The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-08-12

THREE MILES OF suBTERRANEAN woNDEps-
NEW YoRK's GREAT CAVE NOT FAR BEHIND
KENTUcKYs MAMMOTH - MILLIONS IN 1T
WHICH CANNOT BE COR OUT. s ,,.~
SHARON SPRINGS, August 8, 1873
II the tourist. r.ding from. Albany TO Palaline
Bridge, or Sharon Springs, be not too indolent, no
may, perchancs, glance at handoili which regu-
larry distributed the trans In which the wonders
OF Aowc's Cave are briefly ana ingram icuily
forth. Iput one Of these documents In my pocket
and should have forgotten NIL about the cavs had
not accidentally found the paper among some
letters TO which wished TO refer one
evening ] was sitttag In front Of Union Hall.
Sharon Springs 10 very democratic. 10 this salient
feature OF the place indebted for the presence
on my hand OF the door livery stable kesper.
He is q companionable man, with clear, gray eye
and q face iurrowsd by time ana exposure. He mad
been occupied about twenty mnutesin destroying ali
existing political parties, remodsIug the constItu-
ton, changing the face oil the country and making
Sharon the queen Of watering places. WHOM to eject
diversion, handed him the aforesaid printed slip.
asking him at the same time whether he knew any
thisg about the cave. afH fna
rg ABOUT THE CAVE. s.r ~ r4. s.t y.
s.wcn" said no, ~ guess do some, Two been
takiu' parties there every the last twenty
seven year, SO reckon mout know como about It,"
Shave you been into the cave ?" qucried your
correspondent 81 .is.atsa
''whv. sure, thirty times at least"
The reader may well be spared q recap,ua,ion OF
the WONDERS detailed TO by my stable Informsnt.
He had clearly harnsssed his agnston TO this great
limestone theme, given her tho whip and cut the
reins. concluded, however, that IL only = htieth
part VI what ne said were true the cave muss be we'll
ress csy. Ny sHpsrienos in The cal. ' m,ueS
OF Hallein, IN the salzKammergu. tAustrial had
somswhs. prepared mo Tor I'M: subterrsncan
jaunt, but the work turned out to be considerably
harder than had anticipated. The early morning
train from sharon took inc ~ within bowshot OF the
caves mouth. Like all curos'ties Of this kind tho
cave has been made .lon," Tor view of which
has pay. The uusophlsticated indiRencs
u would seem that the expectation Of New York or
have 10 be stimulated BY the payment OF TOUR times
that sum. THIS fee includes the use Of pair OF IN
flexible cowskin boots tawuy clay despatched over
aiis, dirty woosn vest ana shapeless straw hat.
Thus ACQUIRED, WITH q petroleum lamp emitting o
com ION, the guide and my self made our way down
staircase to tho mouth Of the THIS jesl-
tho hocl hall the afore toned staircase
THE DISCOVERY. 't
Two very indiferentiy written guide books are Of
fered the explorer At about nve times their value.
This hotel ought 20 DO called "the Golden Fleece {"
From Of those books gathered that the cave
discovered about forty years ago by ono Mr. Howe.
IL therein suited that the discovery was the result
OF scientific Induction. Mr.. Howe noticed cIefs In
the limestone rock. He concluded thai there must
DE caves This cave rewarded has search. Mr.. Howes
scientific claims arc disposed Of In the smaller aud
less preennous book by tue ststen'cut that he ais
bits. Tho geological acumen Of fox which slipped
into she avoid Mr. iiowe's gun subsequently, In.
duced that gentle to look heuco the complete
discovery. The days work good sne, as Mr..
Howe got 900 Ter mis- cave. II 10 now
With ,hc profits Of the hotel mako snug little
competency. f.E
THE ENTRANCE.
The whole geological FORMATION Of the surrounding
country prepares ono Tor what 10 seen In the cave T.
seE The limestone IS everywhere aminaicd hort
zontaiy, and where The weather has broken II MP
looks preciseiy ike layers Of blush gray bricks
fully laid by the AID Of tho water level TINS peculi
army OF tho distinctive features Of the cave.
as our trio entered. We were met by an
aimosphers which made my companion and
myself shver, but which seemed to produce no effect
upon our sexagenarian guide. An unusually strong
dose OF brandy possibly lctod as prcphyIacc la his
case Within atty eet of the entrsnce, poultry, meal
and lager beer were kept as In cehousc. he day
light was very soon lost 10 view Most people, when
description, picture 10 themselves ono immense
irregularIv vaulted chamber This notion would lead
TO disappointment Howcs cave, for nearly
snafi driven into tho hillside. The floor is OF damp
cay and the detrus OF the limestone rock. The
sides are the rock itself, ana the roof is ormed BY
immense creviced slabs OF the material which
bong OF incaicuisbic weight, without any apparent
bii,,es 70 those passing under them Sill, OUT
guide stated that during an experiences OF twcn,y.ss
years he had never known piecc Of the root 10 ia
! IN. l had already seen enough to allow him very
| liberal margin on this statement.
VIEW OF TIM woSDERa
| Picking our way carefully onward, sometimei
erect. sometimes slightly STOPPING, now bent double
nov almost crawling we awaited with impatience ths
/ revelation Of the wonders promised 10 ~ a. sharon
! springs. At about the end OF the nrst hall mile
the guide babe us stand still Disappearing
IN tho gloom. he presently rssppesrsd about
forty feet overhead, lighted a gas jet, and thni
enabled US 10 sec majestic chamber. fashioned BY
the hand oil nature about hundred feet In height aut
Of nearly equal diameter The discovercr's iancy In
duccd him 10 call this the Giant'r Chapel. VIZ
mouasd into what n. ight be formed . section Of
cIerestory, and wero shown huge natural altar, a
winch daughter Of old Howe and som,
| youthful swain, In difference TO quiz
Of the Old man, plsh,ed their roth. rb'
young ladys nerves must have been In excellent or
der. Various similsr chambers approached by gal
lercs, ri times excessively trying the spine, arr
found during the next mile. S,alagmtes and stslao
tites OF rcaily prodgious encountered. Thes
had OF course, to be named, and Mr.. Howe's venera
ton Tor the hero OF tho Iitte hstche 10 evidenced b.
the lavish use Of washington's name TOR christening
purposes.
| suBrERRAyEAN CHAMBERS.
In the Giants Chapel the ear 10 greeted BY tn
sound Of waters rushing through the gloom. The
| have already eaten their way far beneath the pat
followed by the VISITOR, aud their grim mcno,ons
heard bsow 10 the which cape rant and left
There ~ something very sooeriug 20 man 10 70