Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-03-17
Exploring a Cave.

Two Pennsylvania oil producers lately
had a remarkable experience in exploring
a cave near Tate Sp.ings in Tennessee.
Their names are Samuel Galley and \. P.
Euhn; and Galley tells the story as
follows:
Mp. Kuhn and came to Tate Springs
about ten days ago to recuperate our
healths We spent our leisure time IN
walking and riding over the mountains
In one of our rambles we discovered a
cave and made preparations to investigate
IN. We procured a lantern and rope and
started. After we got into the cave
about two miles from the mouth and IN
one of the passages leading TO the hight oi
the main entrance Mr.. Kuhn, By misstep
fell and damaged the lantern so that We
could not relight it. 0ur supply OF matches
was limited and we used about the half OF
them in trying to get it in shape again,
but failed to do so.
There was a stream of water running
through the center of the cave OF about the
size OF Oakdale creek. This stream start
ed about a mile from the month, or en-
trance, and as We had to cross and recrosz
il many times without light 1t made II
very dangerous task, as the stream IN some
places wss very deep. In some places we
had to crawl on our hands and knees for
forty or fifty feet There wer" larg
stones in the stream and in going IN We
could get along all right, but in coming
back we had to feel our way along We
tied ourselves together with a rope, which
we nave no doubt saved our lives Some
times one of Us would go into deep place
nm TO his neck and then the other Wnen
one of us would strike terra hrma he
would wait until tho other was in safe
pIace. then we would continue 10 feel our
way along
Al last we became completely exhausted
and but for the fact that We were fortunate
enough to have a bottle of stimulants a
long with Us don't think We would have
ever gotten out alive. At last We We're
oyer;oyed TO see faint light in the dis
rance, and when we reached the entrance
again il wac beautiful starlight mig b
We went directly 10 our hOtel.
Our friends were rejuiced TO see us again
for they had been looking everywhere fOI
us. We had borrowed the lantern FROM
one of the cJiored pOrters at the hotel, and
az he had gone To Sorristown to spend a
few days there was no one TO explain Our
absence. We were almost famished foI
we had been gone from a. IN. on the
morning until l:30 ON the next This ex-
perirnce will last Us the balance of oui
lives. We both vowed that we had all
the experience Of that kind that We eyel
want. Some parts Of the cave were very
beautiful. One of the large rooms was o
dome shape. We had with Us some news
papers that we lighted aud the effect was
grand: Hanging from the roof there were
formations like icicles OF all lengths. The
floor was level and a.oand the walls were
broad benches Of stone uf different hight
and widths. In talking To each other oui
voices made strange, hollow sounds thai
struck terror 10 our hearts and would echo
and rs-eoho many times. Near the mouth
Of the cave there were thousands OF bait
sticking 10 the root like bees 10 beehive
We fought our experience would justify
US in wrighting To you If you think il
interesting enough you can ubiish it.
SAMUEL GALLEY.
TATE SPRING, TENN.