The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-26
CAVE LANDS ON THE OHIO.
Another Chapter Upon the Picturesque
and Interesting Places in Indiana.
Shores--Robert Fulton and Indiana Coal
-Rapps New Harmony Commune.

son. in our own beautiful State of Indiana, and
the caves exist in the limestone of the st. Louis
group of the carboniferous formation. The high
hills and lofty ridges of this region are under
run by concealed streams, some of them large
enough to be called rivers, and caverns, only a
Few of which are as yet opened. Wyandotte cave,
near Leavsnworth Crawford county, is pre- emf
nent 1t is greater than the much more widely
known Mammoth cave of Kentucky, giving fifty
three miles of underground walks in entering
and returning. Relies of torches of moccasin-
footed pedestrians, and of poles cut with stone
axes, show that it was, in turn, occupied by In
dian and prehistoric races. Indian ornaments
are found the whole length of the Ohio valley,
made from the stalagmitic deposits at the base
Of the Pillar of the Constitution, indicating the
occupancy Of the cave, which view is strength
ened by the finding OF the rough stone mining
implements used by our predecessors.
In our war with England in 1925, the
French and English embargo so crippled our
commerce that, as far as possible, our govern
ment had to depend domestic resources for
obtaining saltpeter for the manufacture Of gun
powder. The light clays of the cave absorbed
nitrogen from the atmosphere, which, being
leached with ashes, furnished the saltpeter which
was used in powder in repelling the foe. Re-
mains of the teaching watts, wooden tubes, used
in conveying water, and furnaces still exist.
The adjoining saltpeter cave was especially
noted for its production of this chemical at that
time. Other caves some in Lawrence county,
were used for the same purpose. No saltpeter
is now made in Indiana, for the reason that it is
cheaper to get it from South America. For
years these caves were held in bad repute by
farmers who lived in their neighborhood, and
the laws of Indiana required their owners to
close the entrances of them, to prevent stock
from going into them and eating the sulphate of
magnesia and other salts, which either had or
were supposed to have poisonous effects upon
cattle. You will find these laws on the stat
ute books of 1920 to 1880, believe.
"a full description of these caves is given in
the Geologic reports of Indiana for 1878 Someof
the domes and chambers Of Wyandotte cave are
Of monster size. 'Mortons Marble Hall-named
after our great war Governorrresembies rail
road tunnel in extent. It's walls are white, with
glistening particles Of crystal 1t is of extent
sufficient to house an army of horsemen and in
Fantry. and no citizen Of Indiana need 60 abroad
expecting to see greater natural wonders than
are here Little Wyandotte cave, scarce a quar-
ter Of mile in extent, is gem of clustered
beauties and monsters in stalagmites, staactites
and messy frescoes. 1t alone excels all the caves
IN Kentucky or elsewhere that have seen. The
Iillar of the Constitution in the main cave is un
riyaled by any stalagmite in the world. and is
significantly embellished with the Altar of Lib
erty' and the Bell of independence done in
crystal limestone
During the oil excitement in 1860
to 1870 numerous wells were bored i'll
Crawford county several Of which furnished
white sulphur water of great efficacy in the cure
of dyspepsia, liver diseases and rheumatism.
When convenient intercourse is established
they will prove of great value, l have no doubt.
But the borers never found any oil in that part
Of the State
Perry county IS underlaid by massy lodges of
conelomerate sandstone The first coal seam in
descending the Ohio river is found at Rock Is
land, few miles above CanneltOu. 1t attracted
the attention of early explorers, and when Rob
ert Fulton built his first Western steamboat, the
New Orleans, at Pittsburg, in 1911. it was ar
ranged TO take in supply of coal at this point,
which had been mined the previous year by Mr..
Roosevelt for this purpose. The quality of the
coal attracted the attention of Fulton and his
engineers, and he purchased tract of coal land
and devoted much time to developing settlements
here.
''The road from Cannelton to Rock Island
Landing has barely passway between the river
banks and the precipitous wall of congomerate
sandstone which rises from fifty to ono hundred
feet in height 1t is romantic drive, and the
mass of rocks which have braved the winds and
roaring torrents for ages present an interesting
from the fact that in 1926, when the Marquis de
Lafayette was on his visit to this country, when
coming up the river from New Orleans en-
countered terrible storm, and the boat was
driven against the rocks on the Indiana shore
1t was very near a shpwreck. The Marquis and
the other passengers passed night Of terror in
the drenching rain on the shore, protected only
by the rocks and trees. The steamboat was not
lost but, with few repairs, proceeded on her
way and the next day the distinguished visitor
nall hx0 ~ Nnvy 1hap
Cannelton is one of the old towns of Indiana
and was long the home of Hon. Hamilton Smith
whouse energy and resources have done so much
to benefit the town and vicinity Tell City. in
the same county, is noted settlement of
natives of Germany and Switzerland, who
brought to their new home the energy and
thrift of Fatherland and have made it noted
manufacturing pointed. Rockport. in Spencer
county, is situated on the summit Of Lady Wash
inGton Rock a high bluff escarpment, almost
castellated outlyer of the conglomerate sand
stone In this county was the boyhood home of
Abraham Lincoln. Many of the dearest and
sweetest memories of his early homely life are
clustered round the rude cabin home and i'll
cultivated acres of that Spencer county farm
His mother rests here under tombstone erected
long after her great son had passed away.
Southwest corner of the State is ancient In
the history of Indiana. Ear.y modes of travel
small boats. The early French missionaries
passed down the Illinois and Mississippi rivers
returning by the Ohio and Wabash 10 the lakes.
The Ohio in low water and the Wabash were of
equal size at their confluence, and for a long
time In the notes OF the French voyagers the
Ohio was placed as tributary to the Wabash. In
early days, when the northwestern Territories
were in dispute between France and England
Croghau, as representative of the British gov
eminent came west TO occupy the land bv fixing
leaden medals of possession at various points
He was attacked and wounded at the mouth of
the Wabash and carried as prisoner to Ouata-
non. in Warren county. Indiana now called
BLACK Rock" He gives the first account of
coal on the upper Wabash.
AT an early day the descriptions given of the
wonderful fertility of the Wabash valley at
tracted the attention of George Rapp and his
community at Harmony. Pa Rapp was a
Wurtemburger, and in early life believed that
he bad divine call, and was charged with the
restoration of the Christian religion to the
standard Of the primitive church. In lSO3 with
his followers, he emigrated from Germany to