Late nineteenth century social outings at Sauta Cave

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LATE NINETEENTH CENTURY SOCIAL OUTINGS AT SAUTA CAVE
By Marion O. Smith
‘Historically, Jackson County, Alabama's Sauta Cave is best known for its
saltpetre mining operations during the War of 1812 and Civil War. However, it
was also used during the nineteenth century as "a place of resort for social

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gatherings."~ The following descriptions of four such visits all occurred in

the same decade.
Oo Anuguat 17, L872) "8 Jolly... . 14ttle party’ wet "For the purpose of

exploring,"

and after securing a "Mr. M." for a guide, they "proceeded with a
violinist in front to ascend the steep little hill in front of the entrance."
After the group, consisting of both sexes, rested "at the mouth," they pro-
ceeded with lamps and blazing torches in hand, first to the music room" where
they spent an hour, and from whence they "visited the Lawyers walk and Jacks'
Rock," re latter “where an unfortunate negro was buried many years ago while
undermining its basement." They followed their guide "through many uninteresting
tunnels the arches of which were only supported by beams of timber [Catacombs]."
Beyond the tunnels and "long damp galleries" they “came to the mountain, a huge

conglomeration of broken rocks,"

which they safely passed over to enter "beauti-
fully ornamented caverns."" After walking one and a half hours they reached the
pane of ete cave, which their guide told them was "two miles and a half
from the entrance [a gross exaggeration]." After a short time they "slowly"
returned to the entrance. 2

A year later "a few persons" from an unnamed village [possibly Scottsboro]
and "a small company from Boyd's Switch [Limrock] visited Sauta and "spent the
day pleasantly enough, following a guide with a torch as far into the recesses
of the cave as it fad even been eelgrass as far as we know.'' On August 15,

1874, some of the same people returned with a "much larger" crowd, and ‘made an

early start." Among those present was "Eddy Cotton, who came on a mule, and

discoursed sweet music on the violin. .. . The young people took a few rounds

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in, and then out of the cave, and all ‘went merry as a marriage bell:'" This
group apparently had a picnic at the entrance and did not venture far into the
cave, but amused themselves by dancing. It was stated that "every body was

pleased and pleasing. There was nothing to mar the pleasure for a moment, even

the little children were pleasant and sweet throughout the day." Others present
were Mr. and Mrs. William Brown "of the Greenwood House, Guntersville," and

Oby Hurt, who “had some of the largest melons we have ever seen produced in

this county.'?

Another large excursion to the cave a few weeks later, September 5, was not
quite so pleasant. Also “starting early,'' but under dark clouds, "an array of
eight vehicles, containing in ali thirty undaunted Scottsborians, of all ages
and sizes, with a dozen or more on horseback, wended their way" toward the cave.
There "they were met by a party from Boyd Switch and persons living in the vicinity
of the cave. Immediate preparations were made in the way of getting torches and
lanterns for entering the cave.'"4

The reporter of this event, "X. Y. Z.," did not describe the cave, but "the
feelings and doings of this particular party." Upon entry "exclamations of
‘Beautiful,’ 'Grand,' ‘Magnificent’ . . . were heard from enthusiastic ladies,
but as the light from the entrance was left behind" and they reached the dark
zone, people "spoke in low whispered tones, as if fearful lest they would break
the charm; and lips that were seldom quiet were hushed, while the eyes looked on
in silent wonder .. . it was a sweet communion with Nature and Nature's God... .
They entered rooms where the rocks hung down like icicles from the ceiling,” but
unfortunately "some of the party broke off some of the stalactites to bring home."
Presently, they "entered the ‘singing room, '" and “all joined in a song." The
scene, according to the chronicler, "seemed conjured by magic" with the "large
crowd, holding aloft their torches," casting“a weird light all over the dresses
of beautiful ladies . . . and the musical voices pealing forth." Eventually,

"after having gone about three quarters of a mile and spent an hour and a half

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in the cave" someone "suggested that it was "grub time’ and proposed that the
party return" and eat. This was done and "dinner was spread on the grass in

front of the ‘blowing cave‘ and the good things provided by the ladies were
enjoyed by all." But immediately after eating, since it looked like rain, "the
party started for home." About a mile from the cave the rain "poured" and drenched
everyone, and “less than a mile from town [Scottsboro], the horse of W. R. Johnson
got frightened and became unmanageable, completely demolishing the buggy to which
he was harnessed" and threw the young Misses Mcllie Lusk and Filla Smith from it.
Miss ee) "badly bruised but not dangerously hurt."

These visits are not all the known outings at Sauta Cave during the late
1800's, but will illustrate what typical excursions were like. The cave remained
a popular picnic spot for a number of years.

FOOTNOTES

lecottsboro Alabama Herald, August 29, 1872.

2Thid.
3tbid., August 20, 1874.
4Tbid., September 10, 1874.

Thid.