The Northern Pacific farmer., 1880-09-02
CAVERNS WITH GASLIGHTS.
The Wonders OF New York State
Cave Extending Five Miles Under
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! "TOunO.
A Coblesville, n. Y, correspondent
of the New York S,s's writes: Howe's
cave which lies on the eastern border
of this town, is, for natural beauty and
magnitude, second only to the Mann
moth cave. The entrance to the cave
is on the northern slope Of the Cobles-
vile valley, which rises abruptly from
the Coblesville creek, and terminates
IN perpendicular precipice of lime
stone, more than one hundred feet in
height, from the top of which the coun-
try on the northward continues to rise
for distance of thirty miles. In an
excavation at the base of this precipice,
thirty feet in depth, with three sides
walled up, is the entrance to the cave,
through an arched doorway. Water is
supplied from the river Styx, which
runs through the cave at a distance of
three miles from the entrance. For
the first three miles the cave is lighted
with gas and most visitors seldom go
further than that distance; but they
miss seeing some of the principal beau
ties OF the cave by not going a greater
distance.
Lester Howe q Schoharie county farm
er, was the discoverer of the cave. He
still lives in its vicinity. He relates the
story of the discovery by saving that
while rabbit-hunting one day, in the
fields, he fell into sink-hole. After
relating this adventure to a scientific
man, he was informed that sink-holes
mark the course Of extinct or existing
caves. He had also noticed that on
hot summer days the COWS that were
pastured in a field at the present mouth
of the cave would huddle together in a
certain spot that was less shaded than
the other parts of the field, but cooler.
Therefore he began to believe that he
had a cavern on his farm. On the 22nd
of May, 1S42, he and some ofhis friends
were fox-hunting. The fox seceeted
Fhimselfin the face Of the hill, where the
entrance of the cave is to-day. In Dig
ging the snimal out the cave was dis
covered. Since that time considerable
labor and money has been expended in
rendering the cave as accessible as pos
sible. Much debris has been removed
and steps and bridges built, and gas
supplied, making it the only cave in the
world lighted with gas.
On entering the cave, strong currents
of air, blowing in different directions,
are encountered. At the distance of
half a mile within, the temperature is
said to be uniformity 4S degrees. Soon
after entering, the visitor approaches
to the 'subterranean lecture-room,"
where the cave suddenly expands in
height from six to ten feet, and in width
from six to forty feet. This chamber is
one hundred feet in length. Tie floor
and. roof are very fiat. Washington
hall comes next. There the narrow pas
sage from the lecture.room expands to
a width of thirty feet, and quadruples
in height. The sides show decided
water-worn marks, proving that this pas
sage was once the channel of subter-
ranean stream. Turning to the right
the visitor ascends sixteen feet by a
flight of steps, reaching the bridal
chamber, where the marriage ceremony
has several times been performed.
Howe's two daughters We're married
there. Washingtons epaulet and Lady
Washington's hood are among the
stalactites pointed out in this chamber.
Beyond the Bridal chamber is the Wine
room for the bridal guests. In it is a
large stone cistern of clear water. So
called bottomless pits are met with in
these chambers, where a stone let down
so as not to strike the sides sends back
no sound to tell that it has found q rest
ing-place. Leaving the Bridal cham
Der, the visitor strikes the main avenue
and ascends steep stone steps to the
top of hill. Looking high overhead,
an immense rock is seen projecting in
to what is known as the Giants chapel.
Above is a ladder, and after ascending it
a room, with walls brilliant with daz-
zling stalactites, is entered. That room
is fifty feet in height and thirty feet in
width. A great mass Of rocks rises up
in the centre of the chapel, and, high
above it, a rock Of immence size pro-
jects into the darkness. That is called
the rostrum. Beyond this chamber is
Harlem tunnel, a straight and level part
of the cave.
On entering the tunnel the guide calls
attention to the straight and even walls
that vary but little from direct line
in the distance of thirty rods; but be-
yond that distance the walls become
more uneven, and the top of the cave
lower. Passing Cataract hall, where
a deep mountain stream pours into
one of the bottomless pits, and ascend
ing stone ladder, the Pool of Siloan,
the Tower of Babel, Flood hall and the
Ghost-room are entered successfully.
Next is Music hall. From twenty to
thirty feet in width, and about half
mile in length, the floor is level. There
are great variety Of cavities and con-
torted surfaces, pointing in all direc-
tions which favor the reflection of sound.
The report of a pistol sounds like the
boom of heavy gun, and the deep
rolling echo is heard for a long time. A