Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1880-07-20
Some of the Inside Scenery o
Sullivan County,

Editor Nelcs.
Last Saturday at o'clock a party of
five started from this place on \ visit to
the Bishop Cave" about five miles
southeast OF Bristol. We arrived at our
destination in II short time, and immed
ately prepared to descend into "thc bow
els of the earth" Tying Il rope to a
small tree near the entrance, we one by
one let ourselves down q slanting ledge
of rock until we reached the edge of
what might be called a prccipice. Lean
ing against this was tree which had
been cut and prepared for the purpose
by some former explorers, and by mean
of which we were enabled to reach tn,
bottom, or first landing. Here we stood
on the very spot where once was found
the body Of n woman who had been foul
ly murdered and thrown into this cav
crn by the brute who struck the fatal
blow. Many of your readers remember
that terrible tragedy, which was 40
deeply impressed on lie minis Of the
people ut The time, that they named the
cave after the woman who had been
found dead in it, We thought of IL as
We stood there gazing into the gloomy
darkness beyond. Far below we could
hear the sullcn roar of water, rs though
it, too, were thinking of that event, aud
thinking, thought to sob mourntul
requium of her who met such terrible
end, Lighting our tambeaus we began
Il second descent down an almost per-
pcudicular bed Of solid rock. BY the
greatest caution We NJ length reached the
bottom aud stopped to look around and
rest, We were now standing on the
pcbbly banks of creek which flowed
through the cave. The mouth, or en-
trance TO the cave, was more than nhun-
dlcd feet above, and as we gazed up
wards, a creeping chill came over us az
We realized that, had one Of our party
lost his slender hold, he would have been
hurled down, down on The black Jagged
rocks into the dark abyss below. The
rugged dome was iully u hundred feet
over our heads. Although We could ace
the opening through which we had
come, and through which streamod the
glorious light OF uuy, We were surround
cd by darkness, and our torch lights
were absolutely essential. Truly, We
were Ia mammoth cave. But time
was flying and We must 30 on. We
went down the creek short distance
aud then crossed on n rail- Then began
a toilsome climb over huge rocks, that
looked as though an earthquake had
hcaycd them In one confused mass, and
ND which we now climbed Win slow and
careful movements. On We went,
From rock to rock, stepping over holes,
leaping chUsms-slOwly but steadily adj
yanCing. The "iat mans misery" caus-
ed us no little trouble, rs but one ut
time could climb IT, Luckily there was
no fat man with us, 80, by dint of sclnn-
bling, pulling ourselves up, ETC., We g0l
to the top ana proceeded still onward,
Each step revealed some new curiosity,
The walls sparklcd and glitlered like rli-
bicB. Nature had been ut work, aud the
white, glistening rock was formed intt
incouceiyablc shapes and designs. sta
artitc met stalngmite and formed solld
columns from llUor to ceiling, Grin
white pillars reared themselves like
phnnlom sentincH In the Hitting ehad.
ows beyond, The walls and columns
were ruiiled. and fllngcd, AMI frcecoet
aa though by the hand Of n sculptor oI
an artist Dark chasms aud CULTS yawn'
ed AT our feet, while the hollow, scpul.
chrll sound OF our Footsteps made w fee
uneasy. ON every hand was beauty ant
grandeur, intcrmingled with the danger
Gus aud awful Our smoking ilpmbcaui
III up the scenc with pale flickcrlnf
/ light that iillcd us with awe. At q dis
tancc from W. was naught but Egyptian
/ darkness. The silence was douth-lik,
/ and oppressive.
I Az length "Blll Splgnat" proposed
I that we turn back, and though We hat
not seen ono third Of the cave, we lid 80
and almost simultaneously the part,
broke out IN that old song, "Wc'rr no
: i,a hrvr. we made ,hr ANVtina ~,