The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-24
KIARENGO CAVE.
The Curious Geological Formation of Craw-
ford COunty's New Cavern.
Scientific American.


Scientific American.
During a geological excursion through
southern Indiana undertaken about thirty
years ago, my attention was called to the re-
markable springs flowing out of cavernous
openings in the village of Springtown, now
known as Marehgo. We explored the larg-
est of these grottos for perhaps three-quar-
tiers of a mile, following the margin OF an
underground stream. The entrance was
wide and symmetrical, and the walls were
gradually contracted so as to form a tubu-
lar passage way, by means of which power
full sonorous effects were produced, resem-
bling those for which Echo river in Nam
moth Cave Is famous. There were a good
many fish in the stream, but all of them
seemed to be visitors from surface
waters. This cave contained many interesting
objects, especially several large stalagmitic
columns The temperature was uniformly
$50 F., and the atmosphere, like that of
many other Indian caves, possesses antisep-
tic properties, of which the villagers take
advantage, using the place as a general store
house for fruit, vegetables, and other pro-
visions liable to decay
The geological formation of the region is
favorable to caves, heavy caves of st. Louis
limestone being overlaid by Chester sand
stone. Here and there the surface rocks have
broken down, forming sink holes varying in
size, and supposed TO communicate with sub
terranean passages. Pankey Cave and sew
eral other small excavations have long been
known in the vicinity, and along the banks
of little stream known as Whisky run, q
tributary of Great Blue river. Wyandotte
Cave, frequently described, and probably
next in size to Mammoth Cave is located
about eleven miles south of Marengo and in
the same geological formation. Both are in
Crawford county, celebrated for its cavern
Gus rocks.
onthe 9th of September, 1888 five young
men, while rambling over the grounds of Mr..
Samuel Stewart, near Marengo discovered a.
crevice at the bottom of a large sink-hole, and
resolved to explore. The first to enter the
orltice opened were Messrs Charles Jones and
Sherman Stewart. Finding that the passage
widened into vast subterranean chambe
they returned for their comrades, and nav
ing provided themselves with lights, re-
newed their explorations. The reports of
their discovery were so strange as to be al
most incredible. On the 18th of September,
Mr.. APPLICABLE of New Albany, from which
Marengo is about thirty miles distant made
a careful examination of the newly-found
cave, and published an account in the
Daily Ledger, of that city. DR. E. S. Gro
sier, OF the United States surveyors Office,
Louisville, KY, writes to me that Marengo
Cave is magnificent and no ''Mulhattan af-
fair" ailuding to several notorious hoaxes
for which person of that name is held re-
sponsble. The desert ption thus far furnished
SHOWS the cave TO resemble closely other
great caves of the region. There are large
halls embellished by staactites, frost work,
drapery, and various formations fantastic or
grOtesque. There are lateral branches from
the main cave leading to pits and domes
There are gypsum rosettes, alabaster col
umns, limpid pools, sparkling incrustations,
resonant pendants, and other subterranean
wonders.
No map has yet been made, but the trend
of the excavation is said to be southwark,
showing an axis of erosion parallel with that
Of Wyandotte cave. The portion explored is
estimated to exceed two miles in length.
The more interesting localities have been
named Arthur avenue, Ledger Hall, Statue
Hall, Stewards Grotte, Diamond Dome
Organ Hall, etc. The suggestion may not
be out of place that these appellations should
be regarded as provisional until the entire
cavern shall have been explored; then let
some individual of good taste and judgment,
like DR.. Crosier, for instance, be authorized
to revise the list and substitute an agreeable
and sensible nomenclature for the meaning
less medley SO frequently fastened upon
some OF Natures most marvellous works.