The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-09-20


purpose. From this point to the end of
the cave-that is, so far as visitors are
allowed to go-is without doubt the pret-
tiest part of the cave. Large, roomy
chambers follow each other in quick sue
cesson, and numerous stalactic form ations
line the ceilings with alabaster flowers of
every conceivable variety and indescIiba-
BILE Beauty. 'Cleveland's S Cabinet which
is ent cred from Washington Hail. is es-
pecially beautiful in this respect. Proceed
ing through several chambers, we come
into 'Groghan's Hail., which constitutes the
end of the long route At the end of this
hall is the 'Maelstrom,' pit two hundred
feet in deph aud twenty feet in width
There are avenues leading off from the
bottom, but they have been imperfectly
explored, and visitors go no further. a
peculiar species of rat is said to be found
in this hall, as well as in other parts of the
cave, which resembles in some respects the
Norway rat, although the cave rat is lar
ger. Cave crickets and lizards are also
| found here. Indeed the abundance of an
| imal life at this point, as compared with
other parts of the Cave, would seem to in
| dictate place of egress not far away.
CATER securing a memento from this
| spot, we retTaced our steps to Echo river
| where the tedious wait to be transported
| to Great Walk was relieved by vocal mu-
| sic, some of which was elegantly rendered
and at this point sounded peculiarly sweet
At length the boats appeared and we were
slowly ferried over tue stream. Here a
| party of eighteen ladies aud gentlemen
! your correspondent among the number,
| becoming impatient because of the non
| appearance of a guide, undertook and
| successfully found our way out of she cave
| "a rash act and one which we would not
advise any one to initiate. An interesting
fact to contemplate is the respiratory sys-
tenn of The cave. 1t breatbes once a year.
| That is TO say, in the summer, when the
| temperature OF the external air is higher
than that of the cave, which is at all times
| 80 degrees, current of air sets the latter To
| the former. In the winter time, or when
the outside temperature is lower than that
of the cave, the order is reversed, and the
cave makes an inspiration. When the
temperature both in and out of the cave is
the same, no motion of air is visible at the
mouth.
SIT must be understood before we quit
| the subject, that anything like descrip-
! tiOn of the cave has not been attempted .
| Such an effort would fill many columns.
| 1t has been computed that the avenues full
| ly explored and open to visitors, to say
nothing of those imperfectiy explored, ex-
ceed one hundred miles in length. The
beauty, sublimity and gfanduer of the
cave, to be appreciated, must be seen.
| emotions. We reached the outer air at
sunset, aud partook of a hearty supper at
| tue hotel"
A ROMANCE OF THE CAVE.
W. q. Hensel, Esq, of the Lancaster
! I1teIltgencer, who has been furnishing mis-
| paper with series of very interesting let
ters descriptive of the cities, towns ETC.,
! visited by the excursionists and the sights
seen on the way TO, from and while at the
| Mammoth Cave, concludes his entertain
ing description, in said journal of the 18th
| inst, of the wonderful sights to be seen on
| the ''ShOrt Route" with The following
story of romantic wedding which took
| place in the cave a few years ago:
l have said there was a romance connec-
ted with the Gothic Chapel. We were
told many stories of it mono of them So
| complete and satisfactory as this, which l
take the liberty of copying from the jour
nal of friend who visited the cave in 1869,
and whose experience has been printed for
private distribution
About two years ago there lived a family,
| which unTil the time of which / write had
remained an unbrokeu circle with nothing
| TO disturb the blissful serenity of their home
| life /; but, as n,isfortunes never come singlv
! the old adage was, in this instance, verified
| by the sudden Illness aud death of the head
| of the family, followed, very soon after hy
| the decease of his cherished wife.
| For some time previous TO the occurrence
! of these sad events, there had been two
snitors for the hand of EIinor, the eldest
| daughter. They had We'd with each other
| in their unceasing attentions, while each
| had hattered himself that he was recei wing
! the greatest share of favor from his fair
| mistress ;cbut, we shall see she smiled
| upon one with her face and upon the other
| with her heart. One of these young men,
| named George, was the son of very wealthy
| parents, who, upon his attaining his maiori-
| ~, had given him his portion of their estate,
| and it was no meagre one, he the
| only child. He possessed every luxury that
! the imagination could devise or the lips
| command, and, consequently, was vain of his
| wealth and constant Is his attendance Al
| The gaming table. Notwithstanding these
| faults, he was extremely handsome aud
! possessed of a good deal of genius, quite a
! bean among the ladies and devotee TO
! their society. He escorted them to n y places
of amusement, ha1 them to drive with him
| in his handsome carriage. and behind his
| latest ''pair. and passed five nights out of
! every week at parties, &c. He was what
might have been termed ga good-loolIing
| city fop."
Frank, Elinor's other admirer, a
| steady. industrious young man, who, with
| his fathers assistance, had Just opened a
| small business on his own account. He was
| prospe-ing by his continued and untiring la
! bor. He was the possessor of Il noble coun-
| tenance, generous heart and graceful,
! winning address. He was vastly superior
to his wealthy, but in1olent rival, in point
! of physical development, being finely form
ed and bearing himself with dignitied and
| manly carriage. ElnOr, although, in her
! heart she appreciated his manly virtue aud
| unobtrusive attachment, which had already
| won her love, had not dared to discard his
rival for fear of wouhding her kind and in
| dulgeut parents, whose wish il was TO secure
FOR her wealth and position by an alliance
| with him.
| It had been six weeks since her father died
| aud now her mother lay upon her death bed.
| Before expiring she eXtorted a promise from
| her daughter never to marry Frank any
| where upon the surface of the green earth
! After the funer al had taken place she retired
to a country town in Ohio, with hope OF
| recovering from the shock occasioued by mel
sudden bereavement.
Not many weeka passed before Georgs
came, and, seeing in what desolaie sno
| lonely position she was placed, offered her 3
home, aud wealth beyond her most extrava
CANT conceptions Like a true-spirited CIR
she refused his kindnoss, prompted by pity
for her misfortunes, and remained IN entir'
seoluSiOn.