The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1895-07-25
BIG AS MAMMOTH

roo5.-(Special to TIMEs.)-Excit
ment is at fever heat here just now
over the discovery of a cave at the
Evans Marble Quarry on Jas. Browns
farm which is believed will make
rival for the great Mammoth Cave OF
Kentucky, and make Friendsvllle
great center of attraction III the future.
AT least it is safe to say the NAM
moth Cave cannot surpass il. in. the
grandure and beauty of some of the
rooms which indicate that nature ..was
in very extravigapt mood when 1t
was made.
The cave is under large Knob
that is probably 900 feet high, and the
cave was discovered yesterday (Frl-
day. at a point about 50 feet above
the base of the hill where ]. w.
Davis has a force of hands at work
getting out marble. Mr.. Davis in
formed your correspondent that they
were getting out a large block Of
marble for a special order from Bos-
ton, and the rock had been drilled
around, and when they broke it loose
from its bed which is done by driving
wedges in the holes made by the
drill, itsettled back some in its bed
but when the huge derrick was
brought into play it was soon re
moved and there was disclosed 10 the
party of woakmen a large cavern, adJ
Mr.. Davis at once proceeded to ex-
plore it after procuring some lanterns
The place where the opening was
made proved to be hall shaped
room, and seems to be the outer enc
of the cave. 1t is about IS ieet higl
and the walls are about 8 feet apar
ard was followed back under the bill
about 90 feet at which place it looked
like it came to a focus, but it did no
but it got 50 small the party of ex
plorers had to take it single file, anc
stoop as they walked for about 40 fee
when they suddenly came 10 an open
ing that was simply wonderful ant
grand. They stood in room abou
40 It. woe and the cehng while il
regular would average near so #
high and they could not see the rea
of the room, but upon following it Il
it was found to be nearly 200 yard
long, and the floor which was soli
marble, sloped gradually into til
ground. Room after room was ex
plored and they must be seen t
realize the beauty and grandure the
possess. In some rooms huge Co
ums of pure white marble, hung from
the ceiling like iclcles, and some {
them extend TO the floor and loo
like they had been placed there t
support the roof. The cave has bee
explored something near a mile an
no sign of an end has been seen.
is not known what will be don
about ii yet but Mr.. Davis has write
to Mr. Evans at Baltimore about
and ask him to come at once and Sc
it. In the mean time they are Gyin
to keep t,quiet but 1t has leaked OF
and there is considerable excitement
whiie some believe it and othersdon
but your correspondent has seen
and got permission to write it up fo
the TIMES as Mr.. Davis said by tn
time it was published it would b
public property any way. A sele'
party N winch your correspol
dent Is invited, will try to find OF
the fuR extent of the wonderful cav
and next week we will furnish yo
with afull description ofthe ca re whic
is believed to possess all the beaut
and gr2nduer of the Mammoth
even to the flowing stream which h;
been found in this one but it W;
only small one and flowed throug
the cave at place where the wal
are only IS feet apart. Signs olson
prehistor race having been in Il
cave are visible, but in our hurr
and astonissment no effort was mac
20 find the place where they ha
entered but 1t has probably caved
years and probably centurys ago.
l.. Duncan.
ADDITIONAL FACTS,
The TINES wishing to give its rea
ers the truth is always willing to spen
time and money in order to do this .
we sent man to the place mentione
above and found everything just :
described except Mr.. ]. L. Dunca
and the cave had vanished and wei
no where to be found. The fello
writing the above is exceeding
smart but not smart enough to fool
newspaper. He had better 60 to II
Feegee islands and write lies to Il
C,,rrd,,, ploJe There is a ore