GEOLOGY AND PALEONTOLOGY OF THE SCHOHARIE VALLEY 349 



this cave was published in the American Journal of Science, 1835, 

 27:368-70, by Dr Charles U. Shepard of Yale University. (Com- 

 pare fig. 224 and 225.) 



Notice of Ball's cave, Schoharie N. Y. 



The first intimation of the existence of the cave is derived from 

 Mr Ball upon whose land it occurs. He had observed a conical 

 depression in the soil to the depth of 12 feet, which terminated 

 in an irregular perpendicular fissure in the lime rock 10 feet in 

 length and 6 in breadth. In September 1831 Mr John Gebhard, 

 a gentleman to whom the taste for mineralogy and geology in 

 his neighborhood appears to be principally due, in company with 

 Mr Hubbard and Mr Branch made arrangements for ascertaining 

 the extent of the cavern. The two latter gentlemen were lowered 

 by ropes down a perpendicular descent to the distance of 75 feet ; 

 when the opening assumed an oblique direction to the south, 

 although it still continued somewhat precipitous. Having dis- 

 engaged themselves from the ropes, and prepared the necessary 

 lights, they descended about 55 feet through a passage varying in 

 width from four to 10 feet. Here the descent became perpen- 

 dicular for 15 feet, after which they proceeded as before about 30 

 feet, when they reached the bottom. The cavern here is only 

 about 10 feet in width, but of great hight, on one side of which 

 is a small stream of pure and limpid water, running in a southerly 

 direction. Passing under an arch so low ais scarcely to enable 

 them to stand upright, they followed the stream about 20 feet, 

 when they penetrated by an opening just large enough to admit a 

 man of ordinary size, into an apartment 20 feet in diameter, anc^ 

 above 100 in hight. Its sides Avere covered by crystalline masses 

 of calcareous spar and the roof by stalactites, dripping with water. 

 The effect of the torches upon this apartment is described as being 

 veiry brilliant. The skeleton of a fox (as it is suppoised) was sub- 

 sequently found in this place; it must have fallen through the 

 opening above and found its way here, where it probably perished 

 from hunger. Leaving this apartment, they pursued the course 

 of the stream for about 20 feet, through an opening from eight to 

 10 feet in width, when their progress was checked by a consider- 

 able body of water, into which the brook emptied. These ad- 

 venturers were now compelled to return to the surface. 



In October, the investigation was renewed by Mr Gebhard, Dr 

 Foster and Mr Bonny, who had prepared a boat to navigate the 

 wiater which had checked the progress of the first expedition. 

 Fixing a light upon the prow, they commenced their voyage by 



