Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1878-07-25
WINSTON, N. c., THURSDAY, July 25 1873.


on the outside of the moutain, The
partitions decreasing In thickness
as the point of junction is reached
similar 10 the blade OF q wedge
Four OF these lesser caves, Gompos-
ing what is considered the cavern,
extend into the mountain, two
obliquely, the other two horizon
tally at right angles with the side.
The main cave branches off from
the point of junction almost paral-
lei with the one leading to the win
dow, taking an easterly course,
first downward 100 feet to depth
Of 46 feet, then upward again for
over 800 feet, Winding spirally, in
some places almost perpendicular
ly, growing gradually smaller until
iG obtains an altitude CT about 100
feet from the bottom. The next
largest follows an east-northeas-
terly course, parallel with the Que
just described 190 feet, turning to
the southeast for 100 feet further.
ROUGH ROAD.
In this the largest flakes are to
be seen and the most dangerous
precipices encountered, one side of
a Jagged bowlder which has to be
descended to reach the bottom pre-
senting a perpendicular face of &C
feet. The third largest is the one
by which entrance is effected, 152
long, and in some parts 70 feet
high. The fourth largest runs 90
feet directly downward; varying in
altitude from 10 to SO teet. The
fifth follows a southeasteriy course
81 feet, height ranging from 10 to
3S feet. The sixth and smallest
takes a northwesterly course for
G3 feet, terminating III the window,
as shown in the illustration, over
500 feet from the base of the noun
tain, with an altitude Of from Is to
40 feet. This window is Il feet by
4 wide, affording fine view of the
surrounding country. There is lit
/ tie variation IL the aferage width
of the different apartments. In
some places they are 30 feet wide,
while in others only 8.
GEOLOGICAL.
Most Of the space in breadth is
occupied by the partitions, the bulk
of the caviug rock falling between
the north and south. Little differ
ence IS noticeable IN the character
of the rocks, gray granite inter-
spersed with seams of flint and
occasional quartz, with hero and
there slight layers of mica forming g
the roof, sides ard bottom. No
spring or stream Of water flows
within the cave, but innumerable
single crops percolate throughout
The walls OF solid rock, presenting
the appearance Of crystal forma-
tions and causing the brilliant
sparkling alluded 10 above. Only
two living creatures were fouud-
bat and Iizaxd-the toi mer look
ing somewhat lonely, the latter lean
and hungry. Cold air passes
through ell parts with ezpe1iencea-
ble force, rendering long stay in
side unpleasant. The appearance
Of all the rocks indicates a very re.
cent convulsinn, the cave having
been formed by the falling ih of a
portion of The mountain side DUR
lag the rumbings two weeks ago.
Their sides are fresh and bright
when not percolated bv water, and
no formation of moss of earth could
any whe'e be found. Some portions
were explored with great difficulty
it being impossible to scale some
of the large and smooth faced rocks
with a ladder. While standing il
the largest branch the reporter
made a narrow escape. A large
rock, suddenly loosened from the
roof directly over head, fell, stri'
kirg the cave bottom within foot
of where he stood. ProvidehtialIN
he heard it rolling down and quick
Iy sprang beneath an immense
ledge just 70 the left, or he neve
would have lived to describe th,
wild beauty of the scene inside.
REi'EArED AND DtsrINCT RUNBLfNG.
The origin of the cave is evidentl,
volcanic. Families living near tn
mountain testified invariably, whel
interviewed. thai they heard loud ant
ominous noises, rs reported tw
weeks ago, but, strange to relate, 1t
shocks were experienced, the convul
siuns, therefore, must have been com
paratIFely slight. The cave is loca-
ted about 800 yards to the right, wit
! 500 feet less altitude than the GssUr
? discovered month ago, and four ant
: half miles southeast from where til
: eruption was expected to- issue fou
r years since. Four hundred yards t
r the right of it is the great slide whic
, occurred over a century ago, In whic
7 the side of the mountain for a quartz
: of mile moved downward some nv
hundred feet. That there is fl ava
: down in the heart of the BALD n
8 citizen of Mcdowell or Rutherfor
counties doubts for an instant. Waite
penetrates throughout the mountai
wherever examined, springs spurtin
forth even from the top. The contac