The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-08-23
ANOTHER MAMMOTH CAVE.
An Ohio Cavern That Rivals That of X
tucky In Wonderful Features.


An ohio Cavern That Rivals That Of Ken
tucky In Wonderful Features.
A rival to the great Mammoth cave has
at Inst been discovered. Henry Griepdle,
living on Limestone Ridge. over the line
In Wyandot county, was plowing, when
one of his horses broke through the earth
into deep hole. 1t was rescued from
its position with great difficulty. Upon
examing the spot Griendle found large
hole leading perpendicularly down into
the earth. He dropped in a stone, and
heard it rumble and rattle IN its down.
ward course till the sound died away In
the distance.
Sensational reports of this discovery
reached this city, and an exploring party
was made up and drove over to the ridge
to ascertain what was at the bottom of
the story and the hole. The party con-
sisted of half dozen well known gentle
men, who were provided with ropes,
lights, fireworks, etc, to make thor
ough exploration. Having fixed every
thing In readiness for the descent, the
question arose as TO who should first go
down. The men looked into the dark
mysterious hole, mentally made calcu-
lation as to the probability of finding
nest of rattlesnakes at the bottom, and
each one was perfectly satisfied to let
several of the others go first.
Finally one of the party summoned up
sufficient courage and volunteered to
make the descent alone. AS he was low
cred down, down, down, the light OF his
lantern could be seen growing fainter
and smaller until tiny speck was visi-
BILE. After letting out the rope about 100
feet a faint, muffied whisper announced
that he had found solid bottom. The
reporter went down next, and finally the
whole party found itself at the bottom of
the shaft.
The hole deecends through limestone
rock all the way down and varies In di-
ameter from three to thirty feet. The
bottom is dry rock, and the place proved
to be a capacious cavern. The place
where the landing was made was esti-
mated to be sixty feet in width, and
while the ceiling at that point was low 1t
gradually rose like dome to the height
Of fully fifty feet. The floor was very
uneven. The party had not gone quar-
ter of mile when they were suddenly
confronted by ayawning chasm, ten feet
in width and Of an unknown depth.
Beyond this impossible cleft they could
see the roof glittering in the light of
their lanterns.
Several Roman candles were fired into
the space, but the side walls could not be
seen. 30 that there is no telling how far
the cave extends in that direction. The
fireworks revealed numerous stalactites
and stalagmites of beautiful formation,
whose marble like whiteness glistened
and shone resplendent In the vari-colored
lights. The roof sparkled with frost
like incrustation, which reflected the
Light from myriad of shining points as
though the whole dome were set in dia-
monds.
Retracing their steps for some distance,
the party found to the right small OPEN
Ing at the top of the steep ascent, and,
entering it, were obliged to crawl on
hands and knees for distance OF per-
haps ten yards. Then the cavern sud
denly opened into another mammoth
chamber, apparently much larger than
the first one, and possessing more stalac-
tite formations. AT great distance from
the entrance they came upon q lake of
pure, cold water, as clear as crystal and
of unfathomable depth. Holding the
Light to the water, shining penny was
dropped in and its gradual descent
watched until 1t had fallen apparently
fifty feet, when all trace of it was lost.
The water Of the lake was perfectly
still and dead, there being no current,
and no signs Of fish o, animal life were
visible. A few shells were picked up on
the shores Of the lake, and, being again
shut off from further advance, the party
retraced their steps. Openings were seen
In other directions, as though the cavern
extended its wings still further, but the
fear of losing their way and of the oil in
the lanterns giving out prevented further
explorations at present. 1t is proposed
ut some time in the near future to make
further examination. going provided with
boats, ladders, planks, ETC., that the lakes
and chasms may not stop the way
Findlay (O.) Cor. Pittsburg Dispatch.