately our reverend brother from
Michigan, caught the spirit of exploration
and health seeking, and concluded to take
fe W weeks vacation in carly summer. He!e
was chance to trough it"perhaps-fof
the suspicion somehow began to dawn upon
! us that we were bound for q bowling wilder
ness. And what minister-weary and worn
with his work-does not long for a*lodge III
some vast wilderness for 9 season, with the
dazzling prospect of abundant trouting, and
hunting, and horseback riding ali over q
mountainous country! He joined us in Chi
cago, bringing first class breach-loader and
abundance of cart 'dges,--for cid not the cir
GUAR say that game was plc2ty with occa-
| sionally bear, wild cat and deer? Alas for
tho high expectations
b days riding FROM Chicago took us TO
Cave City, Kentucky, q scrubby little village
! Of two or three hundred inhabitants. "Cave
i City" was the name Of The village. ] thought
! of the little pie boy who went rdshing
Though the train with his basket Of pies, Cd
cold mornings, shouting al the top OF his
voice-"'Hot mince pies'-to the hungry
|. passengers. What could be more tempting?
One crusty old gentleman, after paying for
piece, and discovering that It's temperature
vas ike that of frosty iron, (perhaps "hot'
in that sensel began a vigorous remon-
STRANGE with the receding youth for his i'm
position, s'Why, Mister" said he, Hot mince
pies is the name of en- ("
| We concluded to visit Nam 9th Cave, z
miles distant according TO the cave "circu-
Ear" as our charge needed rest and did not
need our attention, and besides the hack fare
out and back was temptingly "cheap' '-only
three dollars apiece, this being the only way
Of getting there, and the number OF visitors
annually being about 1000. Here at last
was place where they didn't take adyan-
i tage! We had unexpectedly met two co lege
friends-my classmates-at the City" on
their way north after year Of teaching as
/ l. Of of
chattanooga and the other somewhere in
mississippi. They Joined US for the trip to
! the cave. There were two other tourists in
| the load-one young man OF considerable
culture from Germany and the ether from
kBngland. Dom Pedro and party had pre-
ceded us by couple of days, Reaching the
til Cave Hotel ct P. M. we concluded to
begin operations at once. Daylight or dark
mess makes no difference in the cave. There
are two routes to be taken, guide being
necessary in either case. The fee for the
~shorter route" is two dollars, and three for
the "long route" the guide expecting lit
tie "bucksheesh' In addition. We decided on
| the shorter route which could be accom-
pllshed in four or five hours.
Ca entering the cave we experienced change
| of atmosphere at once. 'Itwas cool and cXhilar-
ating The thermometer remains at 500 the year
round. will not attempt to describe al that we
sew while there We followed the colored guide
veteran of over 80 years in this service, each Of
us carrying a torch, sometimes coming into
large open place, and again though rarely, find
ing the passage narrow and uncomfortable. Here
al oil tf0o
all the smaller ones having beer long ago broken
Of and carried away. The Rotunda is entered
soon after leaving the entrance. The ceiling is
about100 feet high, and its greatest diameter 175
feer, the door is strewn with the remains Of vats
water pipes and other matariaa used by salt peter
liners in 1912. The wood Of which they are
made shows no signs of decay.
Andubons Avenue leads off to the right,Fifteen
years ago several small cottages were built for
the residence ofpersons afflicted with consump
ton under the impression that they would be
benefited by uniform temperature. Three of
those who resorted there died soon after, and the
majority ofthose who remained any length OF
time, died in few days after leaving the cave. !
That settled the question, and consumptives now
keep clear of these under ground regiOns. The |
remains Of the cottages are still preserved.
Soon after leaving the Rotunda, to the left, we
came to the Methodist church-40 feet high, ard
80 in diameter. From ledge of rocks Is feet
high the Gospel was dispensed (with?) more than
80 years ago. The benches or logs still remain
as when FIRST placed for seats.
1t might be interesting-did time and space
pernit-to describe ct length the Giants Coffin,
Star Chamber, Fat Mans Misery Gan exceedingly
Gorin's Dome etc. etc. and the row we took IN
small scow on the river, in the cave. Suffice 1t to
saw, we returned at 8 o'clock in the evening,
having Travelled miles under ground. The long
route requires IL hours, and the distance TO be
traved in 10 miles or miles, out and return.
Probably hundred miles Of the various avenues