Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-04-01


have descended by and OF the rope. the
difficulty OF getting up the perpen-
dicular walls could not be 80 easily over
come. The apartment IN which we stood
was about ten feet wide, and tho vnulted
roof was some distance above our heads.
At length we found small opening on
our right. which we entered, and discov-
cred that il led downward, winding TO
tho left Continuing on IN tins down
ward and circuitous route, we reached
the level and stood in large chamber
Immediately below the place from which
We had last started.
THE SKELETON OF AN ADvENTURER
While wandering around in this place
we were startled by an exclamation, as
one of the party stumbled in the dark
ness and fell. When Brakeman came
M with the light We found Lane at full
length on the ground clasped IN the
arms of grinning skeleton. We started
back, but Lane arose, and with some
irritation gave the cause OF his mishap
kick, which caused the skeleton to fall
TO pieces and the skull to roll some
distance away. Near this object we
found a bone-handled hunting-k knife
much eaten by rust, two copper
shoe-buckles and large flint-lock gun.
The stock OF the gun fell off as Lane at
tempted TO pick it up, and crumbled with
the touch but by careful handling we
we're enabled to examine it, and found
carved in large letters the name and
date: Jeremy Allicock, Ancient. 1907.
The word "Ancient probably meant
ensign, and from the date we inferred
that the luckless owner of the ancient
weapon was one of the first "adyen-
turers 10 the colony. We now passed
through this chamber, and continuing on
about 100 yards entered another larger
chamber.
THE CYCLONES HOME.
This apartment was circular in form
and about three hundred feet in diane
ter In the centre we could not touch
the roof with our poles, but 1t sloped
down within reach at the side walls.
While standing here we were surprised
to perceive n current of air which swept
like a whirlwind around the chamber.
At times we could not feel the wind, but
soon its approach was heralded by low,
musical sound, and the current swept
around the cavern, gaining force and mo-
mentum with each shortened circuit In
the middle Of the cave the wind roared
and rushed with great fury, and
whirled us about IN a bewllderlng
manner. Our lanterns had been ex-
tinguished and the darkness was
of that character which could al
most be felt. We now CROPPED cur way
to the side wall of the chamber, and
taking advantage of lull in the storm
relighted the lanterns. Soon the low
musical sound was heard and the storm
was again approaching. Boys, let's
get in the cyclone again, said Tupps. 81
rather enjoy it, even if do have to hold
the hair on my head. Saying this, he
sprang forward and in q few minutes
was mounted on fiat rock in the middle
of the cave, whirling around like a
Deryish. The lantern in his hand re-
NAMED lighted. and as he spun around
circle of light encompassed him.
/ We were much amused by the gro
tesoue antics of the fat and amiable
| Tupps. but our mirth was changed TO
CONSERVATION as We heard him utter a
veil for assistance and saw him rapidly
/ sink down and disappear. Braddenham
was the first to rush to his assistance.
! The fury Of the storm had not abated,
and his lantern was soon extlnguished.
| He gave it 10 Lane, who returned TO the
wall to relight it. When the wind had
subsidized we approached the middle OF
the apartment and discovered circular
hole. about four feet in diameter, at the
spot where Tupps had last been seen
Braddenham, who had been crawling
around in the dark, now came up, and
! bending over the opening called TO
! TuppA Here l am sounded q
voice very near US, "a little
disfgured. but still in the ring.
Tupps had been lying down, but
he now arose, and taking the light COM
menced TO examine his surroundings.
We all then descended and discovered
that the flat, circular platform had gone
down about five feet in spiral grooves
cut into the surrounding rocks. In this
well we found the door to another tun-
mel. which we entered and followed for
several hundred yards. This passage
inclined gradually downward and grew
larger ms we proceeded. Presently we
heard the splashing of water. The at
mosphere of the cavern was now moist,
the ground was covered with a wet,
sticky clay, and many large boulders OBJ
structed our progress.
THE FALLS OF LOST RIVER.
Climbing over these distinctions, we
continued on in the direction of the
sound until our progress was arrested
by broad sheet of limpid water, falling
apparently from a considerable distance
directly across our path. At this place
there were many excavations and side
passages, but the most OF them led only
a short distance. We followed the wind
ing course of one OF these passages fol-
more than half an hour, but finally
emerged through an opening near the
point of entrance at the foot Of the falls.
In this labyrinth of so many intricate
passages it was difficult for us to deter
mine how we should proceed. Lane
pushed his pole through the sheet Of
water and found that it met with no OBJ
struction. We then discovered that al
though the waters were spread out more
than twelve feet, the sheet was onl y q
few inches in thickness. The pole di-
vided this sheet like curtain, and by
raising it an opening was made sufi
GENTLY wide for us to enter. "Here We
90" said Lane, as he passed through the
opening with lantern in his hand. The
curtain was then allowed to fall, and the
effect was indescribably beautiful. The
sheet Of water cleaned and sparkled like
arevolving belt of polished silver, refract
ing the light from the other side. Again
dividing the waters we all went through
the opening and found the passage-way
leading onward and descending down
ward.
THE RIVER SrYx.
Here we noticed that We were follow
ing the stream from the falls. Going
three or four hundred yards forward
and many feet downward, we were agair
arrested by body of water, which ex-
tended entirely across the catern and
into the blackness beyond. We tried
the depth of this gulf with our poles
but it was apparently bottomless. A
J - -, noe TOD IN fha ou1 Of tbf