But now no short cut is provided for us, and we return as we came, carrying with us delightful memories of the New Discovery.
William Garvin, the Guide
In “Violet City”
DRAWN AND COPYRIGHTED BY H.C. HOVEY 1909.
WALKER LITH & PUB CO, BOSTON
ROUTE IV
TO THE MAELSTROM
AND TO
HOVEY’S CATHEDRAL
ROUTE IV
To the Maelström and Hovey’s Cathedral
Let no one in ordinary vigor forego the remarkable scenes of what is frequently known as “The Long Route,” simply because longer than either of the other three. The trip is varied by the boat-ride, the midday lunch, and the occasional stops at points of interest. The spirits are also sustained by the exhilarating Cave atmosphere.
We may imagine ourselves, therefore, as having landed at Rocky Inlet, on the farther shore of the wonderful Echo River. Soon we are greeted by the music of the waterfall in Cascade Hall. To our right are Stephenson’s Avenue, whose principal attraction is Neptune’s Cups, and the Aquarius Avenue, leading to Roaring River; both of which offer matters of interest to the scientist, but are never visited by ordinary tourists, who hasten on to other scenes more accessible. Wellington’s Galleries are peculiar shelf-like projections. At Dripping Spring we find a few stalactites. We pass in safety what the guides irreverently name the Infernal Regions, Pluto’s Dome, and Old Scratch Hall—the latter being surprisingly scratched all over, while the only trails of serpents in Serpent Hall are the freaks of nature observed as winding channels overhead. The fact should be noted that this is high-water mark for Echo River in time of flood. Hence we take particular interest in the opening from Serpent Hall to Ganter Avenue as our only exit at such times, running as it does for eight thousand five hundred feet to the Wooden Bowl Room, near the Giant’s Coffin in the Main Cave. We are assured, however, that visitors are seldom so unlucky as to get caught by such a sudden rise of the waters. We have now entered Silliman’s Avenue, named for the late Professor Silliman of Yale University. In the Valley-Way Side-Cut are singular crystals of gypsum that grow in the ground, whence they are dug up, like so many potatoes. Beyond the Hill of Fatigue stands the Great Western, resembling an ocean steamer, her helm hard-a-port. By mounting a ledge between the Vale of Flowers and Rabbit Rock, and following Rhoda Arcade for about five hundred yards amid interesting incrustations, we find three domes, named for different members of the Jesup family, the highest and most symmetrical being Lucy’s Dome, connected by a lofty archway with the other two. Immense alabaster curtains hang on the walls, and the effect when illuminated from the archway is grand.