]\IARENGO CAVE 



137 



Marengo Cave. 



]".V W. \. Sl'l'X'KMAXX, I'.AI.DWIN-WAl.l.ACl': 

 COLI.lvGK, r.IvAKl'A, Oil 10. 



Marengo Cave is situated within the 

 corporate Hmits of the town of Marengo, 

 Crawford County, Indiana, on the Louis- 

 ville, Evansville and St. Louis (hvision of 

 the Southern railway, thirty-eight miles 

 west of Louisville, Kentucky, and twelve 

 miles north of the Ohio river. 



It is said to have been discovered acci- 



though this land lias l)een the center of 

 civilization for more than three-fourths 

 oi a ccntur)-, and a Httle town with its 

 places of trade and shops of industry had 

 existed for nearly half a century, yet not 

 until the year 1883 was it known that this 

 grand work of nature lay hidden l)eneath 

 the surface here." 



The hill under which the Cave lies is 

 rolling and gradually elevated above the 

 surrounding country. On its sifles are 



dentally by hunters in pursuit of a rabbit 

 which took refuge in a hole which led 

 into the cave. Others say that parents 

 missing their children while at play dur- 

 ing' the day watched their disappearance 

 into an opening in the ground which was 

 found to descend gradually into the mouth 

 of the Cave, the first room of which had 

 furnished an excellent hiding place and 

 play room for the children. 



The formation of the rock about Ma- 

 rengo is of limestone. A large limestone 

 quarry has been opened on another side 

 of the town adjoining the railroad track, 

 and a considerable quantity of material 

 has already been removed. 



The existence of the Cave has been 

 known but thirty years, having been dis- 

 covered in 1883. A writer says, "Al- 



outcropping's of limestone formation. 



The present entrance is near a beautiful 

 grove about two hundred yards north of 

 a sparkling stream which is fed by the 

 waters of two large springs in North Ma- 

 rengo. These springs issue from small 

 caves in the sides of elevations. The one 

 has a semicircular entrance with sloping 

 stone ceiling from wdiich stalactitic 

 formations depend and is in itself worth 

 seeing. Quite a stream of water flows 

 from it and plants grow at the entrance. 



The original entrance to Marengo 

 Cave has been closed and another made 

 which descends at an angle of about forty- 

 five degrees and is some sixty feet in 

 length. An upright door, secured by a 

 lock opens into a cemented arch covering 

 the stairwav. Lanterns and torches are 



