Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-08-05
NATURAL WONDERS.
THE BEAUTIES OF MISSOURpS RE
VARIABLE MARBLE CAVE.

| passcd-Wails of Jasper and Onyx.
| Figures Cut in Stone That Sculptors
| Can Scarcely Initiate.
In the deepest Businesses of the mysteri-
Dus Ozark mountains, eighteen miles south
east of this city, is what is perhaps the
| greatest and most wonderful natural for
nation in the world The famous Nam
moth cave, of Kentucky, has long been
| looked upon as the greatest marvel of the
| kind in the known world, but it's greatest
| depth is only nine miles from the entrance.
| Hidden away in the Ozarks is cavern
which extends over thirty miles and has
ramifcations which, when fully explored,
will undoubtedly show cavernous cham
bers> with openings extending more than
300 miles.
Deep in the heart Of Wilderness ridge,
the highest peak of that highest ridge of
the Ozark mountains, is Roark peak. On
the extreme summit of this elevated peak
is an immense craterlike depression, the
sides of which extend almost perpendicu-
larly down for distance of 200 feet. In
the center of the bottom is narrow slit
like opening. To reach this opening a
hundred or more steps have been cut in
the steep sides Of the crater, and then the
explorer sees at his feet a yawning abyss
extending down into deepest darkness
Descent is made into this abysmal depth
by means of a series of rope ladders, and
going deeper and deeper at last he finds
himself at the bottom, $50 feet from the
entrance and on a level floor, and can just
4
ing far above him.
Now, as the eye becomes accustomed to
the darkness and the feeble light of the
torches penetrates dimly the recesses of
the cavern, it is found that the entrance
leads directly into a most magnificent
hamber-magnifce both as to size and
decoration. This grand amphitheater is
almost circular in form, 700 feet in diam
eter, while the ceiling, 225 feet above, ap-
pears to be held in place by immense col
umns of onyx and marble. On all sides
are to be seen exquisite forms standing
against the immense walls as if carved by
the hand of an artist, and the Imagination
can depict the varied forms of sculpture as
seen in the galleries of the Old World
Some of these rival in massiveness and
splendor the heroic statues of the world,
while others bear all the delicacy of cary
ing of the flowers which adorn the entrance
of the cavern. Giant columns rear their
heads to the roof. their bases standing on
pedestals of incrusted marble and jasper
INTERVIEWING among these majestic col
umns can be seen delicate tendril-like
veinings which appear to be some beauti-
full vine turned suddenly to stone. Athwart
the walls, crossing and recrossing. can be
seen what at first glance appear to be
punches of beautiful flowers, showing all
the varied TINS of the rainbow, but which
examination shows to be dedicate incrusta-
lions across the chalcedony and onyx,
forming tendrils and leaves as perfect as if
formed by the hand of nature on the flora
of the upper air.
But there are more and grander beauties
to be seen in this gigantic cavern of the
Ozark. From the grand amphitheater
there extend five immense galleries, lead
ing to other chambers which equal and,
in some instances, surpass the first great
room at the foot of the descent. From an
opening off to one side there trickles little
stream of water as cold as if it came from
an iceberg. Following this to it's source
the explorer reaches the springroom, the
walls of which are as white as pure jasper
can make them.
Here the temperature is constantly at 80
dogs. Fahrenheit, and the moisture which
is in the air of the larger rooms and pas
sageways condenses on the alabaster walls
and trickles constantly down in streams
which form the rivulet which runs into
the grand amphitheater. This condensa-
ton of itself is one of the most remark
able curiosities of the immense cavern. So
great is the supply that 1t is estimated
that twenty gallons per minute pour off
the walls of the small, barrel shaped niche
called the shower bathroom, and runs
down into the circular spring of youth.
This water is SO pure that it leaves no
deposit whatever and is really distilled by
nature just as it is by science above
ground. This shower bathroom and spring
room rivals in beauty of design any cham
| Der decorated by art in the known world
| Delicate veinings OF onyx, alabaster,
chalcedony and beryl interlace in such pro
fusion on the marble wall and with such
delicate tracery that the whole presents
picture of rarest design. Along the base
of the room runs dado of reds and grays,
| formed by the notified and discolored
| marbles which have received the drippings
| of water washing over portions stained
| with iron.
| Leading off in another direction from the
grand amphitheater is lofty passageway,
| with succeed roof and arched entrance
Following this the throneroom is reached
| and here, in solitude, is a grander throne
than was ever built by man or designed by
human brain. The great white throne
stands alone in the middle of magnifi-
cent chamber with lofty ceiling full 800
| feet above. From side to side the floor
measures 200 feet, while from end to end
it is $40 feet. The throne, majestic ovate
stalagmite, stands in the center, formed of
pure onyx and jasper, with markings of
chalcedony and beryl.
Standing thirty-six feet across and TWEEN
| ty-siX feet from front to back it rises in
| grandeur to a height of sixty five feet,
being twelve feet in diameter at the top.
An immense niche faces the entrance to
the room, and here is the imaginary seat
of some prehistoric deity. The throne is
hollow, and beneath the seat are three
beautiful rooms Of alabaster whiteness
| No work of art can compare with it, and
words are inadequate to fully describe its
beauties and wonderful construction.
| To the right of the immense throne rises
to the ceiling a pure white futed pillar
| about three feet in diameter, resting on
hollow pedestal, the interior walls of
which are of onyx in colors of red, yellow
Ind white. From this room flows small
stream fed from q spring which furnishes
pure ice cold water
On all sides of the throneroom the walls
are adorned with flowers and vines carved
by nature from the solid marble, while the
yellow, red and white stalagmites stand
on all sides and beautiful pendants hang
from the ceiling.
| Many and various are the decorations
which adorn this most magnificent of all
underground chambers, and yet there is
more to be found by following the various
passageways leading in all directions from
the central portion of the cavern. Rooms
spread out at the end of beautifully arched
passageways, and these are adorned with
the same colored and white carvings One
passageway has been traced for a distance
of twelve miles in southwesterly direc-
| tion.-St. Louis Globe-Democrat
A Child Without a Name.
A certain married pair, each blessed with
| strength of will that some would call