The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-10-30

first discovered it. Probably the maj
whose bones lie at.the bottom of Skele
ton Gulch was the first one to enter it
but he never lived to tell the story. Iti
said that the cave was known hundred
years ago, and that there is to-day MAJ
which was drawn O century since. If so
it is funny that the cave should hav,
been forgotten and the entrance closed
for until prospectors made the discover.
a couple of years or so ago no one in thi
neighborhood knew anything concerning
it, except, possibly, in legendary form
One of the proprietors is a Jerseyman,
believe. He and his companion became
convinced, from the formation of th'
land, so they say, that there was q cav'
here. Perhaps they knew something
concerning the map, but however tina
may be, they began a systematic search
They dug down into the earth and final
ly found big hole. One of them lie
himself down with rope and found
hinselfin long passage-way. The mer
bought the land, but as soon as the orig
inal owner discovered what was up, ht
considered that he had been cheated il
some way, and Immediately began sui
to recover. 1t will take a long time tt
settle the ownership of this cave, for the
Supreme Court will finally have to de
eide the question. Just how large tht
cave is don't know. There are parts o.
it that haven't been opened up to visiton
yet. Right over the opening is little
house, where the requisite candles ani
lights are obtained, and then, with Guide
Colvin in the lead, you step on to the
stairs and go down a dark and steep in
cline until far below the surface of the
earth.
WONDERS UNDER GROUND.
1t is possible that some people may
form some sort of an idea what cave j:
before they visit one. 1t is possible they
may have a clearer idea when they come
out. 1 didn't. II is wondrous affair
of course; but just where the thing be.
gins and just where the thing ends, and
where the sides are, if there are any, and
where the centre is, if there is any,
don't know. All know is that with foul
or five others wandered around at the
rate of mile an hour for three hours
and didn't know where I was any of the
time. There are stalactites and stalag.
mites on every side, and any quantity oi
curious formations of all sorts. You &c
through narrow passages, you so through
passages with high roofs and you crawl
through passages with low roofs. 1t is
worse than the Catacombe themselves.
You 60 into large chambers and small
chambers and caverns and gulches and
all sorts of things. They will show you
the Washington Column and the Spectre
Column, which looks exactly like big
white ghost rising out of q chasm. Then
they will allow you to drink lime water
out of the Crystal Lake and take another
drink out of the Devils Lake. They
will take you to the Fish Market, where
there is a goodly collection of curious
rocks resembling species of the fnny
tribe. They will show you stony dog
and stony animals of all sorts; leather
made out of stone and a whole patch of
potatoes of the same material. They
will take you to the Natural Bridge and
play tune for you on an organ of stalac-
tites or stalagmites or something or other.
A beautiful Angels Wing fits before
your eyes, and the slender Riding Whip
you want to steal as q memento of the
visit. You can look over into the Bot
tomless Pit, and belieye, if you care to,
the story that no one has yet been able
to find its depth. Then you can climb
down into Skeleton Gulch and see the
bones. A good many people don't care
to undertake the trip, as it IS rather dan
gerous, but I saw lady 60 down into
the chasm in safety the other day and
then laugh at her companions because
they did not dare to follow her. About
the time you enter the Ball Room you
conclude that you don't know where you
are. 1t is a large chamber with vaulted
roof and plank floor, and everybody that
enters the cave has to come here and
dance. When it is illuminated it is very
beautiful. It is somewhere in the direc-
tion of the centre of the earth, but just
where the guides can tell you; l can't.
The cave is indeed a wonderful affair.
There is something new at every turn, and
when the open air is reached you are
about ready to turn around and 60 down
into that dark hole again.