Year: 1870

Explorations by a Party from st. Lou


"A Forest of StaIactites-A Motion.


less River OF fAlabasteE.------~


From the st. louis Republican, Aug. l.


The existence of several remarkable


caves In the limestone regions of Missouri


has been known to the general public fol


years. Some of these caverns have beer


explored and descriptions written of the


subterranean wonders contained therein.
One of the most remarkable of these cav.


erns is located on DR.. Fischer's land about


six miles and a half southeast of Spring
field, No., among the Ozark Mountains.


1t was visited last week by a party from


this city, and as little has heretofore been


known about its peculiarities, brief &C


count of its striking features from one of


the visitors may not be devoid of interest.


The mouth of the cave is at the bottom


of deep favine, to which rather steep


descent is made for nearly a mile. The


cave is In one side of rather an abrupt
hill, and from its mouth there issues a


clear and cold stream of water, thirty feet
in width and four feet in depth. A boat
capable of holding ten persons was IN
readiness with guide to ascend the stream;
candles were provided and all necessary
preparation made for a voyage into the
dark recesseS of the cavern. Thus pro-
vided, the ascent against the current was
made without much difficulty. The air
was cool, the lights were reflected upon
the water, and the moisture from the cell
ing, which fell in round drops, resemkled
a shower of pearls. The average height of
the roof above the stream is about fifteen
feet. Hundreds of beautiful stalsct1tes
were seen hanging from the natural arch
way, some in clusters. The outside of
these stony icicles were encrusted with
substance of ''grayish yellow" hue, but
the tips had vitruous appearance, and in
some cases were translucent. The tips
were hollow, but the tubular form soon
became solid where the stalactite was
thicker.


The length of these pendant cones, caus-
ed by the constant accumulation of carbon
ate OF lime gathered from the dripping of
the water from the ceiling, was from two to
five feet ....


After proceeding some distance, the ex-
plorers came upon an arm of the cavern,
which branched off into huge pocket or
chamber which was twenty yards across,
and wedge shaped. The floor of this cham
Der was paved with a multitude of small
basins or cups, formed by constant drip
ping of the water upon the floor of the |
Il. The drops falling upon the soft |
substance excavated these dish-shaped ves- |
sells, the rims of which rose above the gen. |
eral surface of the floor.


These natural cups were filled with linn
pid water, from which the party drank |
freely. Leaving this singular spot, the /
resumed their trip up the under
ground stream, and after proceeding about |
200 yards they came to q small cascade.
The iall is caused by ledge which crosses
the cavern stream, and is about three feet
higher than the level of the stream below.
The roaring of the water of this chute was
heard at some distance.


The depth of the water below the fall is
five feet, and it was estimated that they
were half mile from the point. Above
this fall the cavern bifurcated into two
branches. The main stream comes down
the right fork, but leaving their boat the
explorers went some distance up the left
fork. The cave narrowed and widened al
but at length the roof got so low
that they were obliged to proceed in stoop-
ing posture. This mode OF progress be-
coming too fatiguing, further progress was
and the explorers set out on
their return. The boat hoated down rap
idly and halt was only made to observe
beautiful formation, on the right shore,
within only 200 yards of the mouth. This
was apparently sheet of alabaster, rolling
gracefully over jutting table of lime rock
flowing stream of milk sud-
denly frozen. The party soon made their
exit to open air much gratlfed with their
exploration. The excavation of this cav
srn was doubtless caused by the ceaseless
action of the stream that still carries on its
rasping denuding work, and consequently
IS not due, as is the case in many caveTns,
20 causes which have long ceased to ope-
-ata- -.