The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-17
BALD MOUNTAIN.
An Exploration Of the Newly DiscoV-
cred Cavern Completed.
THE MOUNTAIN SPLITTING APART,
Volcanic Evidences and indications OF
Internal Oisintegration.
BALD MousrAIx, July 10, 1

The arst sunbeam creeping eCToss Tue nouusuu soP
this morning found party Of three toiing slowly up
the steep sides Of Bald Mountain, bent upon tho ex
pIora.ion OF tho newly-discovered cave-viz. the
HERALD reporter, guide aud inquisitive tourist
seeking health and recreation. Sunrise upon the
mountains has too often described to bear
tition here but the knowledge of this fact did not
lessen our admiration OF the beautiful scene. delight
ing the eye whichever way II turned. such was the
charm Of our surroundings that the cave was momen
tary forgotten but suddenly recalled to mind by the
sharp voice of the guide Informing us that we had
bsttor push on while it was cool or We would repent
tho neglect Accordingly the climbing. vaultiug and
crawling resumed, and half an hour later.
exhausted and breathless, the cave mouth was
reached.
EXPLORING THE CAVERN
.sls that hole the entrance ?" asked reporter.
pointing to aperture In The mountain side not
large enough 10 admit Two men 1T the same time.
eyes" replied the guide but Il does not stay that
small for long You won't have to creep more than
Eve feet before you'll have plenty Of standin' ROOM
While lighting the torches and lanterns the guide
informed US that there was some dancer Of being
crushed by the falling rocks, rs the slightest jar
would loosen and small fragments constantly Tell
from the root OF the cave. In his opinion though.
We were free from all danger Tor the day. he having
found PIN with point turned toward him just before
starting So without furt her delay down go all
fours ana FIVE feet Of creeping, as tho guide
predicted gave us "plenty OF standin' room"
For twenty feet inward the light OF the
torches wore not required, sufficient daylight pen
ctraing far TO render objects visible. Anxiety TO
ascertain It's extent precluded i'm mediate close cx
animation of the cave. So We hurried from point 10
point as rapidly It's rugged, and some places al
most Inaccessible nature would permit, alter which
closer and more specific examination was made The
sight presented upon our rst entrance when beyond
the influence Of day light brilliant and imposing.
Tho walls Of tho seemed studded with myrads of
diamonds.
SCENE
These were flashing anu sparkling in a dazzling mass
Of briiancy binding TO the eye Huge rocks jutted
forth from tho sides and barely seemed 10 rest a
hundred feet overhead threatening ut any mo-
meat 10 plunge down the shaggy sides and
crush 10 powder all beneath them Large akes
eighty feet high by fifty wide, not inches
through IN their thickest parts incning slightly for
ward and mostly detached, hung from the walls like
half ripped OF box lid aud high up over head light
spots could he where tho sunlight struggled
family through natural window too weakly TO ume
the darkness below bu; plainly enough 10 be observed
thereirom.
Upon first entering the cave follows northwcstery
course iorty-two feet, then Gorthwardly
1870 feet, descending thirtyour feet during this turn
but rising again 10 its former level when branches
on i've apparently different caves, all except
having common outlet, three OF Them larger than
apartments, although separately part,ioned, con-
meet, either above or below those partitions. the
reporter having crawed under the dividing walls OF
three finding barely room TO squeeze through.
These wais vary In thickness from one TO sixty
To form correct idea Of the appearance and char
acter OF the Tor series OF caves) imagine cavern
OF 600 long $50 feet WIDE, with height vary
ing rom Is 10 300 iect.
LIKE GATE EXCAVATION.
Divide this cavern into SIX separate caves as d.
mepsioned bs.ow, all having common Junction OF
Quiet INSIDE and Two separate outside oil
tue mountain tho partitions decreasing IN thickness
as the point OF jancso nr rs , reached similar 10 inc
posing what considered the cavern, extend into
Tue m0untaiu two ob!iqueiy, the other Two horizon
tally at right angles with the side. The main
branches of from the point OF junction almost
parallel with the one leading 10 the window,
taking eastery course hrst downward 10 ieet to
depth OF 46 ee then upward again Tor over 300 feet,
winding spraIiy, In some places almost perpendIcu-
altitude OF about 100 feet IRON the bottom Tbs next
largest follows an eastuortheasterv course, parallel
with tho Just described lS0 feet, turning 10 The
southeast Tor 100 ieet further
A ROUGH Road.
In this the largest flakes are 10 be seen aud tho
most dangerous precipices encoUnt tered, one
side OF a jagged powder when has to be
descended 10 reach tie bottom presenting a
perpond'cusr face OF 60 Iset The third iarsssi is
by which entrance Is Effected, 1872 cet long,
and III some parts 20 feet high The fourth largest
runs 90 feet directly downward. varying in altitude
course 81 iset height ranging from 10 TO IS feet
The ana smallest takes north westerly course
the Illustration, over 500 feet from the base OF the
mountain, win an aititddc OF from Is TO 40 feet.
TINS window IS II ieo by VIDE, snurding line view
oil the surrounding country. There Is hite variation
III the average width OF the different apartments. Ia
some places they arc 30 feet WIDE, while in others
| emily 3.
Most Of the space III breadth Is occupied by the
partitions tho bulk OF the cavng rock iainng be-
lNee l,ttl
noticeable In tue character OF the rocks gray granite
| iuterspersed with seams Of flint and occasions al
qunriz, with here and there sIgnt layers Of mica
| forming the root, sides aud bottom No spring or
stream OF water flows within tho cave but innumer.
able single drops percouts through tue walls OF solid
rock, presenting the appearance oil crysta. iorma-
tons and causing The brilliant sparkling alluded to
anu lixardthc former looking somewhat Ioneiy, the
latter loan aHd hungry Cold AIR passes through all
paris with experienceabIe force, rendering a long
stay inside UNPLEASANT The appearance OF all the rocks
| Indicates yery recent CONFUSION, the cave having
| been formed by the failing IN OF a portion Of the
| mountain sidc during the Tumblnes two weeks ago.
| Their sidss are fresh and bright when
| not psrcoiated by water, and 10 formal lou
| of moss or earth couu anywhere DO found.
some portions were explored Win great difficulty, II
bong impossible To scale some o the large smooth
laced rocks without ia idcr. whiic slanding IN the
largest branch the reporter made a marrow escape.
large rock, suddenly loosened from the ROOT directly
over head, FELL striking the cave bottom within foot
of where he STOOD. Providenusy he heard u rolling
down and quickly sprang beneath an immense ledge
Just TO the left, never would have ived to de
| scribe the wild beauty OF the scene inside.
| RErnArKD AND DISTINCT RuABLiSG.
| The origin vi The csvo Is evidently vocauc. Fam.
lies living near the mountain iestined invariably
wnen Interviewed, tpat they heard loud and ominous
noises, an reported Two weeks ago. but, strange tt
relate. no shocks we're experienced, the convuisos
therefore, must have been comparatively sight Tue
Is located 800 ysrus he right win 900 lee
less :itude than he hssure discovered month ago
aud four ana hall miles southeast rom where tb'
eruption Was expected to issue Tour years since. Foul
bunorcd yards To the rsht OF IL Is the great slid
which occurred over century ago, IN winch the sid
| OF the mountain Tor a quarter OF a mile move'
downward some hve hundred feet that there u nr
away dowp In the heart OF The ''Bald" no citizen
Mcdowell or Rutherford equities doubts for an IN
stunt Water penctrates throughout the mouniai
Wherever yct examined, spiings squirting forth eve
from the top. The contact oil this water with tn
hre generates steam, winch Is the motive power q
she commissions The theory Of the existencs OF mr.
10 plausible one, ior what else could create tn
vacuum TO receive tue immense Quantities OF iniall
ing rocks, the mountain being OF granite formation
impcrvIous TO the attacks OF water. Furtherm ore
the same action OF water exists among the numerou