Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-09-14
A Visit to Mammoth Cave.
BY c. W. YERINGToN.
Continued from Iast tccck.

being Interpreted, reads.
On our right, We see large salt
peter watts, with capacity of from
80 to 100 bblS.
They were built by the miners, in
1912, for the manufacture of salt
peter, which was shipped east to be
used in the manufacture of gunpow-
der. The logs, orpipes, which bring
the water to the watts, are badly de
cayed, while those conducting the
alkali from the cave, are in per
fectly sound condition, as though
they had been there but three months,
instead of over three quarters of a
century. | secured small piece of
bark from one of these, as a relc.
la this vicinity, were tracks made
by the 'oxens," as the guide said,
over IS years ago. They are now
impressions in the solid rock. eX-
amined them very carefully, to con
vince myself of this, and then asked
the guide if he would permit me to
carry one of them home as relic.
Thai must have been original, for
he looked at me, in a dazed sort of
way, and said nothing. 1t was the
only time, during the whole trip,
that he failed to roast one for try
ing to he smart. He probably has
an answer ready, for the next one
who asks that question.
Had | known him as well as |
afterwards did, the question never
would been asked, 10y me, for he
seemed fairly running over with an
swers, that never failed to bring
down the house; but the "oX-trackS'
was too many for him.
We soon stood before the pulpit
of the Methodist Church, where, for
three years, missionary came and
preached to the miners, who assem-
blcd in the vast cathedral below.
When we asked Bishop, our guide,
why they didn't call it the Baptist
church, he said ,"because its too dry
but DR.. - said, ''its because there
is a bishop in it"
We passed ON and found ourselves
in the Rotunda, located, nearly 200
feet directly under the hotel.
One would estimate the Rotunda
to contain an acre or more, and to be
10 or 100 feet high, but the guide
informed us, that it is only half an
acre in extent, and from - to 20
feet high.
We next enter Broadway, 90 it,.
wide, 40 fit. high, and miles long.
On our left, the guide points out an
opening in the side of the cave, about
80 #. above, which he informs Us, is
the opening at the top of the Cork
screw, and which we will pass
through upon our return from the
Long Route.
Gothic Theatre, POO it, wide, with
an immense stage or gallery across
one end, is where Edwin Booth
once rendered selections from the
play of Hamlet.
Leaving this, we enter Gothic Ar
cada, and our attention is called to a
niche in the wall, called the Seat of
the Mummy.
The legend says that there were
once found, the dried bodies of a
woman and her child, unlike modern
Indians, and probably belonging to
some ancient and extinct race. The
bodies are now in some eastern mu-
scum, did not get the name.
Farther on, our attention was
called to the ceiling, from which are
suspended tons of stalactites, and di-
rectly beneath each one, a CORES
ponding stalagmite.
"a stalactite, is a pendent cone or
cylinder, of carbonate of lime, re-
sembling an icicle in form, and at
tached like an iciclc to the roof or
side of a cavern, produced by the
percolation through the rock above,
of water, holding bi-carbonate of lime
in solution" a stalagmite, is formed
as the water drips on the floor OF
the cavern.
After centuries Of time, the Stalac-
tite and stalagmite meet, forming
huge pillars. We were shown a
number of these pillars, with name
given them, as the Post Oak, Egypt
ian Temple, Pillar of Hercules.
They are very old, indeed it is not
possible for the human imagination
to comprehend so great period of
time, as was necessary for their for
nation, if we accept the theory of
DIR. A. ID. Burkerd, who tells " that
they have been 100000 years form
ing.
Passing on, we enter Register
Hall, where dozens Of names have
been written on the smooth ceiling,
before the law put a stop to such an
outrage.
Their method Of writing,was rs fol
lows: a torch was tied 10 "A long pole,
and the flame moved along the white
ceiling, producing letters, that will
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