Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-11-19

become famous as one OF the world S
wonders, still continues. The new
discoveries are locatad under q knob
or spur of the Massanutton range,
about one mile or a little over VEST OF
this village.
THE WESTERN RANGE.
This route is impeded by chasms,
gullies and hills but with singular in
genuity the proprietors have already
bridged over the former, and made the
ascent and descent of the latter easier
by comfortable wooden stairways.
But an immense amount of labor has
yet to be expended to make the com
plete trip through the caverns rs ex-
peditious and safe as the average tour
ist and visitor will require. A guide
with a candle as the leader, the head
light next and the party following, we
passed through a long corridor, and
suddenly, far beyond, the rays from
the reflector opened to our view a
large chamber or amphitheater, in
which we're columns reaching the
roof, and around which are galleries
and collonnades Of great extent and
the most massive construction. These
galleries stretched away out from the
walls for a great distance with no other
support than that by which they
were attached to the walls, and
looked as if their immense weight
must sometime cause them to break
loose and come crashing down to the
floors beneath, awakening the echoes
with subterranean thunder. The sta
tactical spectacle here is very grand.
On the left of this route is the "Skel-
eton's Chasm, and a view of this had
BY a very perilous scramble over a
slippery ridge, on either side Of which
are dangerous chssms. This is why
the skeleton was first supposed to be
petrifed. 1t never occurred to the
discoveries that any human being had
within centuries past penetrated these
caverns, and seeing a skeleton at the
bottom of this chasm they at once
jumped to the conclusion that it must
be petrifed. 1t turns out now that
the skeleton is the remains Of an ad-
venturer who at some remote period
obtained access to the cayerns, and in
wandering about exploring them fell
into the chasm and was killed. The
bones are those of a small man, or 8
boy about fifteen years ofage. | have
in my possession a portion Of one 0.
the thigh bones, which medical mer
pronounce TO be a Yeritable piece o.
human anatomy. The skeleton il
partially embedded in the mud, half 4 o.
it protruding above the limestone in
erustation which has formed on the
surface Of the chasm. 1t isa ghastly
and revolving looking object, which ]
consider the least interesting Of tn,
numerous wonders to be seen in thu
cayerns, and will only be visited b.
those sctuated by a morbid curiosity
CORAL CASCADE.
To the left is another chamber. s.
by 100 feet. full of stalactites, and il
one corner a spring called Pear
Spring, from the resemblance its be-
bears to pearls. 1t is very large, sur
rounded BIZ masses of small white for
nations and by a semi-circle Of Lowell
white roses. The Crystal Spring. al
most in sight, is another beautiful bod
.f water. smaller in dimensions, bu
otherwise Of the same character. Max
ing a DEPRESSION, not from our route
but from the regular order of this MAI
ratiye. | will here mention what
conceive to be the most beautiful oh
ject in the caverns. and that is tn
|, queen Of springs-the Coral Casead,
It is located in the extreme corner
2 Giants Hall, and, like the Imperi;
Spring, is within the most charmin
Y little gotto. This gem Of a sprin
has a basin somewhat in the shape
. a coffin elevated about six feet frol
G the floor, and browning FIVE sem.
q circular tiers Of smaller basins wit
scalloped edges and lined by the mo.
: exquisite crystal formations, snrpas
d ing in loneliness anything ever wi
messed. When the main or uppi
trough oYerhows the other basins a
filled, but the water rapidly leay.
them. The main basin il always full
: Immediately over it is a canopy, as
to protect the spring and at tie baC
a beautiful sheet Of stalactites, Il
n very picture Off flowing cascade. Tn
beauty has b0eB appropriately chri
y tened tho Coral Cascade,
THE NORTHERN KANgE.
}. The Giants Hall is the name tn
e. has been given to this chamber b
Is cause Of its immensely Before {,
reached it the party Of 30 had brok
a up into squads and had scattered 60
e siderably over this Fast EQOm VIII
t, we entered our headlight cast its "a
for Q great distance, and the wandC
s. ing visitors With thoiF candles look
l. like so many pigmies as they fitted
g and fro among the monster s~talactii
s. and columns with which the chamt
is filed, At some points the gre
III arched, uneven Faqf flses " q heil
ur Of 100 fest, from which is suspend
the most enofmaus ~stalactltes perhs
r. in the world. Some of them I
he shaped like %icicles, but the great n
o: jority of them take the form Of er
I'D taigtd drqDerg and Others assum
70 the most fantastic and a~Btgaprlini
Of appearances imaginable. For an (
on mense distance around the most en-
I'D nous galleries they hang, castingt tn
y sh49gTs against the roof, leaving
IN mind 10 e9pjeetgFe vhs, must 81
he beyond. * rough estimate ma
thia chamber IL acres in extent,
under one roGf, but am inclined
en- believe it is even more than thus.
lte SOME OF THE WONDERS. 8
rag On the route through this hall
iel visitors have 70 a.Gap and walk nm
RS an immense column of apparent Coz
OF THAN architecture which has faI
he from III donna aud st,otolo -