The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-05-30
WONDERS OF CAVE HrLL.


"a far towards The Pacific ocean as il has
htcn eyplored and known, abouuds IN sub
i.eis. which, while tiry crafty the CT
riasi.y and exercise tine innsiuaioa, cum
fund and baiIle the understanding -
And a subject, not tle east eufioos and
wonderful. are those extensive and hume
rlas caves which are fonnd generally IN the
limestone districts OF coaoiry.
One of lhese caves has been knawn 10
the people of tn. neigtborhood of Luray,
m this county, ,lnring a number of years
past, but nothing like f,ll discovery Of its
beauties was ever made uuiil within few
days past. 1isis cave IS about one nils
west OF the little ,illsSe oe Luay aud si1a
nied within one hundred yards OF the road
leadiag from Thoruten's Gap To Newman
ket a'h. entrance - almost exactly At the
top Ola small mouniain, which has, for a
long tine. been known Ia the eishborbood
by the name of Cave Hill Recently 81
,eral attempts had hem made to explore
this suhicrranean World bat rather ua-uc
cessfully, and, on Saturday last party of
fifteen gentlemen left Lnrsy with a deter.
rniuaiinp 10 give il complete exploration.
The mouth Of hcrase nas tatherdii Mt Of
access, owing To its snallncss but the
party eager for The marvellous, aud impa.
tent Of obstacles, fcl panfalIyto work, and
in a few minutcs, by breaking aud reno
wing the rocks, a different aud more com
mudous entrance than the one formerly
used was opened To the cave. Then com.
mcpeed the hustle of preparation for the
descent. The hroadclolli and finer articles
of dress were qbckly laid aside, and IN
their stead was substituted old clothing
which dad been specially provided FOR thu
occasion.
Then the descent commenced each
man provided with sufficient number Of
candies for half day, whist others carr
e1 provisions and refresh nenls. and others
again, Instruments for the purpose Of asccr
flaming courses, distances, &c. and de
termining Other matters r,latlnS to the
cave.
Here, if I'VE misake not, was a pretty
correct crier on of that moral coul age and
strength nf ne eec which we 50 much ad.
Inired in OK rs md which we are all willing
to believe we possess ourselves. Each
nau was willing HAT his comrade should
ascend FIRST iuto the great unknown deep
and all were willing t. he III lat to enter.
In few motnents, however, the whole
were safely entered. The descent Tor 10 or
Is ards IS rather nnrrow, and is Al nm an
Gle Of IS degrees itthcn takrs a horizon.
tai direction, until we are brought NJ the
distance ul about ZOE yards from the en-
trance 10 The first rom, which from its 81
fuatio B, vocal the Lobby. The passage
approaches this raum about 10 feet above
the level nj us iloo., and al = me places II y
perpendicular, hut the descent into the
room is down thrloeks, somewhat / thu
form of steps. This room contains some
.specimens of beautiful spar.
Here we trir1 10 take the bearing OF the
room, bat found, from the proxn,ity Of
metals, or some other causr, that the in
struments were rendered who'll, u-nlcss,--
Leaving this room, we proceeded IN II iii
rrcitoa which seemed 10 be west aud south
ersf, AND down the side of the mountain
This passage has something the appear.
ance OF large stairway. After descend
ing, rs we supposed, about quarter of
mile, the passage becomes very Straight
1nd smooth, and gradually enlarged, until
we perceived that we stood in front Of Il
room whose dimensions from the light of
Mi oar cundlcs. we could not Discover
The entrance here rs IN the room which ",
Il 81 entered, WAS ten or fifteen feet above
theley.l OF the floor. After IA few moments,
ha'vever, by clingi x 10 the pro jnctions of
spar which here Appealed like large iciclcs.
the Whole patty stood safely upon the
floor of this great room. Here MI the
wonder and M '6niheence Of the snbterra
mean world burst upon Us nj euce We
found that we stood IN a room, the area Of
whose floor was equal 20 n quarter IN an
acre. Immediately before us, and Within
few feet Of the centre uf the room, arose
vast column or pillar in great degree
combining the architectural proportions.
and run up ahoat 81 ar so feet, aud sup
ported tllr dnnc of this immense hall,
This cUluuu stands upon hlnck or pc
dr>td about three feet M Insight, and the
shape where i, RESTS upon i is about the
thickness OF Il mans body. II chen swels
gradually uatil II hrcnnnrs, n the distance
nf twenty Feet frau It's hasr, the size of u
barrel, whence il continues Of the same
size, until it gradually ,culargrs Into itsca
pital where il reaches the tlpmc. Strange
20 tell, This vast column is rs regularly
and beautifully nurd ~ gooyed, as if il
had been done with the chsel ug the sculp
ter.
Abeut Fifteen feet from the main pilh,r.
stand two small enrs, about ten feet in
hri 5ht and just at their base, and neniy
between them, sa small pool or hason of
water. Here the whole party sat dawn.
apd nnloliag their yarinns hundhs q pro-
visions and retrcsl, ncn,s, and sticking their
candles to the diIirrtn, pillars, enjoyed
their cold COLLATION. With such apreti,es aud
spirits as were naturally saperinduerd Ivy
exercise AND tlie novelty OF the scene
round us We pecri,cd now for thc.frst
time, by the uaitcd glare OF all Of our can
dies, that the whne Of the arch Of this i'm
mense hall Was hung with the most hrau
tlfal staiaclites, and variraated with almost
every possible shriety of colour. In snnlc
Ilacns Il ,r.as intc lcilN ". Eitn