Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-15
A WONDERFUL GAVE.
j lat Natural Cavern in Kinney
County Texas.
FROM The Gal0sston Nesss


CKETT, Jan. S.-Thirty miles north
wei Bracket, in Kinney county, is a
worful but comparatively unknown
caHts entrance Is q rent in the solid
HmIne rock that underlles this section,
20 fleet, and is situated near the sum-
mitOne Of many similar hills, perhaps
200i above the surrounding valley.
Inaln shaft Of the cave begins with
SIP descent of several hundred feet,
/ andtentls in nearly direct line, at
vaTg levels. for tally halt mile. APP
paIly, in the tamultuous upheavals
VIII lifted these hills from the surround
iugel a great opening was left, and
| frots roof Immense quantities of rock
! felto the centre of the cave. A solid,
! irTilarly-arcbed roef has been left,
frClO0 to 200 feet from the original floor.
Thnass OF rock upon the floor is from
20l 40 feet deep, and makes progress
diult A few hundred feet
fro the entrance begins the
lalst chamber or amphitbeare. This
mnlfcent space is more than 800
fetin WIDTH gradually narrowing at
eitT end. in its centre, upholdihg the
grdly azched roof, is one of the graId{
estolunns OF stalactie formation ever
see FyOm floor to ceiling 1t must be
fullA75feet. just above the fallen rocks
it is Afeet in circumference and at the
uppemd perhaps $50 feet. There are
sevelpf these columns of varying size
suppjng the roof. One fallen column,
brOkdn three pieces of 8 to 10 feet each,
and get in circumference, shows their
sOlldructure and might serve as mod
els I the broken pillars OF the Aero
polls From the side OF this largest
gaAT, ana ut right angles, reaches a
pasge from 10 to 20 feet in height and
varig width for quarter of a mile.
Thipassage is upon a level with the
Orieal floor OF the main shaft, and its
ceiR has not fallen, but is now en-
crUed and bejeweled by innumerable
anOwOnderful staiaCtic formations.
Nesthe farther end of this gallery is a
sprg of delicious pure water OOzing
froIthe rocks and making its way ia the
san mysterious manner into the rocky
hea OF mother earth. Tins side chamber
is cled Spring Arbor, and many exquisite
5peanens OF stalactites have been carried
iFOzit. Returning to the cathedral, as
ne ellerY OF the column is called, we
proceeded 10 explore the main shaft. A
cascade, perhaps 20 feet high,
las ben nrmed in pure white limestone,
rs pertctand suggestive ia execution as
Jack FOst himself with a New England
waterfall All the sides ard ceiling are
ncrust( by the most delicate and intri-
.ate Wkmanship in stone. Here the
work ofhe little coral ia emulated there
he delhte tracery is so fine and translu-
cent thy1t is difficult not to ascribe it to
TOeJ il It's most delicate and varied mood.
One expansion of the passage is filed
With sscore or more of stalagmites from
to Tor y feet in height, grouped as so
aanynOnuments of the dead. The sides
nd ching are of exquisite workmanship.
fit sitting to the solemn and beautiful
cenewithin, which irresistibly leads one
0 spRk in low tones and tread softly, as
Onsacred ground. Upon the walls near
) Suspended some dFapeTy in stone that
yOua be the admiration and despair of a
cutter. Double and triple folds OF
quarter of an inch in thick
ess and a yard wide, hang 30 feet, with
o support except from above.
Beyond this is perhaps the most exquis-
ely BEAUTIFUL grottO OF the many which
eem Incompatible. Ceiling, walls, and
ven floor are covered with a fretwOrk of
azZling brightness which reminds oae of
be finest work of the silveTsmith, or,
gain, the window work of the frost at his
est. Here and there ceiling and floor
re un ted by columns as clear and trans
aren't as crystal, and natures magic.
idden from the glare Of day and the noise
nd distractions Of man, has wrought her
lost intricate and beautiful workman
nip. Acandle placed as far within one
{ these groups as the arm could reach,
luminated wonderful fairy bower,
mining through all the rich tracery Of
one. Language can hardly paint to i'm.
giRatI9n the beauty of the scene, and
ne wOlld love 10 sit for bours and trace
elic2te outlines and exquisite details.