The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-29
uNExPbeRED eoRsIcA-
a Wonderful Grotto Has Been Dis
covered.


From the Nssg York .4duertiser.,.,. !. 4.
There is great excitement in Corsica just
now in consequence Of the discovery of a
grotto torty-five miles in length, and can
sidered. on account Of its immense depth
and width. as the most remarkable in the
world. Ii is situated about mile and a
half from the railway station at Ponte- Lee
cia. It Is not of easy access, for the en-
trance to it is narrow, but this preliminary
difficulty having been overcome one enters
an extensive vault at least twenty-five
yards high.
From this one passes through narrow
passages into a succession OF other vaults
leading tom extremity, which apparently
opens on to the seashore. This, however,
has not yet been thoroughly explored. On
one occasion q party of tourists attempted
to made their way through it, having pro-
vided themselves with provisions and rugs
but after walking on for some eight or ten
hours they were compelled, through fatigue,
Co retrace their steps, having been en-
chanted with the absolutely fairy-like
scene they had witnessed.
Recently the inhabitants of Ponte- Laceia,
wishing TO know exactly how matters stood
in regard to the formation Of the grotto,
deputed a willing minner TO endeavor to
make his way through it. He set out on
his journey of exploration, sufficiently pro.
vided with provisions. thick rug and a
bundle of resinous torches He explored
for five days, covering a distance, accord
ing TO his reckoning, of thirty to thirty-five
miles, being obliged to turn back owing to
his having reached an immense sheet of
water or lake, through which he had found
it impossible to wade or swim. 1t was
hemmed in on one side by projecting bowl
ders VI
During his journey he passed several
places where crevices in the rock let in the
light These places were as so many oasis
formed of ferns, spreading ivy strange sub
terreanean growths and powders covered
with moss. The assumed extremity of this
grotto opening on to the seashore is situated
near Cape Revellata, not far from Calvi.
On this spot there is deep cavity at pres
emit unexplored, almost on a level
with the sea at high tide, and
known as 1.-THE Roaring Grotto."
When in strong weather vessels are
dash in fury against their hulks, their angry
roar is Intensified by the sonorousness of The
mysterious depth of the cavern, and is heard
a long distance off, while at the opening in-
land kind of grumbling intermit tent
sound is heard, which recalls to mind the
monotonous regular cadence of the sea
breaking against the rocks, or on the sands.
The shepherds, it is said /, are quite familiar
with this sound, which is to them an unfail-
ing indication OF the approach of wet
weather.
There is legend current at Ponte. IIeccia
tending to confirm the belief that the in
land opening of the grotto leads to the sea.
A goatherd who had lost his flock in the
mountains was surprised to hear some DAYS
later that the goats had been seen in the
neighborhoodsof Cslvi. They had lost all
their wool, and their bare skins were a
brick-red color. 1t was assumed that having
penetrated into the grotto they had
wandered onward, and, finding nothing to
eat, they had, as is not unusual with their
kind, when driven by hunger, fed
on each others hair. Having entered
at one end of the grotto they had
come out at the other. Two nro-
fessors. members of the Faculty of Sciences
at Christiana, have partly explored the
grotto. They are of the opinion, in regard
to this geological phenomenon, that the con-
formation of the Island of Corsica having
been the result Of an Alpine upheaval fol-
lowed later on by an Apennine disruption,
the river Colo. in the first instance,
overfowed into the Gulf of Calvi, and that
the disruption which followed caused the riv-
or to deviate and flow In an opposite direc-
ton toward the sea. Consequently the site
OF the Rrotto would be the primitive bed of
the river Colo, subsequently,. overclosed by
geological revolution. SEE
Within its shades numerous bats dart to
and fro undisturbed; IL is studded with
great lichen-covered blocks OF stone, now
and again offering easy passage through
openings twenty-five yards wide, aud then
narrowing down to such degree as scarcely
to permit OF ones passing through the OPEN
ing. IL winds and turns, now and then in
steep ACTIVITY, or in rapid descent, present
ing dioramic view of a most varied and
picturesque nature. Shortly, no doubt, we
shall hear great deal more about the grotto
Of Ponte-Leccia, for it appears there is now
being organized at Aiaccio caravan of
savants and tourists, forming for the ex-
press purpose of effectually exploring it.