183 

 New Cave Near Versailles. 



Andrew J. Bigney. 



It is known as the cave of Dr. Jim Sale of Dillsboro. It is situated 

 one mile northeast of Versailles. It is located near the top of a high hill 

 overlooking Laughery valley. The view from this position is most pictur- 

 esque. The lover of nature is enchanted by the richness of the scenery. 

 The climb up the hill from the Fallen Timber creek to the mouth of the 

 cave is most exhilarating. 



The entrance is guarded by an iron gate. Excavations have been made 

 and walls built, so as to open a passage to the cave proper, thus making 

 it convenient for the visitor. A stream of water had been passing through 

 the cave. Now a pipe carries off the water. About thirty feet from the 

 mouth of the cave is the main room, which is very beautiful because of the 

 numerous pillars, stalactites and stalagmites. The ceiling is high enough 

 for the tallest man to walk in freely, and in some places could not touch 

 the ceiling with outstretched arms. Some of the pillars are four to five 

 feet in height. The ceiling is decorated artistically with stalactites in great 

 numbers and in various sizes, with many corresponding stalagmites. Passing 

 to the right there is a smaller room also covered with typical cave formations. 

 A passage extends about thirty feet beyond in the clay and limestone rocks 

 with only a few stalactites. Extending from the main room is a narrow 

 passage about seventy feet long where there is a spring from which flows a 

 moderate stream in rainy weather. The ceiling and crevices above are like- 

 wise decorated with the stalactites. Undoubtedly there must be other 

 rooms, but they have been naturally filled up with dirt and stone. Even 

 outcropping on the side of the hill are large formations of stalactites and 

 stalagmites. It is certainly a very interesting place. 



The region round about Versailles has many caves, but this is the only 

 one that has the cave formations. While it is not a large cave like the 

 Marengo and Wyandotte, yet its geological structures are just as typical 

 and interesting as in the larger caves. It is instructive, for it is near the 

 margin of the cave region of southern Indiana and northern Kentucky. 

 Geologically speaking, it is in the lower Silurian or Ordovician formation. 

 It will be instructive for the schools to visit the cave so as to get some accurate 

 information of cave structures. The entire region is most fascinating. 



