The New York herald., 1878-11-28

little projections of crystal at the bottom
sharply defined that I must hold my light in
certain way in order to the surface of the water
Stepping cautiously around the margin and up
smooth white SLOPE along which the water trickes
into the basin, avoid ducking similar to that
ceved the other day by adventurous visitor who,
leaving his guide and friends for short but inde
pendent exploration, found himself up his hips in
this particular pond before he had made twenty
PAGES. He crawled out weter but wiser man, and
suppose left the beauties of the quickly
possible for home and dry clothes. Creeping along
among the stalagmites and stalactites which here
unite under low roof in slender columns. we adj
vance, following the guiding string that has been
wisely laid by Campbell.
"Look out There's ugly place. Can you
make it p from Campbell causes to raise my
head suddenly to look forward "Ouf !" what hor-
rible punch my head got from the pointed staacite
just above it Campbells light danced before my
eyes for moment two, but when the stinging
pain has subsided find myself brought up by
mass of rock that almost fills the corridor. 1t has
fallen from the roof and leaves jagged cavity there.
and around this piece of rock the staagmies
and staactites are in many cases cracked broken
of. The roof rock is crushed and spntered and ni-
mense rents extend forward for much seventy
feet showing that powerful crushing force has been
exered here and that in places it irresistible.
The floor is hollow sounding and muddy, and the
little spaces each side of the obstruction, formed
by the shelving down of the roof and up of the oor
are nearly filled with small formations.
Campbell has wormed his way between the wall
and the big rock, and has turned to give me the
benefit of his light and advice. set my candle
down as far ahead as I reach, and then begin
effort to squeeze myself through the only practicable
opening. "Whcw! what place. ! must rest for .
few moments for the exertion is really exhausting
Finally, however get through. and picking up
candles we push The passage does not widen
Indeed it scarcely varies in dimensions. although
have traversed already nearly two hundred and fifty
feet Of ii.
"Here. Mr.. Campbell look at this opening.
"Hallo-oo!' comes in smothered sounds from
Campbell. who has thrust his arms, head and
shoulders into another hole and to be holding
. conversation with the janitor Of the Internal
regions. Presently he comes to where l crouch
ing and examines the hole found with care. Then,
poking his head into it, and reacilg his candle far
in. he can be heard cxclaming, This looks like
big lead must break away Of these forlna-
tions before can get in; but in Ill go!" Then,
after much pounding at the hard encrustaton which
yields slowly and in small bits Campbell disappears
in the hole and the following conversation is held
through it,.
"Wel what is it like?'
| moment" The slowly coming. stfed words ac-
company sounds of scraping. pounding. or the
rolling Of bits of dirt through interior recesses which
shows that the hidden workman is trying to make his
way in some direction other and that it
is tough job Presently hear. as If from dis
tance:-"Hallo, Mr.. --i It's as big all out Of
doors here. Quite fine and some very pretty
formations. Can you make IT," Then it is my turn.
I shout:-"Hal.o Campbell! Don't roll any rocks
about above there. I'm coming up if can" Then.
with much twisting and squeezing OF my body
sQmetimes work my way after Campbell and some
times do not for he go through openings easily
that are impossible to me.
In this way every passage and chamber has been
explored in detail. II is astonishing what small
amount of ground be covered-that is to say,
examined-within regular working hours
namely, from ten A. NJ. to five P. NJ. The big chasm
alone took US nearly Ave hours to explore thoroughly
GENERAL CAVE.
The result Of my rough survey by compass, the
of which is due to attractions in the soil being
unknown. is about follows
For the main corridor leading from the entrance
toward the great low rooted hail. and for distance
OF about four hundred feet the general direction
about eleven degrees north Of east magnetic bear
ings). This length passes from the foot of the en-
trance stairway to the left of the big column so
called in the antechamber. and through narrow
passage to stairway leading down into the rst i'm
portant depression in the cave. Thence Muddy
Lake, now dry, aud under natural archway to the
entrance Of the big chamber, the floor Of which is
reached by two flights Of stairs rising height of say
thirty feet This is the point where the root Of the
big chamber fell, filing up the cavity completely
except where the chasms occur. The Wis
itor, in traversing it, therefore walks
the upper surface Of the fallen mass: or,
of fhafyr of abadf
the roof Above him the roof varies in height fro:n
five to eight feet. IL he the hall the
line the first referred to: that is to say in o nearly
eaery direction. north and south. the roof appears
to be lower. except where it approaches section Of
"the great gulf" separated from the main chasm by
q small obstruction. There the floor falls away
little. giving more head room. Northwara the floor
approaches tho roof closely prevent explora
ton for the present, but satisfied great
will yet be found in that direction. they do
at the southern end of the hall Although 300 feet
from west to east AMI OF indefinite extent from south
u north the roof Of this vast. choked-up apart
ment has visible support except that afforded
by the walls. 1t would remind OF = rudeiy
groined roof. destitute OF ornament. and of
Of dull blush color. Within it tine chasms
known the Great Chasm. skeleton Chasnl. and
several others Of minor Importance, but still dan
gerous looking openings to timid visitors The age
OF the other formations that are to be seen n the
the fact that these the "reat Chssnl'
and the general character Of the surroundings,
vinccs me that underneath the floor Of this big
columnless hall there immense chambers formed
by the protecting shelter of the old roof formations
that have fallen. bat which must be supported on the
original floor BY the massive staactites and staag-
mites that formed before the roof fell To the
eastern side OF the big hall. being 200 feet from tho
entrance. sudden turn OF the passage to the south
ward carries the visitor down q sharp incline
for about hundred feet and directly into
the section Of the whore it is richest
in beautiful formations. Again bending eastward
for $50 feet he descends toward the great staacttic
partition" the Angels Wing" tho Organ" and
the doep clear pool described hcrcinbcfore in
tion with the explorations. The forms of deposit