Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-07-21
NATURAL WONDERS.
THE BEAUTIES OF MISSOURpS RE-
MARkABLE MARBLE CAVE.


Can Scarcely Initiate.
In the deepest businesses of the mysteri-
Gus 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 its greatest
depth is only nine mikes from the entrance
Hidden away in the Ozarks is a cavern
which extends over thirty miles and has
qualifications which, when fully explored,
bill undoubtedly show cavernous cham
beers 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 II 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 ut his feet ydwning abyss
extending down into deepest darkness.
Descent is made into this abySmal depth
by means of IA 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
see daylight streaming through the OPEN
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 Il most magnificent
chamber-magnificent both as to size and
decoration. This grand amphitheater is
+,.;,- l,,
eter while the ceiling. :225 feet above, APP
pears TO he 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 i'll the galleries of the Old World.
Some of these rival in massiveness and
splendor the heroic statues of the world,
while others bear all rhe 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 ma eStic col
umnS can be seen delicate tendril-hke
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
lunches of beautiful flowers. showing all
the varied tints of the rainb bow, but which
examination shows 60 be delicate incrusta-
tions 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
opening off TO one side there trickles little
stream of water as cold as if it came from
an iceberg. Following this TO its source
the explorer reaches the springroom, the
walls of which white as pure Jasper
can make them.
Here the temperature is constantly at 81
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 of the most remark
able curiosities of the immense cavern. So
great is the supply that it 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 THAI 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 a
picture of rarest design. Along the base
of the room runs Il 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 of in another direction from the
grand amphtheater is lofty paSsageway,
with succeed roof and arched entrance.
Following this the throneroom is reached
and here, in solitude, Is Il srander throne
than was ever built by man or designed by
human brain. The great white throne
stands alone in the middle of magnfi-
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 Il 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 wilderness.
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 fiuted pillar
about three feet in diameter resting on a
hollow pedestal, the interior walls of
which are of onyx in colors of red, yellow
and white From this room flows q small