West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-03-05
a WONDERFUL GAVE.
The Great Natural Cavern In Kin,
County. Texas.

The Great Natural Cavern In Kinney
County. Texas.
Thirty miles northwest of Bracket
in Kinney County, is wonderful but
comparatively unknown cave. It's en-
trance is rent in the solid limestone
rock that underlies this section. 2Ox4
feet and is situated near the summit of
one OF many similar hills, perhaps POO
feet above the surrounding valley.
The main shaft of this cave b, Gins
with sharp descent of several hundred
feet, and extends in nearly direct line.
at varying levels, for fully half mile.
Apparently, i'm the tumultuous upheav-
ais which lifted these hills from the
surrounding level a great opening
was left, and from its roof immcnsc
quantities of rock fell into the center of
the cave. A solid, irregularlv arched
ROOF has been left, from 100 TO POO
feet from the original floor. The
mass OF rock upon the floor il IRON
70 to 40 feet deep and makes progress
ulilcult. A few hundred feet from
the entrance begins the largest chamber
or amphitheater This magnificent spoca
Is more than 800 feet in width.
gradually narrowing at either
end In its center, upholdinp
the grandly arched roof, is one OF
the grandest columns of stalactic for
nation ever seen. From floor TO cell
mgit must be fully I75 feet. just above
the fallen rocks il is 25O feet i'm cirruIn-
Terence, and at the upper end perhaps 1870
teet There are several of these columns
OF varying size supporting the roof. one
iallen column, broken i'm three pieces of
SIX to ten feet each and nine feet i'm cir
cumierence, shows their solid structure
ana might serve as models for the broken
pillars OF the Acropolis. From the side
OF TINS largest gallery, and at right an.
SleS' reaching passage from ten To
twenty feet in height and varying width
Ior quarter of mile. This passageis
upon level with the original floor of
me main shaft, and its ceiling has not
iailen, but is now incrusted and he.
leweled by innumerable and wonderful
stalactlc formations Near the farther
end of this gallery is a spring OF de-
lclous pure water oozing from the rocks
and making its way in the same mvs.
ferrous manner into the rocky
heart of mother earth. This side
chamber - is called Spring Arbor,
ana many exquisite specimens
OIL stalactites have been carried
iroln 1t. Returning to the Cathedral. as
pie gallery of the column is called. we
proceeded to explore the main shaft. A
beautiful cascade, perhaps twenty feet
nlgh, mas been formed in pure white
limestone, as perfect and suggestive i'm
execution as Jack Frost himself with
New England waterfall All the sides
ana ceiling are incrusted low the most
delicate and intricated workmanship i'm
stone. Here the work of the little coral
Is emulated; there the delicate tracerv
Is so fine and translucent that il i,
difficult not to ascribe it to frost in its
most delicate and varied mood.
One expansion of the passage is filed
with score or more of stalagmites
from two to ten or twelve feet in height.
grouped as so many monuments of the
dead. The sides and ceiling are of ex-
quislte workmanship fit setting to the
solemn and beautiful scene within.
which irresistably leads one to speak i'm
low tones and tread softly as if on
sacred ground. Upon the wall
near is suspended some drapery
IN stone, that would be the adj
mlratlon and despair of sculptor.
Double and triple folds of stalactite a
dN'''L Va VI oiA AllNil III ltlltklltSS ana
yard wide, hang thirty feet, with no
support except from above
Beyond this is perhaps the most ex-
quisitely beautiful grotto of the many
which seem Incompatible. CEILING
walls, and even floor are covered with
fretwork of dazzling brightness, which
reminds one of the finest work of the
silversmith, or again the window work
of the frost Here and there ceiling and
floor are united by columns as clear and
transparent as crystal, and nature's
magic, hidden from the glare of dav
and the noise and distractions of man.
has wrought her most intricate and
beautiful workmanship A candle
placed as far within one of these groups
rs the arm could reach illuminated "A
wonderful fairy bower, shining through
all the rich tracery Of stone Language
can hardly paint 20 Imagination the
beauty of the scene, and one would love
to sit for hours and trace delicate out
lines and exquisite details - Charleston
(JfrO Nctry