The Newtown bee., 1906-04-13


surely come, bringing with it disaster
and death, but it does not. The glories
Of rock piling are continually with US,
as the train rushes along. With the
same experience repeated again and
again we pass through these wonders
IN safety.
We know the works uf man are many
and mighty, but here he must stop.
He has not power to build thing like
this. 1t seems that nature and the
Gods must have worked in harmony
for thousands Of years to produce such
a scene as we beheld there. Darkness
came on and we saw no more until we
reached Colorado Springs, where we
spent the night. In the morning we
took carriage ride, thus obtaining a
good idea of the city.
The main attractions near by are
Pixies Peak, whose summit was cover
ed with snow and in full view. From
here the water for Colorado Springs is
taken. So it was all through the far
west, the water used came from the
surrounding mountains. II the fall
of snow upon them through the win
ter bad been heavy there was plenty
of water for domestic use and irrigat-
ing purposes, but If it had been light
water was scarce. A railroad runs to
the top of the mountain which is the
highest peak in this chain of noun
tains, being IA, LAT feet in height.
Another place of much interest near
by is The Garden of the Gods. We
had already seen so much that surpass-
ed what was to be seen here, we could
not appreciate it as it deserved to be.
From here we went to Denver where
we called upon relatives and friends,
who formerly lived in the east, some
of them in New Milford. Not one
whom we talked with had the slight
est desire to come back east to live.
FROM DENVER,
we took the Rock Island road for
Louisville, Kentucky, making only
one stop Of any length on our way,
that in Central Kansas to visit rela-
tives who were born in the east, but
had not seen any of their relation in
40 years. Neither had these people
any desire to come east to live. We
confess that our feelings in regard to
the west, were much as theirs were in
regard to the east. AS we proceeded
on our way we passed through rich
farming section where we saw i'm
mense fields of corn and wheat; we al
so passed the exposition grounds at St
Louis, where many of the buildings
erected there are standing, presenting
an abandoned and dilapidated appear
ance. Not being obliged to change
nOiS without stop to Louisville, wher.
we arrived early in the evening, spend
ing the night and starting early the
next morning for GLASGOW Junction,
from where short railroad runs di-
rectly to Mammoth Cave.
This we found to be poorly built
and miserably equipped concern, bet
ter calculated to drive away patron
age than to obtain it. Itruns through
a country covered with woods and
brush that gives no indication what
ever of the natural curiosity so near
After leaving the train we proceeded
to the hotel, which consists Of two
very long low buildings, with wide We
randas which form an angle, and stu
uated in pleasant and we'll kept
time las the cave is only entered at
the same hour each day. for a guide,
who is an absolute necessity. When
the time was nearly up, we saw a man
with eight or 10 lanterns, which look
ed much like the lanterns we use, ex-
cept smaller and having no globes on
them. We found later that they
were filled with lard oil. He also had
large tin box hanging from a strap
across his shoulder which was filled
with rags that had been saturated
with lard oil.
When the time arrived party of IL
of US with this man who proved to be
our guide) started down steep en-
bankment through grove of large
trees for the cave which is about one
half mile from the hotel. Our tickets
we're So each for the trip. There is
but one entrance as yet known, which,
as the legend runs, was accidentally
discovered in 1909 by a hunter who
had wounded a bear which took refuge
in this aperture. Explorations were
soon after commenced which cOntinu
ed several Years before the wonders of
this marvellous place we're known.
There are two routes to be taken by
those who wish to view this mighty
and unique labyrinth, one called the
route of the Pits and DomeS about
eight miles in length, (which we took,
and the River route, which is about 10
miles in length.
Only people who can endure long
walk can see the peculiar formations,
(which are found nowhere else in the
world) as there is no way of going
preached the entrance which is about
II feet high and 10 wide, we paused a
moment, while the guide gave all who
wished lantern, keeping two for him.
self, then he unlocked and opened the
heavy iron gate, we passed through,
on into utter darkness, the immense
gate closed with clang and we were
shut in from the great beautiful world
Of light. A PERSONS imagination is
almost uncomfortable. o.
one is overcome by this and
they turn back, but the great majority
pass on, eager to solve the mysteries
ahead. We brought the lanterns into
use and found ourselves going down
an incline, through narrow passage
way, when suddenly the walls began
to recede and we came to what the
guide told us was the rotunda and
that we were directly under the hotel.
Placing one Of the Oil saturated rags
upon the end of a long stick which he
and lighting it in the flame
Of his lantern he held it high above
our heads, thus giving US a good view
and showing the fitness Of the name,