Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-08-14
DUN8AR'S GAVE.
A VISIT TO THIS ATTRACTIVE THOUGH
LITTLE KNOWN RESORT NEAR
GAINESVILLE.
The Place Where the Farmers Of Montgom-
cry and Other Counties Hold Their
Annual Stock Show.
Correspondent Union.


We spent a few days OF last week at
Dundar's cave, near GAINESVILLE, Tenn.
We are not OF that class who spend the
heated term every year in visiting
watering places; but circumstances have
influenced us from time to time to visit
most, If not all, OF the health and pleas
Gre resorts in Middle Tennessee. and |
we do say, without hesitation, that Dun
bars cave is the most delightiulwe ever
have seen or been at. The cave is about
three miles from GAINESVILLE and is
reached from this direction by the
Memphis branch railroad, stopping at
Cherry's Station, and is about one mile |
from here along good turn pike road
The cave is situated at the head Of
narrow valley and at the point where
two ranges come together. From be-
meath the mouth of the cave beautiful
stream OF sparkling water issues and
winds its way down the valley amidst
the forest Of stately oaks, hickory
and sycamore. BY removing the dirt
from within the cave a level plat of
ground has been made, extending from
its mouth one hundred or more feel, and
capable OF seating comfortably 500 peo-
pie. Over this the arched shelving OF
the rock extends, making beautiful
and rustic ceiling, and aifording ample
protection from rain. The tenipera-
ture of the cave is 56o Farenhiet and
can be graded to suit your taste. The
GOODNESS is sensibly felt at the hotel 100
yards distant. One would suppose that
this atmosphere would be too damp,
but not so. We were shown some
sweet potatoes that were put away in
the cave last fall and they were in per-
feet state of preservation. The guests
OF the hotel and many citizens from,
the surrounding country sit on benches
and easy chairs near the mouth of the
cave all day long, utterly oblivious OF the
fact that the thermometer may be
marking 960 or 1902 in GAINESVILLE and
Nashville. 1t is the greatest place for
children we have ever seen. Mothers
bring their little ones here and, bum
ding them up in wraps, they rest
sweetly and quietly, undisturbed by
heat. The most iairy-hke scene we
ever witnessed was on the night we
reached the cave. 1t was our first visit
and we were not anticipating anything
of the kind. Upon making sudden
turn in the road leading to the hotel
we came in full view OF the cave lit up
by two large chandeliers and innumer-
able Chinese lanters scattered through
the ground. A band of music was
playing to five or six sets OF gaily dress
ed dancers, while the benches and easy
chairs were occupied by a large crowd
! of lookers-on. The reflections and
shadows that fell upon the rocks, the
stately trees and the sparkling water in
the valley made scene that was beau
tiful beyond description. Though Dun
bars cave has been a resort for years
there never was till this season hotel
upon the grounds. This hotel is a good
large, comfortable building, with about
thirty rooms Tor guests, and the table is
most admirably set by hatcurteous and
affable gentleman, DR.. w. A. Shelby,
and his good lady Every care and at
tention is given to his guests. About
seventy were there at the time of our
visit, which made a full house. This
season has been an experiment, but has
more than fulfilled expectations and
determined the proprietor to enlarge
the accommodations for the next season.
Just below the hotel, in the valley, are
the grounds where the farmers Of Mont
gomery and adjacent counties hold their
annual stock show, which lasts two
days and is opened on the Oath OK this
month. The location is the best one
for the purpose that could be imagined.
Nature has left but little for art to do.
In the center OF the circle grand stand
has been erected, and on the east and
west sides of this circle the ground is
elevated and gradually rises in two ran
ges of hills. Along this rows of plank
seats are placed, one above the other,
afording clear and unobstructed view
of the entire ground to every individ-
ual. Annually these shows draw large
crowds and much fine stock is exhibit
ed.
Just below here, and a short half mile
from the cave, is Idaho Syringe. This,
too is quite place OF resort. There is
q hotel there and number OF private
cottages. The water here is excellent
and OF several different varietes-white
black and red sulpher and chalybeate.
visitors at the cave, if they desire it, can
make arrangements to use this water
1t occurred to us that ii these springs
and the cave could be under one man
agement fortune could be made out
OF 1t in a few seasons.
But our object in penning these lines
was to acquaint the public with the ex-
quisite pleasure to be derived from q
visit to Dunbar's and to let all who will
avail themselves of it. We have never
seen such place, nor do we believe
that there is one to be found. Our
people go to the mountains to get into
other and cooler atmosphere. To some
extent they succeed, but we have beer
as warm at Beersheba at certain hours
of the day as at Nashville in July oil
August. At Dunbar's cave you can
breathe an atmosphere as low as 560 all
the time and sleep comfortably at night
at the hotel, which is within the range
of its GOODNESS. In conclusion allow u:
to say that we shall make the effort tc
spend some time here every season
Dunbar will hereafter get all the money
we have to spare in summering. And
take my word for it, that if you go there
once you will be certain to do likewise.
: Aside from all these, the place is ac-