110 
GEOLOGY OF THE FIRST DISTRICT. 
be true, the evidence of the subterranean communication is unquestionable. Some parts of 
this cave give very good evidences of the solvent power of water, in the rounded arches ; and 
the stream probably once flowed from the present mouth of the cave. 
There are two other caves in Bethlehem, Albany county, not far from Clarksville, and others 
in Knox township, but I have not explored them. They are all in the limestone of the Helder- 
berg division of rocks. 
The Spook hole, near Barnegat, Dutchess county, is a small cave in limestone ; and is said 
to have so much carbonic acid gas in it, as to make it dangerous to enter without precaution. 
Lights burned well at the time of my visit. I saw nothing of. particular interest. It is about 
half a mile southeast of Barnegat, and fifty to seventy rods from the Hudson river. 
BalVs cave, in Schoharie, about two miles northeast from the court-house, is one of the 
most interesting that has been found in New-York. It was discovered and explored ten or 
twelve years ago, by the Messrs. Gebhards and Bonny of Schoharie. For a sketch of it by 
Mr. Bonny, vide Plate 32. The spaces are in some parts very large, in others very small, as 
in almost all caves. A stream of water flows through the cave, and there are several small 
cascades. A boat is kept for the purposes of exploration. The gentlemen who have explored 
the cave, have given a description of it which was published in the papers of the day. The 
drawing on Plate 32 will afford all the necessary information. The cave is chiefly remarkable 
for its extent and beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. 
Another large cave has been discovered a few miles northwest of Schoharie, the past sum¬ 
mer ; and from the reports and newspaper descriptions, it is probably very extensive ; perhaps 
as extensive, if such reports be true in all their particulars, as any cave described, except the 
Mammoth cave in Kentucky. 
All these caves, except the Spook hole, are in the limestone of the Helderberg division of 
rocks, and the lower part of this division is very cavernous. Many interesting caves will 
doubtless be discovered in those rocks. They were not sought while exploring, and not often 
inquired for. 
There are two small caves in Orange county, Cornwall township, near Round pond, about 
four and a half miles southwest of West-Point. One was described* as discovered by the 
sinking down of the ground; the roof of the cave sparkling with the brilliant crystals of spinelle, 
mica, augite, hornblende, etc. in white crystalline limestone. It is now filled up at its mouth, 
so as to be inaccessible. , The other is called the Bear hole, and has probably been a den for 
these animals. It is situated about one-quarter of a mile west-southwest of Round pond, in 
the same kind of limestone as the preceding, but in which augite and hornblende form a large 
portion of the mass. The weathered surface is warty, and has scarcely the aspect of lime¬ 
stone to an unpractised eye. The cave is small, with a circular mouth, scarcely more than 
large enough for a good sized bear to enter. It would be, and probably has been, a fine win¬ 
ter retreat for those animals. 
Vide page 36 of this volume. 
