The Dickinson press., 1888-01-28
AN ENCHANTED CAVERN.

Beauties of the Grotto of Capri-An
American Eiryclist's Adventure.
Tradition has it that this "Grotta Azaurra;
Was known i'll the earliest Roman times and
then lost again i'll the Middle Ages. although
the knowleagc of its existence was preserved
at Capri, and that in tho last century ii was
rrdiScovered through chance-a shipwrccGci
sailor was dashed through the narrow OPEN
ing i'll the cliff: recovered CONSCIOUSNESS; to
find himself in heaven, as lie thouglit-in
reality upon q little ledge in the grotto-and
escaped 10y swimming. Can l not enter
swimming when it would be impossible for Il
boat. The guide says, "No," but will take
me out there, and it is worth the attempt; so
watch and valuab!es are Left at the hotel and
we are Oil. On the way We ,acut q party re-
turning, and upon reaching the cave we find
that the entrance, about three feet high and
four broad. is filled by every wave and the
spray sent dashing up the rocky sea wall. l
must enter as the wave recedcs.
Undressing and leaping into the sea, l was
tossed about u little by the waves, my mouth
filled with salt water and | almost decided to
give 1t up; but, after holding to the boat for
u few moments and hearing the guide cXpa-
tiate upon the "Grotta B.llissima," decided
that l could risk Il bit Of a knock for the }u,-
pose of seeing one of natures most beautiful
creations. The boat was pushed as near as
was safe and made Il plunge for the en-
trance. but just a little too late; l saw that
the coming wave would catch me, and fear
ing q blow on the head-where even the felt
hat Wore for that contingency would not
have saved me-Id Owed Oh the instant, and
tbs wave, coming roaring in, pushed me by
its weight into the depths. instead of against
the rocks. think | must have gone down
fifteen feet and been under the surface nearly
n minute, for swallowed an immense guam
tity of the salty fluid before l ann up dazcd,
after Il hard struggle. to find myself i'll
smooth water, surrounded hy Il wonderful.
supernatural, blue light, with countless stars
cleaning above lit. The water is very clear
and seems TO TX fa:homless, while my limbs
are bright, polished. sparkling silver. Ideas
OF distance are lost: | can sec fer miles in
every direction, UP and Iowa q; well, and il
is a surprise to me when, after swimming for
ten minutes, | find llyscif at tho other end of
the grotto.
There was norestirg place except u crcvicc
III the rock for the fiji. rrs oi cla hand, and |
hung there swinging iac. aAd forth and
~feaSti2s on this wonderful %sis!t-a feast half
mingled with .ear Us 10 my safe exit. The
entrance appeared hopele=s!g far away, eli
tlrel.y closet every few seconds H.. the inr,sh-
ing wave, and then, upon lis recession. adj
uniting Il ray from tho outside world. The
impression and experience is, u,,lcr such cir
cumstances, altogether ndescrii,a!le nnl I'M
earthly. After perhaps fifteen minutes 1
launched out once more, and swan, in fear
and trembling, f%ortlle entrance; before reach
lug it two or three big waves came rushing
in, tossing the salt spray into my eyes, and
accompanied by a cold wind. Iapproavhcd
as near the entrance as l could. waited until
Il great wave dashed itself with full force into
my face, struck out quickly, and, behold, l
came out without the slightest trouble and
seized the boat before the next wave camel
George +. Fiske, II. d., in Outing.