Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-08-11
Resuits of the ExpIoraIioes.

Chattanooga Times: Allus Ca was made in
The Times = few days since 10 tia unexpected
results OF explorations Of a cave under
Lookout Mouutain, known as tie sod
Blowing Springs Cave" The mouth OF the
cave is at low waters edge, near the Nash
Vile and Chattanooga railroad track, bot q
few hundred feet from the large cave fur her
up the mountain slope, which IL 80 well
known to ali our citizens.
A party. explored the Blowing Spricgs
Cave for a few hundred feet last week, and
returned with a tale OF msrveious discev
cries aud wonderful experiences. Tuesday
last q party was organized by Mr.. J. P. Nc
Milliu, OF this city, TO continue the invTsti-
CATION. He was accompanied by Mr.. Mark
Long, the wsll-kzoRn civil engineer. They
were supplied with cosl-oil torches, pine
knots, lanterns, ropes and all other equip
ments, hes des taking along l~eveling rods
aud lransi's.
Although the river is very low, the water
laves The mouth Of the cave, and the entrance
was obtained only by crawling through the
water, when at once the scene charged and
they stood in an immense chamber.
The party entered at 8 O'Clock a.m. and re-
NAMED in uutil 5 p.m., and were walking
nearly the entire time, By actual measure
ment they traverseI d distance of 1885 feet,
and from all appearances the wonderful cave
extendsto an indefinite length. Their explora-
tions met with happy results and the won
deIful sights which met their ss:onished gsze
seem more like views in fairy land. They
first entered q succession of large chambers
from which stalactites hung suspended in
countless myriads and glistened in the flick
eriog lights like diamonds. About 200 feet
from the mouth they encountered another
cave, but it extended only a short distance.
Returning to the main cave, they proceeded
further and, following a branch to the right,
came upon u hugs subierraUean lake. They
were unable TO proceeded further in that d.
r%ecticn, and sgsin returned to the main cave
and advanced. Ahead of them was heard
the roar OF rushing waters and they soon en-
countered a waterfall, its hight being twenty
| seven feet.
! A branch led to the left, and within a short
distance they bsheld another waterfall, the
cliff rising 10 u sheer height of $50 feet. The
| water came over with a rosr like thunder,
| the volume being fully twelve inches in
diameter. With the mesger facilities at hand
they could not proceed any further in that
direction, and returning 10 .ne main channel
again advanced, until their explorations were
brought to II sudden stop By a pree,p.:tous
wall Of solid rock rising 10 a height of fully
100 feet. They then stood in an immeuse
chamber, fully ECO feet wide, almost circular
in shape; walls of solid stone rose on all
sides, and the roof Epanned it as a dome.
Flom the center Of the dome a stresm of
water poured, falling in the center OF The
chamber. The stream was fully twelve
inches in diameter, and was icy cold and clear
as crystal.
The party e,ood almost speechless with
admiration at this sublime spectacle, but
were barred from further prGgrets by pre-
cipilous walls.
Tn distances were carefully measured and
in a day or two Mr.. Long will run lines on
the surface to the different waterfalls and
will bore 10 them.
Mr.. Cravens, on whose property the cave
lies, il anxious TO ascertain whether the
water is available. Ii it is near enough 10
the surface ol the ground, to be used, it
might become az important factor in supply-
ing the city with water. The highest stream
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. low-Hater marx,
and it is quite likely that there oro wstsr
falls beyond.
This wonderful cave may Jet unfold IN
told n5sterits and fuller developments which
will probably Soon snsup, will be awaited
with intense interest.