The record-union., 1896-11-09
an UNDERGROUND, PARADISE.
Beautiful Care In. the Ozark Mountains
..-,.,z Of Missouri
Only. Small Part Of It fias Been Ex-
plefeu and Very, Few Persons
., Have Eyer Entered Il.

While in Missouri on a mining trip
Ftceftly We joined IA partial explora-
tiofk. df a subterranean marble palace
IN thej Ozark Mountains in which we
sWcceeded In going thirty miles. It Is
situated In the deepest Businesses of
these mysterious mountains, eighteen
miles southeast Of Galena, and is per-
haps the most extensive and wonderful
na tural formation in the world. The
fannUalS Mammoth Cave has long been
looked upon as the greatest marvel OF
Its kind In existence, while its farthest
point is but nine miles from the en-
trance. Hidden away In the Ozark is
a cavern which extends over thirty
miles and has rarnifications which when
fully explored will undoubtedly show
cavernolIs chambers and openings ex-
tending more than 300 miles. The eX-
istence of this cave has been known
for about ten years, but it's situation
makes 1t SO difficult of access that no
thorough exploration has ever been
attempted. The cave is lined through
out with the purest white marble and
varigated onyx. Stalagmites and sta
,actiteS adorn the walltops and bot
toms of these really magnificent rooms
with fantastic forms and shapes which
impart to the whole the air of an an
cient palace. These formations are of
shades of color from the purest trans
lucent pearl to the dead white of color
less marble and the striped black and
browns of onyx.
There has occasionally come from
Stone County to the outer world tales OF
q won1lrous marble cave. but the stores
were of such fantastic description that
they We're treated with disrespect and
amy one repeating this tale was looked
upon with an indulgent smile. So per-
sstent had become the story that 1t was
determined to make search OF TINS
cavern as full as circumstances would
allow. 1t was with the feeling that a
wild goose chase was being engaged IN
that we left Galena for the purpose OF
seeing these reputed wonders so often
talked about, but it was with feeling
of awe that we returned to tell the
beauties and wonders of this mighty
cavern.
Deep in the heart of Wilderness
Ridge, sthe highest peak of the Ozarks,
RoarK Peak lifts fits head. On the ex-
treme summit of this elevated peak is
an immense crater-like depression, ex-
tending almost perpendicularly down
for distance of 200 feet into an amphi-
theafer, in the center of which is
narrow slit-like opening. To reach this
opening 100 steps have been cut in the
deep side of the crater, and descending
these we see at our feet a yawning
abyss reaching down into deepest dark
ness. Descent is made into this by use
of a series of rope ladders, and go
ing deeper and deeper, one at last
finds himself at the bottom on a level
floor and can just see daylight stream
ing through the opening far above him.
As the eye becomes accustomed to the
semi darkness, and the feeble light of
the torches penetrateS dimly the re-
cesses of the cave it is found that this
entrance leads directly into a most
magnificent chamber, magnificent both
as to size and decoration. This grand
amphitheater is almost circular in form,
700 feet in diameter, while the ceiling
225 feet above appears to be held in
place by immense columns of onyx and
marble. On all sides are seen exquisite
forms standing against the immense
walls as if carried by the hand of some
perfect artist, and the Imagination can
easily detect the varied forms of sculp-
ture as seen in the galleries of the old
world. Some of these rival in massive
ness and splendor the heroic statues Of
the world, while others bear all the del
icate carvings of flowers. Giant col
umnS rear their heads to the roof, their
bases standing on pedestals of encrust-
ed marble and jasper. INTERVIEWING
among these majestic columns can be
seen delicate tendril like VeiningS
which appear like some beautiful vines
turned to stone. Athwart the walls,
crossing and recrosSing, can Ee seen
what at first glance appears to be
lunches of beautiful flowers. showing
all the varied tints Of the rainbow. but
examination shows to be delicate in
Crustations across the chalcedony and
onyx forming tendrils and leaves as
perfect as if formed by the hand Of
nature in the fora of the open air.
Here. amid silence most profound we
were lost in wonder and amazement.
This scene alone repays we'll all the