The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-17
GREAT SHELTA CAVERNS.
THEIR BEAUTY sURPAssES ANY
THING IN AMERICA.
A Beautiful Crystal Lake Three-Quar-
tiers of a Mile Long-Strange and
Wonderful Fancies OF Nature-An
Alabama Attraction.

Wonderful Fancies OF Nature-An
Alabama Attraction.
Nature in the disposition of her many gifts
has certainly smiled with much favor on
Huntsville, Ala, for here we lind every
thing to gladden. the heart and make life
appear as beautiful dream. On every hand
can be seen the footprints Of generous
nature and so numerous are her pathways
OF beauty that one is led TO believe that this
ut one time was her haven of rest The
recent discovery Of the Great shelta Caverns
within two miles of the city suggests the
idea that nature was heavily ladened
with rare gifts when she reached
this enchanting spot, and desiring to
berelie7ed Of portion of her great burden,
crept silently into this lovely and secluded
cave and here deposited the most valuable
share of her precious gifts. Acting as II she
was being watched by some envious and de-
signing eye she seems TO have stolen silently
! away, and in her great hurry evidently
failed TO mark the entrance 10 the cave Of
safety where her many gifts were hidden,
thus rendering their recovery an impossi-
|
she evidently gave vent TO her feeling of
grief by shedding continuously flood Of
tears which now form the beautiful and
everllowing spring TO be seen in the very
heart of the city.
II would be human impossiblity 10
describe this marvellous work OF nature with
its many thousands of stalactite and stall
! agmite formation, assuming every conceiva-
| BILE shape known 10 mankind. III IL was
la fttl
set ever seen into a space as small rs this
cave, and then TO crystalize the entire scene,
the effect would not outrival this crystal
place in beauty and lovliness, which should
be described as q subterrestial sunset in or
der TO be appreciated.
The reflection Of the electric lights on the
| sparkling waters produces one of the most
| sublime scenes ever witnessed. The scenery
exceed that Of the Mammoth and Luray
Caves in variety effect and grandeur
| The entrance To the cave is almost per-
| pendicular which is made easy OF assent
and decent by means of steps con-
veniently arranged. The temperature at
all seasons of the year is COO. The
| Distance from the surface Of the earth to
cavern No is about eighty feet, the arch
above being solid rock. The lake assumes a
crescent shape, covered over by a rocky arch
| which gradually curves downward until the
| lake IL reached, over which IL acts as a vast
canopy, forming one compartment II Is es-
| timated that room No. has a seating capac-
! Ivy for 1900 people. Here we found large
dancing platform, band stand, rcfrcshmcnt
counter and seats 10 accommodate picnic
and excursion parties.
THE LAKE OF BEAUTY.
Descending about forty feet from the dane.
| ing platform. we reach the edge Of the lake,
| which is about fifty feet wide and three
| quarters Of u mile long, and a. clear as q
| crystal, in which can he seen blind fish and
! blenched cruwiish. A safe and beautiful
| boat seems 10 anXiously await the visitors TO
convey them over the enchanting waters.
! The arch above the lake and cave Is solidly
| lined with natural frcscoing assuming
| throughout various shapes and colors. re-
| licying the eye " every step from that
| samcncss which would dctract from its
| beauty and mar the pleasure Ct the visitor.
JUMBO.
! At the end OF the plank walk and near the
/ edge Of the lake can be seen a mammoth
stalagmitc formation known ~ Jumbo. from
| the striking resemblance to the famous
| elephant by that name. IL is conceded 20
| bc the largest stalagmitc In the world being
| eleven feet high and twcnty-four feet around.
| Rcimcing our steps We rc-ontorcd Rocky
| Rotundn, aud then bearing to the lett we
enter the STOPPING narrows, where all are
| compelled 10 bow gracefully aud low In
order 10 effect a safe passage into the
MYSTERIES Oh CAVERN NO. 2,
where a wooden walk mcandcrs by gigantic
| walls Of stnlagmitcs almost as white M snow,
which sparkle with the brilliancy Of din-
mOnds, to the left u which can be seen In
the distance The clear waters Of another lake,
connected with the first by means Of mar
row tunnel
AMARBLE sTALAGMITE.
Tho next object OF great interest Is the
marble stnlagmite, which resembles q huge
heap Of marble, the top Of which seems TO
| have passed through some angry volcano,
where Il was reduced 10 fluid and lcaping
over the sides formed dmpcry Of beautiful
marble points.
TIM SIERRA sSowDRiFT.
The next object u beauty Co claim our at
tcntion u the Sierra Snowdrift which ~.
minds one very iurcibly of some dimnutyo
mountain covered with pure snow, on which
the reflection of the sun produces pleasing
effect, resembling q peak " sparkling din.
monds, the brilliancy Of which u almost
binding to the eager eye Of the nsionished
visitor.
LADIES nEAUrY.
We are now viewing in admiration the
Ladies Beauty, - named because the ladies
90 into ccstacics over it, sublime appear.
ance which look, like nn immense body of
the rarcst crystals assuming the shape IL a
beehive. To the left aud IN the rear Of the
Sierra snowdrit can bosccn
TnE CRYSTAL CANOPY,
which looks like the foam from some
mighty waterfall as u rushcs furiously from
the mighty rocks above. Adjoining this Is |
a similar formation, dilcring only IN color. |
Our admiring eyes are now riyotcd on
TnE DIAMOND nLurF,"
which would furnish food Tor poets brain |
or ono Il natures most beautiful models for |
the brush OF some famous artist
The next object OF special interest Is the
'sTALAurIrE rImuANrNr,"
rivhliug In Is variety Of color the rainbow |
and deriving H. name from numerous sialac. |
titDs which hang curiously from the mighty /
rocks above. Here while in the midst OF all |
these Undesirable beauties OF nature, We /
are reminded with great force 81 our duty 20 /
an omnipotcnt God, Tor before our aston. /
ishci eyes We see an almost perfect rcprcscn. /
tntion Of n Roman cathedral.
TuE uGur WONDER or ruE WORLD
consists of number of basins arrasncd like /
starscpy so that when one j. hlcd with /
water II uycrlOws into the next lowest and /
so on until the last one II reached. Thcca. /
plCty ul the largest Is said 10 be 500 barrels /
NJ water aud 70 is claimed that nowhere In /
the world have similar discoveries ever been
made
THE woBLD's WONDER
would remind one OF the celebrated NIAGARA
Falls disguised In dress Of huh over which