Wichita eagle., 1888-04-27
AN ENCHANTED CAVERN.
Beauties of the Grotto of Capri-Al
American BicycIist's Adventure.

Beauties of the Grotto of Capri-An
American Bicyclist's Adventure.
Tradition has it that this "Grotta Azzurra"
was known in the earliest Roman times and
then lost again in the Middle Ages, although
the knowledge of its existence was preserved
at Capri, and that in the last century it was
rediscovered through chance-a shipwrecked
sailor was dashed through the narrow open
ing in the cliff; recovered consciousness to
find himself in heaven, as be thought-in
reality upon little ledge in the grotto-and
escaped by swimming. Can | not enter
swimming when it would be impossible for a
boats The guide says, NO but will take
me out there, and it is worth the attempt; so
watch and valuables are left at the hotel and
we are off. On the way we meet party re-
turning, and upon reaching the cave we find
that the entrance, about three feet high and
four broad, is filed by every wave and the
spray sent dashing up the rocky sea wall l
must enter as the wave recedes.
Undressing and leaping into the sea, / was
tossed about a little by the waves, my mouth
filled with salt water and | almost decided to
give it up; but after holding To the boat for
a few moments and hearing the guide expa-
tiate upon the "Grotta Bellissima' decided
that | could risk a bit of a knock for the pul,-
pose of seeing one of natures most beautiful
creations. The boat was pushed as near as
was safe and l made plunge for the en-
trance, but just little too late; | saw that
the coming wave would catch me, and fear
ing blow on the head-where even the felt
hat wore for that contingency would not
have saved me- dived on the instant and
the wave, coming roaring in, pushed me by
Its weight into the depths, instead of against
the rocks. j think l must have gone down
fifteen feet and been under the surface nearly
minute, for | swallowed an immense guam
tity Of the salty fluid before l came up dazed,
after hard struggle, to find myself in
smooth water, surrounded by wonderful,
supernatural, blue light, with countless stars
cleaning above me. The water is very clear
and seems to be fathomless, while my limbs
are bright, polished, sparkling silver Ideas
of distance are lost; | can see for miles in
every direction, up and down as well, and it
is a surprise to me when, after swimming for
ten minutes, find myself at the other end of
the grotto.
There was no resting place except a crevice
III the rock for the fingers of one hand, and [
hung there swinging back and forth and
feasting on this wonderful Sght-a feast half
mingled with fear as to my safe exit. The
entrance appeared hopelessly far away, ell
tlrely closed every few seconds by the inrush-
ing wave, and then, upon its recession, adj
hitting ray from the outside world. The
Impression and experience is, under such cir
cumstances, altogether indescribabIe and I'M
earthly. After perhaps fifteen minutes 1
launched out once more, and swan, in fear
and trembling, for the entrance; before reach
ing it two or three big waves came rushing
in, tossing the salt spray into my eyes, and
accompanied by a cold wind approached
as near the entrance as l could, waited until
a great wave dashed itself with full force into
my face, struck out quickly, and, behold,
came out without the slightest trouble and
seized the boat before the next wave camel
George F. FiSke, NJ. D., in Outing.