The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1910-09-02
A TRIP IN MAMMOTH
CAVE.
BY L. A. Smith.
By L. A. Smith.

On arriving at the Mammoth Cave we
found quaint and interesting old.time
hotel. Its old stone chimneys and long
colonnadc, from which one looks out on
grove of oaks and ccdars and well kept
lawn, together with its rustic surround
inGS, make most delightful resort for
those who do not demand the privileges
of city, in the heart of primitive
forest.
Going down winding path and flight
of stone steps, we came TO the iron gate
in the mouth of the cavern where, in
followed by the hunter, Hutchins, which
accident gave the world OF letters and
science the Mammoth Cave, perhaps the
greatest natural wonder in the world.
The writer will not attempt TO describe
in detail the journey through this mighty
cavern. Great writers, poets and artists
have felt the inspiration of its grandeur,
eternal darkness, and awful silence. We
were party of "a, each dressed in
cave suit, armed with torch, marching
through its long aiSles with lofty cell
ingS, beneath its great domes, and again
STOPPING through narrow, tortuous pass
ages.
If you want an experience both laugh
able and strange, climb through the cork
screw and the fat mans misery. Soon
after entering we saw the vatS and pits
and wooden pipe lines laid by the pio-
neers for the mining of salt pctre, used
in the manufacture of gun powder for
the war of 1872.
We stood in a great theatcr, with its
lofty dome, gallery and natural stage,
upon which Edwin Booth once thrilled
his audience with selections from the
immortal bard This place was named
in honor of that occasion, Booths
Amphitheater.
The voice of Jennie Lind once re-
ycrbrated along the majestic walls. I'm
imagine grand opera $50 feet below the
surface!
We stood at the bridal altar, famed by
the beautiful Stalactite and Stalagmitc,
where numerous weddings have taken
place. The first one was of lady who
had vowed she would "never marry a
man on the face of the earth" But the
cave management allow no more we'd
dings, as they claim it was running
in the ground" We enter
lHC Dial SHdluDcl. luC SuluS COIn-
mands absolute silence, and as we gaze
above the apparent walls of the great
ChaSm, we see the twinkling stars in
heaven, then flying clouds and the gath
cring storm, the flash of lightning, then
Total blackneSS Soon we feel the ap.
proach of day as we hear the cock crow
ing for the morning; and the faint
glimmer of dawn in the east which grad |
ually increases as the guide returns, all
This is the work and skill OF most COM
petent guide.
We saw the Dead sea, the river Styx
md the bottomlcSS pit. And as we step
ped aboard the boat on the Echo river |
thought of Charon and the lost souls.
But as we floated down that silent stream
he crowd was singing "My Old Ken
lucky Home" The most extraordinary
efforts in echo are produced here. The
axes it up and carries ii on until it dies
n the gloom like the sweetest notes of
oipe organ. We saw the ruins of Kan
lak and Mammoth Dome.
In ColloSal Cavern we saw great stall
lcttc 81 feet long, known as the Henry
Clay monumental fitting memorial for
greatest son. About this
we descend into "Collosal
lone" till we stand on level ground 3S9
cct below the surface of the earth. Here
he guide by means of wire hoistcd
blazing torch 179 feet TO the top of the
lone. lmmaginc, if you can, the gran
lcur of this scene.
In all the three trips we made we were
lnder ground about fourteen hours,
walking 20 miles, never travel
ng the same ground, nor feeling much
atigue, as the temperature is always 55
legreeS. We were accompanied by DR..
3eckman a gcologist and lecturer, also
~ Mr.. Amer of the L. & n. Ry. who
lad charge of our party.
AS we approached the entrance on
coming out, and the light of day glcam
ID down from above, and the blue vault
If sky stretched above US, thought how
ruly the "HeavcnS declare the glory Of
Sod and the armament showeth His