Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-06-04
OVER A CAVERN.
The Mammoth Cave Beneath
Catastrophe at
the Reservoir.
Knoxville Tribune, June l.

L eSIeruay morning Ile ITlDune
published an account of the curious
accident which occurred the night be-
fore on Reservoir Hill when a portion
of the bottom of the north reser-
voir dropped out, precipitating five
hundred thousand gallons of water into
the hitherto unknown cavernous depth
below.
We visited Reservoir Hill yester-
day, and found the north reservoir
entirely empty, and a great hole in the
bottom at the southeast corner just as
described yesterday. The water had
disappeared, and there was nothing to
Indicate the exact course it had taken.
The hole seemed to be an opening beS
tween two lodges of limestone rock.
In this case the cost of making the
bottom Of the reservoir secure will not
be very heavy.
Yesterday morning muddy water
was discovered issuing from a spring
on First Greek in East Knoxville.
Though this spring is half mile from
the reservoir it is doubtless the outlet
for portion of the 100000 gallons of
water which dropped into the yawning
chasm in the mountain the night
before. OF course much Of the water
is yet in the subterranean vaults and
will not run out.
The water works machineryis work.
ing beautifully and is pumping water
into the south reservoir. From this
the mains all over the city are sup
piled.
Another slight delay was caused
yesterday by the bursting of another
pipe in North Knoxville, but the
damage was soon repaired.
UNDER THE CITY.
1t is not generally known that
Knoxville is built over a mammoth
cave. 1t is doubtless fact that there
are natural subterranean passages be-
meath the city. Their extent is I'M
known, and it is uncertain to what ex-
tent their existence endangers the city
or any portion Of it.
1t is asserted that one subterranean
passage beneath the city was several
years ago explored to the extent Of
half mile. 1t is also claimed that
during the war a refugee wandered
several days in the caves under the
city, travelling several miles.
There is an entrance to the cave
near the river few hundred yards
below Second creek. This is said to
lead into a great cavern under College
Hill, and it is supposed to be connect
ed with the mysterious vaults under
the old portion of the city.
In different locations in the older
part Of the city, between First and
Second creeks, openings to these
caverns have been discovered by the
sinking of pits and the dropping
through of the bottoms Of cisterns.
On State street, in the rear Of the
Hattie House, is cavern of unknown
dimensions, which was covered when
the foundations we're being dug fol
that building.
On the same street farther north
the same or another chasm has beer
dug into.
On or near Union street, not fal
from the markethouse, the bottom
dropped out of cistern few years
ago and the water sunk to unknown
depths.
In the rear OF the billiard hal
nearly opposite the Tribune Office
there is bOttomless pit, or one which
is very deep.
A few years ago the bottom dropped
out Of cistern at the Lamar House
and many Of the guests were fright
ened for fear the hotel would sink
into a chasm.
Perhaps the first intimation Of thu
hOllowness of Knoxville's foundation
was received number of years agt
when the bottom dropped from thl
cistern at the Franklin House.
| There are doubtless other places il
the city where similar accidents hav,
occurred but we do not now recall
them.
1 y