Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1878-07-25
VOLCANIC EVIDENCES AND INDICATIONS
OF INTERNAL IDENTIFICATION.

BALD MOUNTAIN, July 10, 1878.
The first sunbeam creeping across
the mountain top this morning
found party of three telling slow
| ly up the steep sides of Bald Noun
tain, bent upon the exploration of
the newly discovered caVe--viz.;
the Herald reporter, guide and All
inquistive tourist seeking health and
recreation. Sunrise upon the noun
tains has too often been described
to bear repetition here, but the
knowledge of this fact did not lessen
our admiration of the beautiful
scene, delighting the eye whichever
way it turned. Such was the charm
of our surroundings that the cave
was nomentar;ly forgotten, but sud-
denly recalled to mind by the sharp
voice of the guide informing MS that
we had better pnsh on while it Was
cool or we would repent the neg
lect. Accordingly the climbing,
vaulting and crawling ascent was
resumed, and half an hour later, ex-
hausted and breathless; the cave
mouth was reached.
EXPLORING THE CAVERN.
"Is that hole the entrance ?"
asked the reporter, pointing to an
aperture in the mountain side not
large enough to admit two men at
the same time. ''Yes," replied the
guide, "but it does not stay that
small for long. You won't have
to creep more than five feet before
you'll have plenty Of standin' room"
While lighting the torches and
lanterns the guide informed US that
there was some danger OF being
crushed by the falling rocks, as the
slightest jar would loosen tons ard
sm;ll fragments constantly tell from
the roof ot the cave. In bis opin-
ion, though, we were free from all
danger for the day, he having tonnd
pm with point turned toward him
Just before startings So without
further delay down we go on all
tours, and five teet of creeping; as
the guide predicted, gave us ''plenty
of standin' room For twenty
feet inward the light of the torches
were not required, sufficient day
light penetrating that far TO render
objects visible. Anxiety to ascer-
tam its extent precludcd an imme-
diate close examination Of the cave
So we hurried from point to point
as rapidly as lis rugged, and in
some places almost inaccessible ma
ture would permit, after which
closer and more specific examination
was made. The sight presented
upon our first entrance when be
yond the influence of daylight was
brilliant and imposing. The walls
of the cave seemed studded with
myriads of diamonds.
A FAIRY SCENE.
These were flashing and spark
Eng in la dazzling mass of brilliancy,
binding to the eye. Huge rocks
iutted forth from the sides and bare
/ Iy seemed to rest; hundred feet
overheadj threatening at any mo-
ment to plunge down the shaggy
sides and crush to powder all be-
meath them. Large flakes, eighty
feet high by fifty wide, not over ten
inches through in their thickest
parts, inclining slightly forward
ard mostly detached, hung from the
walls like half ripped off box lid,
and high up over head light spots
COULD be seen where the sunlight
struggled family through natural
window, too weakly to illume the
darkness below, bat plainly enough
to be observed thcrefrom.
ROCKY CHANBERs
Upon first en- ering the cave fol-
lows a northwesly course for forty
two feet, then turns northwardly
for $50 feet, descending thirty
four feet during this turn, but ris
ing again to its fol mer level, wher
it branches off into five apparently
different caves. all except one hav.
! ing common outlet, three of then
larger than the entrance one, The
: other two smaller. All six apart.
: ments, although separately par
titioued, connect, either above Oh
a below those partitions, the reporter
r have cra@led under the dividing
wallis of three, finding barely roor
). to squeeze through These walls
: vary in thickness from one one six
Ity feet. To tom IL correct idea o
the appearance and character o
the cave Tor series Of caves. imiag
ine a cavern of 600 feet long ant
45O feet wide, with height vary
ing from Is to 200 feet.
LIKE HE'LL GATE ExoAYATfoN.
Divide this cavern into six sepa
rate caves as dihensiohed below
all having q common Junction Q