The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-01-20
MISSoURrS GREAT CAVE.
A SUBTERRANEAN PALACE EXTEND
ING OVER THIRTY MILES.
Said to be the Most wonderful Natural
Formation In the worid-Besiae IL
kentucky's Mammoth Cave Is an
Small AFFAIR.

HNchtuckys Mnmmofh taNe rs an
Small AFFAIR.
In the deepest businesses of the mystic
rious Ozark mountains, eighteen miles
southeast of Galena, Mo-, is what is per-
haps the greatest and most wonderful
natural formation in the world. The IA
nous Mammoth 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 miles
from the entrance. Hidden away in the
0Earks is cavern which extends over
thirty miles, and has qualifications which,
when fully explored, will undoubtedly,
says a correspondent OF the Philadelphia
Press, chow cavernous chambers and open
ings extending more than. 800 miles.
The existence of this cave has been
known for about ten years and its posi-
tion makes 1t so difficult OF access that no
exploration has ever been made which
will tell of half OF the wonders to be seen
in the underground palace. The word
palace is used advisedly, for the interior
OF the cave is lined throughout with the
purest white marble and variegated onyx.
Stalagmites and stalactites adorn the
walls and tops and bottom ofthose mag
nificent rooms, with fantastic forms and
odd shapes which give to the whole an air
of some olden palace. These formations
are OF all shades, from the purest trans
lucent pearl to the dead white Of marble
and the striped blacks and browns OF onyx.
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
l..
tending almost perpendicularly down for
distance of 200 feet into an amphitheater,
in the center OF which is a narrow, slit
like opening. To reach this opening a
hundred or more steps have been cut In
the steep side of the crater, and then the
explorer sees at his feet 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, on level floor, and can just
see the daylight streaming through the
opening far above him.
Now, as the eye becomes accustomed to
the darkness and the feeble light OF the
torches penetrate dimiy the recesses Of
! the cavern, 1t is found that the entrance
| leads directly into~a most magnificent
chamber. Magnificent both as to size and
decoration. This grand amphitheatre is
| alncst circular in form, 700 feet in diame-
ter, while the ceiling, 225 feet above, APP
pears to be held in place by immense
| columns OF onyx and marble. On all sides
| are to be seen exquisite forms, standing
against the immense walls as II carved by
| the hand OF an artist, and the imagina-
ton can depict the varied forms of sculp-
| ture as seen in the galleries OF the old
world.
| Here, amid silence profound, the ex-
| plorer is lost in wonder and amazement
and this scene alone repays well all the
labor OF reaching the spot. But there are
more and grander beauties to be seen in
this gigantic cavern Of the Ozarks. From
| the grand amphitheater there extends
| five immense galleries leading to other
chambers which equal and in some in
stances surpass the first great room at the
foot OF the descent. From an opening off
to one side there trickles a little stream
OF water so cold that 1t is as if 1t came
from an iceberg. Following this to its
source the explorer reaches the spring.
room, the walls OF which are as white AZ
pure jasper can make them.
Leading off in another direction from
the grand amphitheater lisa lofty passage
way, with succeed roof and arched en-
trance. Following this the throneroom il
reached and here in solitude is grander
throne than ever built by man or designed
by human brain. The great white throne
stands alone In the middle OF magni-
ficent chamber with lofty ceiling, full 30C
feet above. From side to side the floor
measures 200 feet, while from end to end
it is $40 feet.
The great white 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 twenty-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. 1t looks like
the crystallized ideal of perfection in the
way of building, and is picture OF stately
elegance and beauty.
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 stalag-
mites stand on all sides, and beautiful
| pendants hang from the ceiling. Rooms
spread out at the end Of beautifully
arched passageways, and these are adorn-
ed with the same colored and white
carvings. One passageway has been
traced for distance of twelve miles in a
southwesterly direction, and as there is a
flow OF air coming from the interior it is
believed that this passageway connects
with the famous Barry county cave,
thirty-fve miles away.