The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-08-22

correspondence of the Philadelphia Times.1
STROUDSBURG, PA, August 1S.-A new
source OF attraction TO the thousands OF
summer eXcursionists who visit the Della
ware Water-GSp and the country about this
place is the cave now known as the "Crys-
tai Hill Cave" but which will soon be de-
signated by another name. The existence OF
the cave has been known for some time, but
onlv recently has the attention OF eXcur-
sionistS, and particularly OF scientists,
been directed to it. Ii is situated on
the limestone ridge which separates the
Valley OF the PccOno from Cherry Valley.
in Strouds township, on the south side OF
the ridge, three miles west OF this place,
and five miles from the Water-Gdp. The
ridge on which it is located begins on the
Delaware river, and runs west for twenty.
five miles, embracing such eminences as
Shawnee Hill, Fox Hill, Crystal Hill, and
others. The cave is elevated about eight
hundred feet above the river level, at
what is known as Mosier'S Knob, and from
it a most picturesque view can be OBJ
talHed Lately Mr.. Il. Duncan Paret, presi-
dent OF the Tannlte Company OF this place,
has become interested in the cave, and has
had several men employed for some time In
excavating it, aud some very Interesting
discoveries have been made. A few days
apo DR.. Leidy, OF the Academy OF Natural
Sciences Of Philadelphia, aud DR.. u. &.
Porter, of Lafayette College, EastOn, ar
rived here and made researches in the cave,
sO far as il has been explored. The en-
france was at first almost completely hidden
nv deposits OF clay and animal and vegeta-
BILE matter, but no~ 1t has been opened so
that the mouth is about sixteen feet square.
The bottom OF the cavern was found to
be covered With thick deposit OF clay, on
the top OF which was deposit, varying in
depth. of dark substance, and on this is
an jncrustation of lime which has fallen
from the roof OF the cave. Ii Is the deRASlt
OF rich, dark material that particularyin-
terest the scientists. and to this DR.. Leidy
and DR.. Porter gave their attention. They
found many indications OF the presence IN
the cave at one time or another OF many
animals. some OF which were doubtless
brought there by animals OF prey and
others used II for their dens. Among the
homes of animals found were The iawbones
OF the raccoon, skunk, weasel, beaver. squlr-
rel. porcupne, woodchuck, fox, wildcat,
elk. deer. and bison; the shells OF two or
more turtles, the bones Of wild turkey. and
the yertebre of suake in large quantities.
Other bones will doubtless reveal the pres
ence OF other animals. The most interest
ing sDecmens found, however, were the
| head and teeth of gigantic beaver (CdSt0r0-
| ides OhiOenSiSl and large peccary (dtc0ty'
kus cornpreSsgs), neither OF which nave ever
been found before in Pennsylvania. Be
! sides these were found bones which hael
been burned and split, evidently the WORK
| OF the abOrigineS, who sought The marrow III
the bones. Indian relies were also FOUND,
among them being polished bone needles
and bOdkns, sea-shells, and fragments OF
quartz, which had been used as ornaments
! 4 flint spear-head was picked up iar back
| i'm the cave, imbedded in the clay. How IL
came there is a mystery, unless some In.
dian, entering the cave and hndiDg wiz
beast there, attacked it, and this spear hurl'
ed at the animal, missing its aim, sped 1al
back into the recesses, and there renamed
until found by the scientists. No other
traces OF any kind which would indicate
that the portion of the cave IN which the
snear-head was found had been visited by
man or beast were discovered, and hence
| the theory as 10 how il came in the lonely
spot. Or. Leidy has taken bis specimens
along with him, and will make report ol
his discoveries 10 the scientific world IN du(
time.
| As vet the lower deposit has not been re-
moved. and il is thought that it will reyea
even more interesting facts fer the scientists
than the middle layer. The cave has beer
explored to depth Of $50 feet, and one car
with ease walk the first 100 feet. After fba
stooping is required at times. The indlca
tions are that the part thus explored is only
a hallway, from which entrances can bt
made, after the earth and deposits have beer
removed. to larger and more remote cham
hers. which already appear at dfferen
points. The top Of the cave is limestone
arch. which reflects many brilliant color!
when the light OF the torches flashes upor
il. Hundreds OF excursioNsts have visited
the cave this season, and by next year 1t VII
be one OF the chief features in this sectioI
OF country.
i Arrnus AMI Stones.