The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-06-25
INDIANAPOLIS SUNDAY MORNING. rs,
THROUGH WYANDOTTE CAVE
Wonders of Nature Found Underground
In Picturesque Southern Indiana.
Magnificent Halls and Galleries Whose Archi-
lecture and characterization Have Never Been
Equaled by Msn-Amazing Beauty.

Along the beautiful wyandotte river of
old. which has since been named Blue
river on account of it's purity and depth.
whore fish glisten snd flash. and the silent
waters move slowly in the deep bed cut by
the strong and sure hand of time. there
lies some of the most beautiful scenery in
southern Indiana. short distance from
tho mouth of Blue river are the two noted
islands where occurred Illness defeat dur
ing tho civil war. and there are many
other historic points located further mp
the river. This region was among the first
in the State to be settled. Only o few
miles to the east is the historic
old town of Corydon. once the capital
of Indiana. and where now stands the an-
cient State Capitol, which contains many of
the records of the past. The region along
the picturesque vail ey of Blue river. which
once bore the name of the mighty Wyan-
dotte tribe of Indians. who inhabited the
surrounding country. is especially noted
for the Wyandotte cave. VIII Oh has been
visited by scientists, travellers. college
students, professors. priests and statesmen
during the last few years. and part of
which was visited by General Harrison and
his gallant officers many years before the
new part of the cave was discovered.
Among all the beautiful and wonder
full scenery in the world. that which
10 found IN the great limestone csverns
stands out with q beauty and grandeur
that is strikingly unique and awe.inspir-
ing. Some of the most noted caverns are
10 I,.x& 1Ae
where for hours one may walk in It's twen-
ty-three miles of explored passages, while
others not yet explored may extend the
length of these passages to much more than
this distance. Whom il is considered that
this cave il now visited by hundreds Of
tourists each year and will be O rural resort
for many persons from Cities and towns
during the hot months of this summer. 1t
seems strange to find in the statutes of In
diana for l643 that the Legislature OF
the State passed q law compelling the
owner. Mr. II. p. RothrOck, To put fence
round the opening Of the cavern to prevent
cattle from entering TO lick MP the EPSON
salts which are found within ito ornament
al halls. Considered q nuisance at that
time. it is recognized i'll this present day as
country. No written description can con-
vey an adequate idea of the grandeur,
gloom and beauty of the sobterranean
passages where the visitor wanders on
solid rock by the mighty forces of nature.
Along rocky walls. with rugged faces. the
student wanders into magnificent CHAM
bers, whose lofty ceilings are yelled In
darkness. until lighted by. strontian
fires they show g beauty Of ornament
and decoration difficult to portray by feeble
pen. Walking erect into the mouth of the
cave ladies In SEMI bloomer costume and
gentlemen wearing old clothes which will
facilitate their getting through difficult
MIA ho vat hat 70
Fanueil Hall. 200 feet long. so feet wide and
% feet high. whose stately walls only
family resemble the exquisite beauty OF the
gloomy depths hey ond. From this Normal
School room Is enterbd, which Is 20 feet
wide and ID feet high. after which comes
Twilight Hall. from W hence. looking back
toward the entrance, the light 10 re-
hected in such q way as to resemble
twilight. Then for forty feet We pass
through Columbian Arch, whose symmet-
ricsl walls and ceilings resemble railroad
tunnel built by the hand of man: Descend.
ing into narrow gorge Washington
avenue is entered. Here is seen the great
fallen rock. while on the ceiling far above
is the incrustation of the chief of the
Wyandottes still guarding the fiIeless
alters of his extinct race and fallen Mani
ton. On the wall is the Horse and Rider
Further on. the rough and wild Banditti
Hall Is entered. which. BY the illumlna.
si0n wild a sni a%o.. s Startling
pearance. Here the cave branches.
Leaving the old cave route to the left. one
passes through Fat Mans Misery, narrow
passage discovered In 1880 and enters what
surprise when this was discovered to find
many evidences that 1t had been previously
occupied. Poles of sassafras. pawpaw and
other soft woods which had been cut by
dull instruments or twisted off were found.
and had evidently been used for supports
20 IL had hoan a nf "A h.
ness. for oharred torches were found to
indicate that they had used lights. Pass.
ing through Contradictory Trench and
Bats Lodge then over the Rugged Mountain
with On elevation of forty feet above
which IL q circular room known as the Ro-
tunda, one passes by rocks covered with
EPSON salts and reaches Hanover chapel.
named by Professor Coulter; then passin 9
through the Baesinite avenue and entering
Coons' Council Chamber. circled with q
right. which marks the entrance to the
short route. Taking the long route to the
left. after passing through two hundred
yards of sandy plains, one climbs mp the
mont mountain, which Is 176 feet high,
while srching above tho majestic temple ID
Wallaces Grand Dome, underneath which
one gazes with awe down into the
throat of yawning chasm and looki
in admiration at the rocks which the hand
and darkness, has made very beautiful
Just hey ond the sulphur spring at the foo,
of the mountain is the Anger Hole. which
until 1851. was closed mp SO no one ooulC
enter but when the stalactites were broker
so that passage could be made some of tn,
most beautiful parts of the cave were dis
covered.
THE INDIANS KNEW OF 1T.
It seems almost incredible that the i'm
preston of moccasined feet should b
found in the plastic clay boy ond whel
there could have been no possible On
trance besides the Anger Hole. Their
10 no explanation other than cha
the stalactites had formed owe
the hole after the Indian track
were made. In this part of the cave j
found Lilliputian Hall, Spades's Grotto
with its hundreds of stalactites; slippery
Hill. with It's blue clay worn smooth by tn
feet of. visitors; the Hall of Ruins will
rocks piled all along the passage; tn
White Cloud Room. with it's rocks GOV cree
with white gypsum. looking like movin
| clouds; the Bishops Rostrum. where ser
mon vas once preached by q well-knowI
| minister; the Indiana Journal Office an,
| Caly pso's Island. where there are two pas
| sages-Calyp avenue and Ulyse
| straits, which lead to Penelope's Cham
| Der. with it's stalactires of curiou
] shapes Beyond this is CeIulean Vaul
| archipg far above like the sky. About tw
] hundred ards hey ond 10 Worm alley, lea
| ing TO Milroys Temple. whose huge rock
| are overhDn0 nv uaIleriea of ereamv afa a a