The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-17
WONDERFUL SNAKE CAVE.
WITH RAINBOW TINTED WALLS
AND CRYSTAL BROOKS.

Pointed Out 10 Three-Of-a-F0ind nv
Negro 1O3 Years OId-I9 ANY One
Doubts the story, Mr.. Drummer
VIII BE Pleased TO Exhibit the
Half Dollar Found in the Gave.
Dothan, Ala, Jan. 16.-Three CONNER
ciai travellers who were spending Sunday
at Mariana, Fla. took a walk in the af-
ternoon on the railroad track In the d.
rection Of the Chippola river, which is
about two miles east of the town. On
their way they met a white-haired old ne
gro man, who said he was 1OS years old
and that he had lived eighty-six Of these
years near where the town Of Mariana
now stands. He told of the time OF the
Indians and how they lived and made
their hiding places in the large caves
along the Chippola. why" said the old
man, "bless your souls strangers. dare
is caves along dis ribber dat has nebber
bin 'sploded. I've bin fur almost a mile
under de ground, and never saw de end
Of dem. Dare is snake cave not a mile
from here. where dey can't splode it, for
de snakes
One Of the drummers being somewhat of
an adventurer himself soon made a trade
with the old negro to pilot the party to the
snake cave, saying he would explode" 1t.
snake, or no snake One of the drummers.
telling the story says:
I'VE found the mouth or entrance of this
cave on the south side Of Limestone
mountain, which is about half a mile from
Chippola river. The entrance is about
large enough to admit two men on ali
fours. Our venturous friend crawled in aa
far as the light from the entrance would
admit him to go; which was far enough.
He gave few loud whoops and from the
sound and echo we could tell there was a
large cavity ahead. We were now ali
keen to investigate further and by the
suggestion of our old negro guide who
brought us In an armful of lightwood
splinters, we made torches and proceeded.
walking straight up. finding the floor and
walls 70 be as smooth as marble.
we could see no place for snake to
hide, so we felt encouraged TO 90 ahead
When we had gone perhaps 200 feet from
the entrance we heard the ripping OF
water and the screeching Of bats.
little further on we came 10 a
stream OF water as'clear as crystal The
width or depth OF the water we could NOT
tell. We followed up the stream and found
IL cmanated from large bubbling spring.
northern end Of the cave. This was as far
as we could go without a boat The cave
seemed ID make q complete arch over the
wates sA@-si twenty feet high ana as
smooth and white as plastcred WALL as
far as we could see. The spring made a
considerable spray bubblng through the
rocks, and from the glare Of our torches
was portrayed on the wall beyond most
sublime picture of a Florida sunset, about
half hidden behind cloud, with all the
tints OF the rainbow on the clouds above
I'VE enjoyed a gaze at this wonderful
and mysterious picture for about one hour,
when we decided TO christen our discovery
as Sunset cave We found a few Indian
arrow fiints and a piece OF a tomahawk
flint also a black medal button. as we
thought. but on investigation found the
medal to be a silver 50-cent CON- made In
1884. with Liberty and the thirteen stars.
For this the party drew straws. the lucky
winner was Mr. II. @. Pomell. travelling
salesman for New York house.