The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-09-18
A BEAUTIFUL CAVERN.
Strange Discovery Of a Farmer
Near Findlay, O.
His Horse Breaks Through the Earth and
Subtorranean Passage IL Disclosed
A Largo Cave That Has Boon
Only Partially Explored.

About ten miles southeast Of Findlay, O.,
writes correspondent Of the Chicago
Tribune, lies long stretch Of limestone,
which cropping out at various places serves
to mark the dividing line between Hancock
and Wyandot counties. At this point tho
limestone reaches it's highest elevation in
Northwestern Ohio and then dips rapidly
away, not to appear again above the sur.
face until it reaches the shores Of Lake
Erie on the north, and the Limestone river,
near Springfield, on the south.
One mile south of this ridge of limestone
is the beginning Of what is popularity sup
posed to have once been lake, from which
the water has in some mysterious way been
drained, leaving sunken space varying in
depth from ten to forty feet and ten miles
long by three wide, over which the rank
vegetation of perhaps centuries has grown,
died and decayed, leaving q bog or morass.
A short distance from the marsh, and
still further south, a wonderful cave has
recently been discovered, concerning
which marvellous reports have been put in
circulation by the people living in the
neighborhood. The entrance to the mys-
FERROUS cavern was accidentally discovered
by horse breaking through thin crust Of
earth while at work in field. In rescuing
the animal it was found that the hole into
which he had partially fallen led down into
some dark and unknown space, which gave
back no echoing sound when substances
were dropped into it. This aroused the
curiosity of the farmer, Henry Greindle,
who came to this city to relate the story Of
his wonderful find. A party Of men drove
out there and Investigated the matter suf-
fciently to satisfy themselves that Greindle
had actually discovered something much
out of the ordinary in the cave line.
The farmer, finding food of people over
running his premises looking for the en-
trance to the cavern, conceived the idea of
turning his discovery into profit, and, man.
ufacturing rope ladder, he erected tent
over the yawning hole in the ground, and
charged venturesome visitors ten cents each
for the privilege of going down to the bot
tom of the cave.
made as thorough an examination as it was
possible. The distance from the top to the
first landing is about sixty-fve feet, and
the passage is through solid limestone all
the way, the aperture varying in diameter
from three to thirty feet. The floor of the
first resting place is dry rock Of an uneven
character. This landing is an ante-chamber
about sixty. FIVE feet wide at the back. The
wall is solid rock clear up to the
surface of the earth and about one hun
dred feet in length, when it forms the door
way or entrance to the main cavern. The
main chamber has dome like roof Of rock
which rises gradually from all sides to an
apex not less than fifty feet in height The
dimensions of this room, as near as could be
measured, are $50 feet by 436. The floors are
full of little hills and valleys, making walk
ing in the semi-darkness-the only light
furnished visitors being lanterns-exceed-
ingly difficult and falls frequent. The roof
of this part Of the cave Is dark, rocky and
unbroken by any thing of a glittering char
acter.
At the point where the chamber narrows
there is dark, deep assure in the floor, be-
yond which human vision can not penetrate.
This chasm, which is about twenty feet
wide, has been bridged, and as one passes
over he can hear the ripping Of water be-
meath him. On the other side of this stream
Or river is long irregular gallery which
leads into another chamber, but not so large
as the first. Here the roof and
sides reveal stalactites in abundance, all
resplendentin brilliant colors. Nothing in
dicating animal or vegetable life was found
here or in any Of the other apartments Of
tho cave. Beyond this room is lake Of wa
ter, which in shape and contour of shore is a
fac-simile, in miniature, of tho sunken lake
above. This body Of water has been meas.
ured, and in many places is eighty feet
deep. The water is clear,> cold and placid.
Not ripple mars Its surface It lies there
,xill, icy and dead, while above It is the
stalactite-studded roof, and in and about it
eternal silence. A small canoe IS there to
carry those who desire to venture the trip
along the ragged shores for at least q quar-
ter OF q mile, where further progress is
stopped by solid wall of rock This is the
end of the cave. At least, no other open
ing or chamber has yet been discovered.
Numerous biologists have already writ
ten for full and minute particulars regard
ing its rock and crystal formations and a
number have signiGed their intention Of
paying it an early visit, in which event it
Is likely that much of an entertaining and
instructive character will be brought out.
The country surrounding this cave, while
having O limestone foundation, is compare
lively level, and has none of tho character
istics peculiar to the cave country Of other
localities.