The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-24
CAVE in MORGAN COUNTY
BEAUTIFUL CAVERN IN THE HILLS
BACK OF PARAGON.
Nearly n Mile i'm Length. with an Icy
Stream Flowing Through It-JOur-
ney Well Worth the Effort.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
TRAFALGAR. Ind, Aug. 23.-Many parts
Of Morgan county. especially along the
line of the Indianapolis & Nincennes Rail-
road, have long had considerable local
repute for the beauty of the natural seen
cry, which is noteworthy chiefly for its
high and bold formations. Long ranges
of hills we'll clad with forest growth, with
deep and rocky gorges between and thanked
on either side by broad and fertile fields,
form a picture of great natural beauty
which should receive greater attention
from the pleasure and health seekers and
nature lovers of the cities of this and
neighboring States. In the hills themselves
the scenery is distinctly wild. having been
marred but little by the hand of man, and
the rugged nature Of the country will test
the powers of endurance of the most in
trepi0 climber. Good roads lead to all the
points of greatest interest and natural
beauty.
Probably the place of greatest interest
is found in the hills seven miles northwest
of Paragon, where there is a cave of great
extent and equal beauty. but requiring
considerable fortitude to explore in its en-
tirety. Its mouth is full sixty feet up the
face of a cliff rising in concaVe form near
ly a hundred feet from the bottom OF d
narrow path from the top. The entrance
is about twenty feet wide and perhaps nan
as high, and these dimensions are found
throughout most of the length of the cave,
except that here and there are galleries
rising TO a height of thirty-fve feet or
more. and that occasionally small sur,
sidiary caves are found on either side. A
stream of clear spring water flows through
the entire length of the cave, generally
across the entire floor, necessitating "a
stout mir of h00ta for Wa0inQ for the
water is Of icy coldness.
The walls of the cave are chiefly of great
projecting shelves of stone, worn into fan
tastic shapes by the water, occasionally
affording a foothold above the bed of the
stream. and here and there breaking away
in narrow entrances TO smaller chambers.
Stala cities of shimmering wilderness de-
pend from the roof in places, chiefly In the
higher galleries. each with its companion
stalagmite. of equal purity. below. Some
times the stalactites take the form of great
curtains, with surfaces looking like frozen
ripples of silver. The course of the cave
is %tortuous, and daylight is lost soon after
leaving the entrance. so that a plentiful
supply of material for lights is necessary If
the entire cave would be visited.
At a depth of about $50 yards a small
cascade is reached. the creek falling over
a pile of broken stones, which must be sur
mounted to reach the depths beyond, in
which the most beautiful sights are found.
Occasionally il Is necessary to stoop, but
generally the cave is broad and high. The
little side caves are merely culs de sac.
there here being nc misleading passages IN
quarters Of a mile the stream is found to
have broadened into A deep pool, up to
the shoulders of a man of average height.
and the roof comes so close to the surface
that there is but room for the heads of
those who would wade it's icy depths. The
pool. however. is not very wide. and beyond
IL there Is but a short journey to a small
aperture set in the side of the hill, which
forms what might be called the back door
Of the cave. There are points in the jour-
Of nooY1x- q milo through tho nox-a
where beautiful f1ashlight pictures may be
taken. and visitors to the cavern are be-
coming more and more inclined to take
away with them this kind of a souvenir of
their trip through its depths.