The Newtown bee., 1906-04-13

thin sheets OF limestone above large
pit, the bottom of which was filled
with water. The sides were too re-
mote to be seen. This is called Lees
cistern. as it receives the water of
Shalers' Brook after wild plunge of
10 feet. Leaving this cistern behind,
we retraced our steps to the Main Cave
where we saw the first blocks of lime
Rocks, so named from the fact that In
falling they struck on their edge and
remain fixed in that position. That
they were detached from the ceiling
the guide seemed certain. A short
distance from here the guide took our
lanterns, leaving us in total darkness,
he going on through q winding pass
age. In few minutes, (which seemed
much longer we heard q rooster crow
ing, which indicated that light was
appearing. Looking in the direction
that the Growing came from we be-
held the statue of Martha Washing
ton dressed in colonial style. This
feature OF interest was accidentally
discovered when two parties, one COM
ing in, the other going out, met in the
locality where our guide left us. Very
glad we're we when we saw him with
the lanterns coming toward US, whom
we went on to meet and he calls our
attention to an immense rock, one of
the largest to be found in the cave and
is called the Giants Coffin. Examin-
ing it closely we found it to be an i'm
mense block of lime stone, resembling
wall near by. A short distance from
here there comes into view the first of
the two stone cottages built here half
century or more ago. A number OF
persons suffering with consumption,
under the advice of physicians, thought
to find relief and possibly complete
health in the cave, in consequence of
it's even temperature, but their hopes
were in vain. They grew weaker and
weaker, living only short time. Only
short distance from the cottages we
came to what is considered by many
the GROWING glory Of this route, the
Star Chamber. All lanterns were tax
en- away and we were again in total
told us to look up. As we became &C.
customed to the place the roof seemed
to tighten little, stars came out one
by one, twin<ling and blinking, then a
comet shot across the sky, and the
glory of the milky way, brought ex-
presSiOns of surprise, wonder and de-
light. The illusion was perfect. The
near ceiling was heavily coated with q
whitish gray color that has been
pierced here and there with crystals
OF gypsum, these rejecting the DIM
lights of the lanterns of the guide who
left US to enter small passage way
on the left:
THOUSANDS OF BATS GO INTO THE CAVE
TO WINTER.
We saw them scattered about singly
and suspended in great clumps that
reminded US of swarms of bees, the
bats hanging from the walls above in
the same manner that bees pack them
selves together when they swarm.
This was formerly called Big Bat room
but recently the name has been chan
ged to Audubon avenue. AS we pass |
along the guide tells us we are ap-
the Bottomless Pit. Its
The bottom has been found and the
pit explored. After passing along a |
we descend by artificial steps
to platform built for the purpose of |
viewing the pit with dome above it. |
Opposite the entrance at the dome end |
and hanging from above upon the per- |
pendicular walls) as high as the eye
can reach is an alabaster curtain in q |
thousand sweeping folds. The walls !
of this pit change their direc-
tion, curving in such manner that |
from no one place can the whole be |
seen at once. AS we cast our eyes up
ward the grandest view of all is be-
held. Reaching beyond our vision is
an immense dome. Then directly |
over our heads were walls covered with |
drops of water which hung like dia- |
monds from the small stalactites that |
in places cover the walls, which are |
fluted, scored and carved
in natures own original and grotesque
way. AS we drew nearer the entrance
on our return, we came to the muSh-
room beds, where. our guide told US,
once partially successful attempt had
been made to raise mushrooms, but
lack Of water and misunderstanding
between the prOprietOrS of the cave
and the people who were trying to
raise them, caused an abandonment of
the business.
We also passed immense bins that
lad been used for storing apples dur
ng the winter.
We did not take the River route as
t required eight or nine hours time
Ind would oblige our spending another
'ull day; still we found out something
If 1t from our guide and others.
The route will hire suits at the hotel
% wear while going through, there be-
ng numerous small places to crawl
through where skirts are very much in
he way, besides getting badly soiled.
The suits consist of pair OF knicker-
'ocker pants and blouse made of
'rey flannel. Until recently those who
ook the trip were obliged to cross the
echo river in boat, but not long ago