Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-09-05

supper was furnished for our able-bo-
died appetites, and after that supper,
we looked around US. That supper
didn't increase the distance around US
TO any remarkable extent. This is q
corner of the universe noted for its
picturesque scenery. Everything here
wears a common phase of ancient arch
itecture. The houses, the hills, the ra-
vines, the citizens, the horses, the wag-
ons, the furniture, and even the mules
look old and old-fashioned. The coun-
try is traversed by numerous subter-
ranean rivers.
Time was called at II NJ, and about
1S5 of US fell in line to take in the short
s mile route in the Cave thst evening.
Some of the ladies were dressed in cos
tune, trimmed Ia lively colors-oth-
ers, and the gentlemen, selected their
toughest 'duds,' expecting to receive
rough usage in the Cave. Most per-
sons use Ianes. Across the corner of
little meadow, into the woods, and
down an eRbankment along a we'll
trodden path, about 200 yards from the
department, the mouth of
the Cave appears. A great basin, in a
wild wood, formed by the falling in of
q railroad tunnel, leaving an ingress
and egress to one end, blOckading the
other, would pretty accurately describe
the appearance OF the mouth of the
Mammoth Cave. Its first breath on q
visitor is decidedly cool, and suggests
the idea of pulling shawls and coats a
little closer about ones chest and neck
But by the time the guides 90 below,
light about IS lamps, and send up
marching orders, the chilly sensation
has somewhat subsidized, and down we
go, single file, among the rocks and
flying bats. / would suppose it q de-
scent of about 75 feet of irregular steps
from the top to the bottom of the
mouth or basin, before striking the
regular pathway. About each alternate
visitor in our company carried lamp.
It was q grand sight to see so many
lamps stringing along single file. The
temperature, ss We perceived, gradu-
ally sattles at about 590, and not un.
comfortable for walking. The atmos-
phere appears pure and bracing. A
short way in from the mouth of the
Cave q dressed beef appeared. Some
one said it had been preserved there
since 1872. / venture to say il wouldn't
and onward we march-the well beaten
road, almost the entire Smile route,
is dry and inclined to be rocky. Day
and night, morning and evening, are
unknown in this subterranean world.
A sudden punching of a number of the
party, proved disastrous to quite
number OF coat tails, from the careless
handling of lamps. The whole appears
to be rough, rugged, irregular, ILL.,
shaped tunnel-washed out ages ago,
by some underground river-its once
great channel now waterless, and ira
versed BY thousands of tourists, all
anxious to see what the inside of
mother earth looks like. Here u straight
run, then arches, dOnes, vaults, bot
tomles5 pits, causeways, chambers, ro
tundas, springs, lakes, rivers, pillars,
monuments, ,stalactites,s ,stalagmites, and
eyeless fish are few OF the attractions.
At some points the arches, dumes,
and rOtundas are 75 to 80 feet above
your head, at others, little STOPPING
and edging is necessary. The starry
chamber, and Echo river, are two grand
sights. Starry chamber is about 60 feet
high, 20 feet wide, and 800 ft long,
ceiled with black gypsum, studded
with apparent twinkling stars. E.'ho
River il about miles from the entrance
of the cave, and Is 80 It wide, and from
10 to % it deep. Ask some QUE else its
length. 1t must be crossed in boats, in
order to see the Is mile route. It has
q very slight current, and sympathizes
with Green River, outside the cave, in
traDsparency,ri rises and falls. Salt peter
was manufactured in this cave ia 1872
in considerable quantities. The watts,
pipes, &c.are still there. Many strange
figures are seen, such as the ant eater,
the ceiling. Giants coffin, is u rock,
lying in the way, and shaped not uu.
like huge coffin. Methodist church
is so # in diameter, and 40 It high.
The gospel Was preached in this spot
80 years ago. The log seats and benches
still retain their places. One of the
most impressive features of the evening
took place in one of the great domes,
where all concluded to rest. Some one
struck up 1.-The sweet by and by" and
at least $50 cultivated voices joined in;
and away down in the bowels of the
earth, ut the dead hour of night, the
effect Of that m usic Can more readily be
imagined than described. We emerg-
ed from that great den at II o'clock at |
night. Sought our magnificent hotel,
only to learn that we were homeless
and without pl CO to rest
the sDle OF our tire head. The I'll IN d.
nigans," a new organization to Us,
cared not, but We gathered our grip
sack, a shawl, AMI all other iu,.e ap-
parel we could appropriate, without
regard to ownership, broke into thu
parlOr, curled down in one corner, and
rested didn't sleep) till morning. The
landlord charged Us % eta. for the curl.
Quite number took the long route
next day, Friday but we caved. Paid
Jur bill, (couldnt get away without)
and took first stage for Cave City, over
hat same blessed nine miles of pebbles.
Arrived there at IL A. NJ. and took CON
ortabIe quarters, determined to wait
ill the remainder of the company over.
ook US. They came liInping and
in that evening, each wear.
ng the look of misery on his coun-l
enance. They were lame, and halt,
md blind. A blind boy from Maine,
lad explored the cave, and had various
pecimens with him. He Was highly {
md the country, yet he was as blind rs d
he fish he carried. Ne
At 4 O'Clock Saturday morning, the
majority of our party took a special
rain, that had lain at the siding wait. I
ng for us, for Nashville Tenn, distant !,
90 miles. Arrived at the Maxwell q
House, Nashville, at 81 A. NJ. The {
ditor OF The American" very kindly
Scorted ui tO the Grand State Hou-e-
Introduced us to Governor Porter, /
howed US through the different de. 1
artments, and to the dome overlook @
ng the e,tire city, then to the resi-
ence Of Mrs. Ex President Polk, who .
indy greeted Us all. She Is remark. :
bly, good looking, well preserved old r
ady. Her daughter, Mrs. Mills, was =
eside her. The handsomely, yet