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Article ACCOUNT OF PENPARK-HOLE, ← Page 2 of 5 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Account Of Penpark-Hole,
to the root of the ash tree before mentioned . At first the- entrance is very steeps and continues so for about twenty-seven feet . I am informed by a gentleman ( Mr . William White ) who has taken a very accuratesurvey of it , that it is four feet in six perpendicular ; and the roof , in some places , not three feet in height . When you are passed this place , you immediately disappear from the eyes of the spectators . About thirty feet lowerthere is a large cavern on each side the rock ,
, one in an east , the other in a west direction : that on ihe western side , which is much the smaller , may be easily entered ; but that on the eastern , which is about five yards higher ap , is far more difficult of access j though some few very curious persons have been bold enough to enter them both . An ingenious person of my acquaintance ( the before-mentioned Mr . William White ) , who has taken a very exact drawing of the
whole , informed me that he had visited both these caverns : that to the westward extends about twenty yards , where he found the way nearly stopped up by several large cragged stones , which appear to have fallen from the roof . These caverns are rendered still more gloomy by the bats , which are sometimes seen flying about them . I had a tolerable view of both caverns in my paffage up and downbut as I was unused
, to visit such places , I was too anxious for my own safety tp enter that pn the eastern side , but contented myself with taking an accurate survey of the other . . . About the midway there is a small projection of the , rock , scarce large enough for two persons to stand on . . Here I staid some minutes
to breathe , as well -as to take a view of this dreary place , as it cannot be seen to so much advantage from any other part . When ! had sufficiently gratified my curiosity , I walked from thence along the ridge of the rock into the western cavern , which I found to be about thirty feet long , and eight or ten broad at the entrance , and nearly as much in heig ht . I found this apartment perfectly dry , but nothing worthy pf observation in it ; there were a few loose stones scattered uf > and
down the bottom , but they were neither so large nor mjmerpus as those in the caverns below . I know not whether it may be worth mentioning , but I thought it somewhat remarkable , that when I last visited this place , I could not- see a single bat in any part of it ; I suppose they had changed their habitation , finding themselves disturbed . and molested by persons daily descending to their peculiar domains .
' When you have passed these caverns , you descend in a direct perpendicular , between thirty and forty feet , after which you reach the bottom by a descent almost as steep as that you just before passed . I imagine the whole length from the surface to the bottom , when the water is low , to be about zoo feet . When you are arrived there , you land on a large quantity of broken rocks , dirtstones , & p . partly
, thrown down by persons who visit the mouth of the cave from motives of curiosity , and partly by rains , melting of snow , & c . which form a kind of bay between two caverns , both filled , when I was there the first time , with water . When you survey the place from hence , objects piily of the most dismal kind present themselves to view from every quarter ; and indeed nothing Less than ocular demonstration can con-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Account Of Penpark-Hole,
to the root of the ash tree before mentioned . At first the- entrance is very steeps and continues so for about twenty-seven feet . I am informed by a gentleman ( Mr . William White ) who has taken a very accuratesurvey of it , that it is four feet in six perpendicular ; and the roof , in some places , not three feet in height . When you are passed this place , you immediately disappear from the eyes of the spectators . About thirty feet lowerthere is a large cavern on each side the rock ,
, one in an east , the other in a west direction : that on ihe western side , which is much the smaller , may be easily entered ; but that on the eastern , which is about five yards higher ap , is far more difficult of access j though some few very curious persons have been bold enough to enter them both . An ingenious person of my acquaintance ( the before-mentioned Mr . William White ) , who has taken a very exact drawing of the
whole , informed me that he had visited both these caverns : that to the westward extends about twenty yards , where he found the way nearly stopped up by several large cragged stones , which appear to have fallen from the roof . These caverns are rendered still more gloomy by the bats , which are sometimes seen flying about them . I had a tolerable view of both caverns in my paffage up and downbut as I was unused
, to visit such places , I was too anxious for my own safety tp enter that pn the eastern side , but contented myself with taking an accurate survey of the other . . . About the midway there is a small projection of the , rock , scarce large enough for two persons to stand on . . Here I staid some minutes
to breathe , as well -as to take a view of this dreary place , as it cannot be seen to so much advantage from any other part . When ! had sufficiently gratified my curiosity , I walked from thence along the ridge of the rock into the western cavern , which I found to be about thirty feet long , and eight or ten broad at the entrance , and nearly as much in heig ht . I found this apartment perfectly dry , but nothing worthy pf observation in it ; there were a few loose stones scattered uf > and
down the bottom , but they were neither so large nor mjmerpus as those in the caverns below . I know not whether it may be worth mentioning , but I thought it somewhat remarkable , that when I last visited this place , I could not- see a single bat in any part of it ; I suppose they had changed their habitation , finding themselves disturbed . and molested by persons daily descending to their peculiar domains .
' When you have passed these caverns , you descend in a direct perpendicular , between thirty and forty feet , after which you reach the bottom by a descent almost as steep as that you just before passed . I imagine the whole length from the surface to the bottom , when the water is low , to be about zoo feet . When you are arrived there , you land on a large quantity of broken rocks , dirtstones , & p . partly
, thrown down by persons who visit the mouth of the cave from motives of curiosity , and partly by rains , melting of snow , & c . which form a kind of bay between two caverns , both filled , when I was there the first time , with water . When you survey the place from hence , objects piily of the most dismal kind present themselves to view from every quarter ; and indeed nothing Less than ocular demonstration can con-