Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-08-27
CAygRNS WITH GASLIGHTS.
The Wonders OF New Norl state
Gave Extending Five Miles Under
kround.


cave which hes on tue eastern border
of this town. is, for natural beauty and
magnitude, second only 10 the Mann
moth cave. The entrance "a the cave
is on the northern >lopeot the Coolies
vile valley, which rises abruptly from
the GohlcSville creek. and terminates
ina perpendicular precipivc ii limo
stone, more than one hundred fret in
height from the topo which the couu-
try On the uuitlwad Continues Ia rise
for distance of thirty mikes. Iii nm
excavation at the base ot this prreipice,
thirty feet in depth, With three sides
walled up is the entrance ~ I'll, cave.
through an Mehcd doorway. Mater is
supplied from the river StvN. which
runs through the cave 1T distance ot
three miles from the entrance. For
the first three miles the cave Is lighted
with gas and most visitors seldom 20
further than that distance: hut thew
miss seeing some OF the principal beau
tics Of the cave hy not going greater
distance.
Lester llowea SchoharivcouutN.G,rm.
er, was the diScovcrcr of the cave, He
still lives IN its Vicinity lie relates the
story ot the discovery hN SAVING that
while rabhit-hunting one day. in the
fields he fell into a sink-ho,e. After
relating tins adventure 10 Il scientific
man. lie was informed that >Ink-holcS
mark the course Of extinct ar existing
caves lie had also noticed that ON
hot summer days the COWS that were
paSturcd III 4 field ii the present mouth
of the cave would huddle together in a
certain spot that was less shaded than
the other parts Of the field. hat conlcr
Therefore he began te believe that he
had cavern on his farm On the !2nd
of MAY. 1872, he and some ofhis friends
were oN-hunting. The fuN Scccctcd
himSelfin the face Of the hill, where the
entrance of the cave is to-day In dig
ging the snimal out the cave MAS dis
covered Since that time considerable
labor and money has been expended III
Siblc Much debris has been removed
and steps and bridges built, and gas
supplied malmgit the only cave III tho
world lighted with gas
On entering the cave. strong currents
of mir. blowing in different directions
arc encountered tt the distance Of
half Il mile within, the temperature is
said To he uniformity Is degrees, soon
after entering, the visitor approaches
to the "suGerrncan lccturc-room.
where the cave suddenly expands in
height from six To ten feet, and in width
from six 10 fcrty feet This chamber is
one hundred feet in length rne floor
and roof are Very Hat Washington
hall comes next. There the narrow pas
sage from the lecturc.room expands To
Il width of thirty feet and quHdrupcS
III height. The sides show decided
watcr-worn marks, proving chat this pas
sage WAS once the channel of n Subtcr
rncan stream Turning 10 the right
the visitor asecnds sixteen feet by IL
flight of steps, reaching the bridal
where the marriage ceremony
has several times been performed.
llowe's two IlnHhe3a,u'rr ;tlu iaiIN
hood are among the
stalactitcs pointed out mthis chamber
Beyond the Bridal chamber il the Wine
room for the bridal guests, III It isa
large stone cisteTn of clear water. So
called bottomlcss pits are mot with IN
these chambers, where 4 stone let down
80 H. not to strike tho sides sends back
no sound to tell that it has found n rest
ing-place. Leaving the Bridal cham
her, the visitor strikes the main avenue
and asccnds steep stone steps 10 the
ton of n hill. Looking high overhead,
an immense rock is seen projecting I'M
10 what is known Us the Giants chapel
Aboyeis ladder. and after ascending It
n room. with walls brilliant With dn1-
cling staactites, is entered. That room
is fifty feet in height and thirty feet N
width. a great mass If rocks rises up
in the centre of the chapel and, high
above it, a rock Of immcncc size pro-
iccts into the darkness. That is called
the rostrmn. Beyond this chamber Is
Harlem tunnel II straight and level part
Of the cave.
On entering The tunnel the guide calls
attention to the straight and even walls
that vary hut little from II direct lime
in the distance Of thirty rods; but be
yond that distance the walls become
more uneven, and the top Of tie cave
lower. Passing Cataract hall where
"A deep mountain stream pours into
one of the hottomlcss pits, and ascend
ing stone ladder, the Pool of Sloan,
the Tower Of Babel, Flood hall and the
Ghost-room arc entered successfully.
Next il Music hall From twenty t.
thirty feet ii width, and about half a
mile III length, the floor is level. There
are n great variety Of cavities and con
torted surfaces, pointing IN AL dircc-
tons which favor the reflection ofsound
The report ola pistol sounds like the
boom of heavy gun, and the deep
rolling echo is heard fora long time. 4
clear sparkling stream passes through
The hall, issuing from Il lake that Is
abouta quarter ola mile in length and
twenty feet deep.
At the lake the gas main ends, ana
the visitors light torches Beyond the
lake are several chambers and pas
sagcs, and the Rocky mountains rocks
thrown together III the most promiscu-
Gus manner. The cavern there rlses
in height until the top Is lost IN dark
ness. Down the mountains the path
lics under and between huge rockS