Year: 1868

Disc very Of a Cavern in tile PaIi-


sades, Near New York.


The Metropolitan Record has correspon-
dent who writes to that journal to say:


am the diseoverer of an immense cav
ern in the Palisades Of the Hudson, fHlly
one mile in length, and at least half mile
wide, with vaulted roof, higher than that
Of Trinity Church, supported by immune
rable pillars, which must have been erected
by the hand Of man many centuries since,
and furnished with innumerable side re-
eesses, ante-chambers and long winding
passages Of the most wonderful construc-
tion.


Ruins of what have evidently been al
tars, erected thousands of years ago, are
abundant, together with the mouldering
bones Of beings of enormous stature, as be-
longing to a race of giants that formerly
inhabited the earth. The focrs Of this re-
markable cavern are as smooth and hard
as granite, though covered deep with the
dust Of centuries. Here and there lower
deepis discernible through the all-pervad-
ing gloom, with spacious stone steps lead
ing thereto. From these mysterious cavl-
ties the sound of rushing waters fall upon
the ear, with other reverberations Of
strange. unearthly character. The cavern,
it is manifest, is not like the Kentucky
cave, a freak of nature, but as already
coniectured, the work of man in some early
period of the worlds history. Cabalistic
signs cover the bases of some of the pillars,
while figures bearing close resemblance TO
sphinxes, deaths heads, and mummies,
as if Of Egyptian design, adorn various
portions of the walls and roof It is
certainly passing strange that the eI
istenCe of this remarkable subterra-
mean palace (for it richly deserves
the name) should have so long re-
mained a profound mystery, lying as it
does close to the most populous city in
America. /: grassy roof, even now, con
stitutes the favorite play ground of
thousands of unsuspecting school children,
as we'll as the faYorite resort of innumera-
bic picnic parties on summer afternoons.
Its mode of discovery by myself was as
follows Wandering along the Palisade
ridges one afternoon last summer, for
recreation and study, / sat down to rest
myself under the shadow of tree. Imme-
diately afterward a couple of rabbits darted
past me, and the endeavor to capture them
brought me to a small crevice in the hill,
partially concealed by a clump of shurb-
berry. Into this crevice the animals darted,
and roofing up the shrubbery in order TO
dislodge them, judge of my surprise on
discovering an opening spacious enough to
admit the entrance of a mans body.
A feeling of fear at first crept over me, and
| looked around to see if any person
was near to help me examine the place
but not a soul at the time was in calling
distance and so, after recovering my self
possession little, | resolved TO look in
not, however, without some serious mis-
givings as to the possible presence Of some
huge anaconda that might deprive me of
my head. Gradually mastering courage,
in | went, and to my surprise discovered
that the further | went the wider grew the
aperature. My courage, however, had
been severely tested, and after making
such observations "a the darkness and
close atmosphere would permit,
groped back to the light of day
and carefully closed up the entrance
to the place, mentally resolving to return
next day to pursue my explorations. My
first impulse was to communicate the secret
to some friend in whom / could confide
but the reflection that the cave might con-
tain hidden treasure, which, in that case,
would have to be divided, persuaded me
that it were best to keep the discovery
private. The next day was stormy, and l
did not go, but providing myselfwith dark
lantern, on the following morning 1 re-
newed my research, with what result, ex-
citing my wonder and amazement, you are
already informed. From that day to this my
explorations have been on an average once
a week, unless intermitted by i'll health.
/ Every succeeding visit reveals something
new, and the marvels of to-day are quite
thrown into the shade by the yet more
startling discoveries which break on the eye
and ear tomorrow. A remarkable Circum-
stance which l have forgotten to note is,
that the atmosphere in the body Of the
cavern is perfectly pure though have not
been able to discover any outlet or inlet for
ventilation, apart from the orifice through
which | obtaines ingress. My theory is,
that the rushing waters in the sub-cavern
furnish the means of renewing the atmos-
phere. There are small pools Of salt water
imbedded in the floor of the cavern, but no
fish inhabit them. For that matter, in
deed, no signs of animal life are visible.
10 all that dark, deserted mansion, death
like silence reigns, broken only by the wall
of the before mentioned unseen waters in
the reCesses beneath.