The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-11-22
WHOLE NO. 1916.
harengo Cavern.

During a geological excursion through
Southern Indiana. undertaken about so
wears ago. my attention was called 10
the remarkable springs flowing out of
cayernous openings in the village OF
Springtown. now known as Marengo.
We explored the largest of these grot-
toes for perhaps three-quarters of mile,
following the margin of an underground
stream. The entrance was wide and
symmetrical, and the walls were grad
ually contracted so as to form tubular
passage way, by means of which power
full sonorous effects were produced, re-
sembling those for which Echo River in
Mammoth Cave is famous. There were
a good many fish in the stream, but all
of them seemed to be visitors from sur
face water. This cave contained many
interesting objects, especially several
large stalagmitic columns. The tenn
perature was uniformly 81 deg. F.; and
the atmosphere, like that of many other
Indiana caves. possesses antiseptic prop
critics, of which the villagers take ad-
vantage, using the place as general
storehouse for fruit, vegetables, and
other provisions liable to decay.
The geological formation of the re-
gion is favorable to caves, heavy beds
of st. Louis limestone being overlaid by
Chester sandstone. Here and there the
surface rocks have broken down, form
ing sink holes varying in size, and sup
posed to communicate witt subterrane-
an passages. Pankey Cave and several
other small excavations have long been
known in the vicinity, and along the
banks of little stream known as Whis-
key Run, a tributary of Great Blue Riv-
err. Wyandot Cave, frequently de-
scribed, 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
cavernous rocks.
On the 9th of September, 1883, 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 resolv-
ed to explore. The first to enter the
orifice opened were Messrs. Chas. Jones
and Sherman Stewart. Finding that
the passage widened into vast subter-
ranean chamber. they returned for their
comrades, and, having provided them
selves with lights, renewed their explor-
atons. The reports of their discovery
were so strange as to be almost incredi-
bic. On the 18th of September Mr.. Ap-
plegate, of New Albany, from which
Marengo is about thirty miles distant,
made careful examination of the new
y found cave, and published an account
in the Daily ledger of that city. DIR. E.
). Crosier, of the U. S. Surveyors Of
flee. Louisville, KY, writes to me that
Marengo Cave is magnificent, and no
''Mulhattan affair."" alluding TO severa.
notorious hoaxes for which person of
that name is held responsible, The 40
scrlption thus far furnished slows the
cave to resemble closeIy other oreat
caves OF the region There are Iaroe
halls embelli.Lled bv stalactites. frost
WorA' orapery, and various formations
-huastic or grotesque. There are lat
eral branches from the main cave, lead
ing to pits and domes. There are gyp-
sum rosettes, alabaster columns, limpid
pools, sparkling incrustations, resonant
pendants, and other subterranean won
ders.
No map has yet been made, but the
trend of the excavation is said to be
southward, showing an axis of erosion
parallel with that of Wyandot Cave
The portion explored is estimated to ex-
ceed two miles in length. The more
interesting localities have been named
Arthur Avenue, Ledger Hall, Statue
Hall, Stewards Grotto, Diamond Dome,
Oregon Hall, etc. The suggestion may
not be out OF place that these appella-
tions should be regarded as provisional
until the entire cavern shall have been
explored; then let some individual of
good taste and judgment, like DIR. Gro
sler for instance, be authorized to revise
the list and substitute an agreeable and
sensible nomenclature for the meaning
less medley so frequently fastened up
on some of Natures most marvellous
works.-H c. Hocey in Scientif Anaeri-
can.