Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-05-02
Aurora Gave, or amm9;,l Cave
no. we.


No. we.
AURORA SPRINGS, No, April II, 1sSi.-Editors
Democrat:-Aurora Springs, small burg OF one
thousand inhabitants is located in Miller coun-
ty, and about one hundred and thirty miles west
of st. Louis This place is noted fer its mineral
springs. and is fast becoming one of the most
popular summer resorts in the state. About fouT
miles to the south is located the Aurora Cave
said to be only second in size to the Mammoth
Cave of Kentucky. The entrance is sixteen feet
high and sixty feet wide. and this grand
trance hall is over two hundred feet long Here
we come to an immense room of nearly sixty
feet square, with various formations on its walls
and ceiling that are centuries old As We pro-
coed new beauties ever at hand, and We are
soon ushered into the Tobacco House where
there are many stalacutes hanging from the
ceiling and sides that resemble very closely The
filthy weed as il is hung up TO dry. However
these stalactites when broken show clear and
pure inside. which is much different from the
poisonous nicotine IN the tobacco. five drops Of
which it is said Will destroy human life. Farther
on the rooms vary. but are generally smaller
with much more fine work on the ais. We
ptsS for short distance though a hall so low
that we have TO stoop, when we are shown the
Pulpit, which in order to reach, We climb a
ladder. Preferring to listen, we ask the guide 10
preach. and he takes for his text = The building
and purity of this Pulpit This said he
"hGs been forming or building for years, and has
been pure from the beginning; no envy or strife
has been here, and the workman Fwaterl las
carried pure material, and has.laid one particle
IN, is Mo - haaufSfI1l
stalactites and stalagmites have Joined from this
shelving rock and formed Pulpit admired by
ALL" Still farther on we reach an upper room,
called the bridal chamber. The walls and cell
ing of this room are extra well furnished with
the beautiful. Retracing cur steps short dis
lance we reach low passageway called I" the
tall mans misery" through which we have to
crawl but we are well repaid for the trouble, for
we enter one of the largest rooms of the cave
the ceiling being nearly one hundred feet high,
with all the beauties of the cave in great pro
fusion.
We are led by our guide from room to room
till he says We are about mile from the en-
trance and our neck refusing to be stretched any
more. no matter what object of interest is at
hand, we propose to work our way out After q
long walk, the while noticing many things We
missed on our wsy in we noticed day light about
one hundred yards read. Soon we reach large
platform, the lumber for which was hauled into
the cave with a wagon. with plenty of room for
horses and wagon to turn around. The cave has
been known for many years but not visited
much till the last few yesrs, in which time how
ever thousands have been to see it The country
about the cave is rough, and mostly covered
with timber. About i've miles to the north We
reach a fine prairie. resembling very much the
far-famed Dukes Prairie of Wisconsin.
Spring is backward here, they say. sim The
wild flowers are in bloom, and the apple bios
SONS begin 10 show.
Respectfully. C. L. scHELLENGER.