The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-06-24
ANOTHER MAMMOTH GAVE.
An Ohio Cavern That Rivals That OF
Kentucky in Size and Wonderful Fea-
tIlraa

An Ohio Cavern That Rivals That OF
Kentucky in Size and Wonderful Fea-
lures.
FINDLAY, June ia rival to the great
Mammoth cave has at last been discovered.
Henry Griendle, living on the 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 examining the spot,
Griendle found largo hole, leading per-
pendicularly down into the earth. He
dropped in stone, and heard 1t rumble and
rattle in its downward 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 consisted OF
half dozen well-known gentlemen, who
were provided with ropes, lights, fireworks 8,
ETC., 60 make thorough exploration. Hav-
ing fixed everything in readiness for tho
descent, tue question arose as to who should
first go down. The men looked into the
dark mysterious hole, mentally made a cal
culation as TO the probability of finding a
nest Of rattlesnakes at the bottom, and each
one was perfectly satisfied TO let several of
the others go down first.
Finally one of the party summoned up
sufficient courage, and volunteered TO make
the descent alone. As he was lowered down,
down, down, the light OF his lantern could
be seen growing fainter and smaller until
tiny speck was visible. After letting out
the rope about 100 feet, n faint, muftiei
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 descends through limestone rock
all the way down, and varies in diameter
from 3 to 30 feet. The bottom is dry rock,
and tie place proved TO be a capaoious
cavern. The place where the landing was
made was estimated TO be go feet In width,
and while the ceiling at that point was low,
it gradually rose like dome to the h ght of
fully 80 feet The floor was very uneven.
The party had not gone quarter of a mile
when they were suddenly confronted by
yawning chasm, 10 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 tho side walls could not be seen,
so that there is no telling now how far the
cave extends in that direction. The fire
works revealed numerous stalactites and
stalagmites of beautiful formation, whose
marble-like whiteness glistened and shone
resplendent in vari-colored lights. The roof
sparkled with frost-like incrustation
which ref scted the light from q myriad OF
shining points as though the whole dome
were set in diamonds.
Retracing their steps for some distance,
the party found TO the right small open
ing at the top Of the steep ascent, and en-
tering it, we're obliged to crawl on hands
and knees for distance of perhaps ten
yards. Then the cavern suddenly opened
into another mammoth chamber, appar-
emily much larger than the first one, and
possessing more stalactite formations At
great distance from the entrance they
clear as crystal and OF unfathomable depth.
Holding the light to the water, shi ling
penny was dropped in and its gradual de-
scent watched until it 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 or animal life we're visible. A
few shells were picked up on the shore of
the lake, and, being again shut off from
further advance, the party retraced their
steps. Openings were seen In other difec-
tions, as il the cavern extended its wings
still farther, but the fear OF losing their way
and Of the oil in the lanterns giving out pre-
vented further explorations at present. It
is proposed at some time IN the near future
to make further examination, going pro
vided with boats. ladders, planis, etc, that
the lakes and cbasns may not stop the
| way,