ps THE MAMMOTH CAVE. 
at the present entrance of the Cave; the water, 
no doubt, caused the falling of the roof, and 
closed up at that place the channel eae 
from the former mouth. 
“Very few persons know of the original 
‘mouth, as the Cave at its present mouth is 
filled up with rocks, dirt, etc. 
“When first discovered, the Cave was not 
considered of much value. It sold, with about 
two hundred acres of land, for about forty 
dollars. 
“McLean, I believe, was the first person who 
attempted to make saltpetre there, perhaps in 
the year 1811. He sold to Gatewood, who en- 
larged the works. He, in turn, sold to Gratz 
& Wilkins (Gratz of Philadelphia, and Wilkins 
of Lexington, Ky.); they, during the War of 
1812, made large quantities of saltpetre, and - 
wagoned it principally to Philadelphia. Their 
agent at the Cave was an Irish gentleman by 
the name of Archibald Miller. The work 
during the War of 1812 was mostly done by 
negroes, some of them working in the Cave 
without coming out for an entire year.* They 
* This is singular, as they were rarely ever more than one 
mile from the entrance.—W. S. F. 
