The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1893-09-15
Visit to the Mammoth Cave.
GLASGOW JUNCTION. KY,
August q, 1893.

After fatnef tlreS0fne journey we
reached Glasgow Junction, where we
made our way to the hotel, and there
fell in with party of pleasant young
men who had just completed arrange
ments to make the trip to the cave by
stage. Pleased to have company we
accepted an invitation TO join them,
in preference to taking the branch
railroad. Our route lay over a most
beautiful and picturesque region, the
green clad mountains of old Ken
tucky.
On our way we found lots of plums
and peaches, most delicious, all as free
as water. The generosity OF these
simple mountain people was in mark
cd contrast to the greed of the hotel
keepers.
Arriving at the cave hotel after
fearfully rough though enjoyable
drive of about two hours, and vain
search for little mountain dew, "
which is said to be plentiful in this
region, we found that the remaining
guide (the others had already gomez
would not be able to take us out, or
in, rather, until about 4 p. m.
Not much pleased at this, which
meant several hours delay, we loiter-
ed about tie beautiful grounds, par
took of an expensive dinner, and kill
ed time as pleasantly as possible, un-
til the hour for entering the cave
Then we were each provided with a
smoky little lantern whose flames
fickered moment and went out
when struck by the rushing current
of air from the mouth Of the cave.
This outward rush of air is only dur
!, ing summer, reversing in winter.
Relighting our little torches after
passing through the iron gate at the
entrance we proceeded on our way.
Our guide was a very jolly fellow, in
y terspersing his descriptions and his
replies to our numerous questions
Y with much genuine wit.
The first object of interest was thu
r old saltpetre works of 1924. Th'
great wooden vats, the mounds 0
d leached earth and the log pipes arr
all to be seen as they were left q
o years ago, by the miners, who lay'
o long since finished their work
Passing on we come to the cairns o
mounds of rock raised in honor of tn
d various social and political organiza
% tions of the country. These are bull
by their members and sympathizcrs
each contributing stone to the pile
Learning that each State had it
Is cairn, we sought out, like a true Mis-
v sissppian, the one representing on
d native State and paid our respects b.
W contributing to the pile.
J. Our guide next called our attentio
Is to the Bridal Altar with which
A. connected a bit of romance. Th
II story goes that a thoughtless Made
Y. once promised her mother that sh
If would never marry any man upon tn
Al face of the earth, but later, havin
70 cause to regret making such a ras
le promise, she gratitltd her own wis
$. and at the same time kept the vo
n made her mother by wedding the ma
to of her choice in this chamber mo
I'd than a hundred feet from the face
he the earth.
lt Passing through Gothic avenue v
at came to pillar of rock which co
rs nected floor to ceiling, and is calf
a the Old Arm Chair. This name vi
". suggested by the striking resemblan
'es the pillar bears to rocking chair.
"Some folks call that the rocki
chair" said our guide, 'and very i
TX, correctly, l think
of "Why?" asked several of us
tic chorus.
th- because it's a chair in rock" he
We. piled dryly.
it'll One of the most interesting Objet
ere in the cave is "Giant's Coffin" viii
90 is a huge piece of rock dislodged frC
ch above, in ages gone by.
It, Had one meyer heard the name &
en- en- this big rock he would not hesiti
h0 to call it "Giant's Coffin"
'on We were led on and shown Love
ole Leap, Side Saddle Pit and BOttOml'
ss- Pit. This last being los feet dc
ur- which with the lofty dome above C;
M not but impress one with its aw
in grandeur In fact, with the exc
ore ton of a few objects we saw nothl
ing that could be callad anything
re- grand. Star Chamber is a magni1ct
tn. room 400 feet long, 10 feet wide q
lpi- go feet high. The innumerable or
tails that have formed upon the c
ing give it the appearance OF Il stal
The sky, and it is hard to realize that I
wo- is in the depths of the earth and
not gazing at the heavens.
on, After a ramble of some three no
die or more in this wonderful subterr
s OF can country and having seen all
,ual principal objects of interest, some
and our party complained of fatigue.
in So we retraced our steps to the
'ast trance, which having gained, we m
~ our weary way up the hillside to
~. hotel, where after having satisfied
ers manager with little cash, we b0u
mo- a few trinkets as souvenirs, clil
tier back into the numbering old ST
mo, and bade farewell to old Kentu
oa' and her mountains.
luo. MlssIssIrPIA