The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1921-06-07

is almost entirely subterranean and
these hidden streams pour their waters
into Green and Barren rivers mostly
in the form of springs. The valleys
are saucer shaped and flow to a cen
ter Here are sinkholes into which the
water disappears into natural under
ground sewerage system-although
the comparison is odious-and through
these laterals, crevices in the lime
stone strain, it makes its way to the
mains.
Caves on Many Farms.
AS consequence nearly every farm
Iof cave. Sometimes the air rushes
in and out of these vents with whist
ling sound. For many years Lee Col
Inns and his father before him knew
there was cave on his farm. The
narrow sinkhole entrance which
breathed with the rise and fall of the
Temperature seemed sinister and for
bidding. Then one day the younger
Collins, who had explored other caves,
decided to investigate the one at the
threshold of his home. About that time
some rock for road building was need
ed and he decided that the sinkhole
was an appropriate spot to blast where
the limestone outcropped The result
was larger entrance.
Mastering up courage, he descend
ed with a long rope tied about his
body. Sixty feet below he reached bot
tom. It was large and roomy down
there. That was nothing. Everybody
had caves more or less large or small
Subsequent blasting lowered the en-
trance until it was possible to enter
without the use of rope. 1t was just
cave. No concerted effort was made
at exploration, but gradually by way
of diversion young Collins went in ev-
cry now and then just little farther
each day until one day he walked two
miles and the family took notice.
He reported the receSSes a veritable
fairyland, with snowy incrusted walls
and weird ornaments of nature hang
ing from the ceiling. The reported find
spread to Cave City, ten miles away,
and embryo biologists went to the
scene. The result was further exp1ora-
ton. A mile more of galleries were ex-
plored, but here, where the walls show
ed passage of mighty stream, some
cataclysm of nature had shaken down
the arches and blocked the passage
way. This was the end.
Underground Canyon Found.
Undaunted, the father and his two
sons, Marshall and Floyd, slowly re-
moved stone after stone. In a cave
there is usually no place to put debris,
but luckily they found a depression
caused by dripping water and threw
the stones into this. Only few yards
of broken down natural masonry re-
moved and a wonderful new avenue
was opened to their vista One mile
farther they found another blocked
passage. This has never been opened
but in the new areaway they found the
hole that led to the lower cave. On
another wing which they opened up
through tireless effort was revealed
what may alone be classed as one of
the wonders of America, "The Grand
Subterranean Canyon" Here the water
has cut its way down sheer perhaps
40 feet
To the visitor this is the most in
spring sight to be seen. The walls
rise abruptly on each side in somber
and silent beauty. The rays of the
strongest calcium light rarely pene-
trate to the smoothly carved roof.
Here and there gigantic jagged bowl
ders which somehow resisted erosion
are ominously poised aloft and seem
to sway in the glinting of the lights.
The writer ventured only part of
the way down the "rathole," where
one is loath to squeeze and crawl in
his Sunday best" but saw enough to
convince that another underground Sc
ries of chambers underlies the upper
tiers. Here and there the limestone
floor above gives forth hollow echo
ing sound which means space beneath.
What stories of tragedy these vault
ed chambers could tell they have for
ever sealed, but the skeleton of one
human being was found in its recesses,
and 800 feet above Green river in a
cave choked with stalactite and stalag-
mite, where the waters are believed
to have found an outlet in the days
gone by, three skeletons, almost mold
ed away, believed to be. those of a
man, a woman and child, were found
beneath the bed of the cave. The bones
still lie where they were found. No
one seems to care. They are just dead
of a bygone age, perhaps tragedy
of the pioneer days, but mayhap a
family circle of the misty past, man,