Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-09-26
OREGON's MAMMOTH CAVE.
Exploring Wonderful Hole Under the
GrOund-.-A Series of Subterranean
Chambers Exhibiting Geological &c.
centrlcities OF the Most Marvellous de-
scrjDtl0n.
san Francisco Call.

| TOT lne cave, taxing steep and cir
cuitous foot trail. Plunging down
through burns, or neck deep in thickets,
over the shaggy ridges we wound, Just
keeping in sight OF oui nimble-footed
guide. Finally we found ourselves
standing before huge moss-grown
cliff, in a lonely canon, whose massive
bosom entombed the cave.
We entered from above, though the
cave had second portal, from which a
small brook issues below. One after
another we fed ourselves into. that
black yawning gullett Of Avernuz, AL
Smoker bringing up the rear. Now our
terminal friend. laboring under the
disadvantage Of Falstafiian build, stuck
like stopple in the hole above, incon-
tnently bundling down moment later
upon the devoted heads beneath. The
disaster not proving serious, we now
struck our light and followed the guide
down the Plutonian paths before us,
some twenty spaces perhaps, and en-
tered the vestibule. A rude, roomy hall
rose in the gloom above us, full of cram
MED hooks and shadows, with curously
incrusted walls of gypsum, white and
pure as Spencer's Una. Here all forms
Of fruit and the most delicate and or
nate rock-carying walled us in. This
vestibule, with the long gallery leading
from it, rises INTO the graceful pointed
arch Of the ORIENT, and IL profusely
nodded into every imaginable form of
raised tiligree work.
Tho cavern here divides into two
branches; great sombcr gallery to the
left and the beautiful avenue directly
ahead. We now entered into the very
crystalline heart Of the hills. What il
world Of enchantment, as if nodded
from u fay's widest fancy, opened be-
fore US through that springing portal
Stalnoiites in every stage of formation
reflected the glare of our lights like u
million of minute prisms. Bizarre and
wonderful forms, white as alnbaster
and blossomlng with creamy eillores'
cencc, multiplied with our advancing
steps.
Threading II low passage. with u floor
| like porcelain and crisp with frost-llke
asbestos, we next entered the crypt Of
the gnomes. Fluted curtains hung in
heavy folds from the walls. Jeweied
alcovcs here and there flashed through
the half light with II starry luster.
Nondoscript forms outlined in the
weird glamour OF the cave, rose around,
brown, chrome or creamy white. The
variety was endless.
Turning to the right, II few more
steps brought us to the lady's boudoir.
Against the wall resteda plushy-topped
worksland, fringed and rain-bowed
with gittering stalacttes. Above, the
wallis daintily laced with stony embroid-
cry, revealed shadowy niche canopied
with pendant and sparkling forms Of
carbonate of lime,
Wandering on, we next came to the
organ loft. This chamber is so named
from number Of thick stalactites
bearing Ii resemblance to organ pipes
that gave forth melodious sound when
struck. To my fancy those chimes,
tinlllng through the silence and lone
illness of the cave, bore peculiarly UNI
canny cadence.
Further on, relieved against the wall,
hangs startling semblance OF the
human figure, encased III white robes.
II is tho nuns etligy. Here and there
small stnlagmites rose from tho floor
rs wo proceeded, lending n novel feat
IRE To the cave scenery miniature
monoliths and leaning towers of Pisa.
When we came to the end of this nv
enuc, m abrupt corridor to the left led
us down II rude descent To the tobacco
barn. There hung, tier after tier, TO all
appearance, the veritablc weed" above
or heads. Then came the grapery,
with itS remarkable mimlcry Of vine
and fruit. Finally the grotto of
Pomona, hung, as were the tabled CUR
dens Of lIesperides, with crystal apples,
concluded this series OF subterranean
chambers.
Retracing now our steps, we touched
on passing the iron-voiced village bell,
and Il little beyond stopped To squeeze
through small opening we had noticed
in tho wall while entering. cannot
attempt to describe the brilllancy and
beauty that suddenly cleaned upon us
from within that hidden penetrala Of
that wonderful cavern. 1t was the
rarest room of all. could think of no
comparison but the royal treasure
vaults of Dresden. AS if conjured up
by magician, here glinted and gilt
tered maze Of stalactitio forms; and
floor, carpeted with rock moss, sloped
backward, iridescent with the inburst
of light. Because of its form and deli
cate beauty, we named this secluded re-
cess Cleopatra's bed-chamber.
Starting ut the vestibule again, we
now entered the second great division
of the cave elsewhere alluded to. II is
called Brook avenue. The passage is
not altogether unattended with danger.
| still carry the ugly ahrasions got by
m unlucky misstep there. a rude stair.
way would be we'll ut this point.
Echo Hall is the first room Of impor-
lance. II is an immense gallery, through
the floor of which we passed to the
labyrlnthian regions beneath by means
OF natural trap. Here, becoming be-
wlldored. Mr.. ID. went forward alone to
reconnoiter, and we heard his footsteps
die away in the long passage. At length
we called A hooking echo answered
We were lost here, like Theseus of old,
deep in the bowels of the rock, and no