Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-10-29

Suddenly the roof lifts above our heads
and we are now in the ''rotunda" locat-
ed it is said, directly under the hotel we
left a short time before. In this rotunda
on the right are three huge watts, built
of oak plank and partly full of nitrous
earth. The area of this rotunda is 46x
20 feet, yet it looks far greater. The
ceiling here was just covered with bats.
The guide leads us on to the left through
rough and rugged path to what he
called "Audubon's Avenue" Here the
guide called our attention to a shelf of
rock on the left and informed US that
there is the entrance to the 'Corkscrew.'
This is short cutoff by which visitors
on returning from the long route save
themselves a mile or two of walking.
Advancing we pass under over-hanging
lodges called the Kentucky Cliffs"
Next we come to what he called the
Methodist Church, formation in the
side wall representing such an edifice
We pass on through the Gothic Caller
ies,'' and "Grand Arch" which is about
sixty feet wide and fifty high and
extending for several hundred feet.
From this arch we are shown what is
styled the bust of Martha Washington.
Our attention is next called to the
"Giants Coffin" being forty feet long
and twenty wide and stands prominent
ly at one side of the passage way At
this point several figures on the ceiling
are called to your notice. We pass the
peculiar formations at the Acute Angle
also rude pile of stones placed there
in memory of gallant soldier-Mc-
PhersOn. The roofess remains of two
stone cottages are next witnessed. These
were built in 1913 for the use of con-
sumptive patients, who took their abode
here on account of the uniform temper
allure, hoping to receive benefit. A
strangely beautiful transformation scene
is exhibited in what they call the "Star
Chamber" a hall about 800 feet long
and 20 feet wide at the floor and mar
rowing to 40 feet at the ceiling, which
is 80 feet above our heads. The ceiling
when darkened, is covered with stars
from which it derives it name.
We now retrace our steps for short
distance when the guide announces that
we will now visit the SOLITARY Cham
bers." In the Main cave there is no
creeping nor crawling, but in the side
avenues you often have to bend and
crawl through narrow apertures. Pur-
suing our way through these lonely
apartments we finally reach "Fairy
Grotto," the "Post Oak" "Pillars of
Hercules" the cold Arm Chair" and
many others which are simply grotes-
que curiosities.
Retracing our steps again to the Main
cave, we are lead in another side pas
sage until we find ourselves in what is
known as the deserted chambers"
Here is seen what they term "Side
Saddle Pit, "Ariadne's Grotto," "Bot-
tomless Pit" and numerous other pits
and peculiar formations There is no
end to them. These pits vary in depth
from so to 200 feet according to the
guides Inauguration.
We entered the cave atS:3O o'clock
and returned to the hotel at o'clock a.
m. having travelled eight miles under
ground. Its impossible to describe it.
We have made feeble attempt. You
must see it to appreciate its wonders.
We travelled what they call the short
route.
While going through the cave we had
the pleasure of meeting Mr.. H. G. Dyer
and daughter Mamie, and Miss Josie
Warren, of Shelbyville, Tennisee, who
were sight seers at the cave. We found
them very social people.
The trip through the cave being over
with, we repaired to the cars and con-
tinued on our journey southwark. At
seven O'Clock in the morning we were
in Nashville.