Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-08-15
Fer the Spectator.
A Visit to the "Cave of the Fountains,

Being recently in the neighborhood of the
Gave OF the Fountains" located near the
celebrated Weyer's Cave in Augusta county, [
availed myself of the kind invitation Of the
Proprietor to visit this great natural curiosity.
This Gave though discovered before Weyer's S,
has never been brought prominently to public
attention until within the last few years, but
the Proprietor is now prepared to receive vIsi-
tors ana give them the best accommodations.
This Cave is IN SO many respects equal to Wey
er S, and is SO different from it In formation
and general appearance that visitors will fad
that the interest In one will not be abated by
having first seen the other. Our party, con-
slstlng OF two gentlemen and three ladies,
whose bright eyes and laughing voices added
much to the pleasure OF the OCCASION, assembled
to the entrance Of the cave about three clock
on the evening of an extremely sultry day, but
were rewarded for our toll OF the steep ascent
by the cool atmosphere which always surrounds
the entrance, and by the beautiful prospect
which opens TO view from the elevated posi-
ton. Below you some hundred feet or more
lies a broad beautiful valley, dotted here and
there With comfortable residences, suggestive
OF rural quiet and contentment, broad fields of
waving green corn presenting marked con-
trast to the light brown OF the recently har-
vested grain helds, and vending through the
midst OF the valley you behold the clear spark
ling waters OF the South River, winding their
way to the Shenandoah. just as we entered
the Cave, a heavy thunderstorm was seen APP
preaching, and shortly alter entering, we could
hear faint rumbngs OF the thunder, remind
ing US III the weird silence OF those subterra-
mean depths OF the war OF the elements raging
without; but after descending some distance
farther no sounds reached our ears, save the
occasional drip OF the water, which In click
70 ha
ton to the humble, unobserved agent by whose
centuries OF labor SO much subIlmIty and gran
deur had been formed.
From the entrance the descent is very rapid
tor considerable distance, aud, IN tact, you
gradually descend throughout the length Of
the Cave, though at times you have consldera-
bic ascents TO make In passing IRON one apart
ment to another, until you reach the end, wnere
We were informed by the accommodating guide
that We had descended three hundred feet be-
low the entrance. This Cave is, throughout,
one OF great interest and beauty; at every step
you are struck with the beauty of the torma-
ZION and with the many curious resemblances
to animate life, some OF which are so perfect
as to seem the work OF art 1t is impossible to
give description of the Vastness and subIlm-
lty OF some OF these formations, or of the ex-
QuISIte beauty OF some of the apartments,
which with their snowyWhlte concretlons of a
thousand various forms present the appearance
OF grottoes beautiful enough for the grotto-
loving queen of the mermaids under the sea.
The Impressions made upon the mind are so
various and succeed each other with such ra-
pldlty that you are III continual WhIrl OF eX-
element. The first feeling Is that OF appre-
henslon mingled with curiosity, and as this
wears off admiration, surprise and delight sue
coed each other with lightning rapldlty, and
hi. rfa
each one striving for the mastery and yet none
attaining it, Other scenes may be more per-
feet in the peculiar feelings they excite, but
none can produce greater variety OF feelings
at one and the same time than are made on
the mind during visit to the Gave,
There are many scenes in this Gave worthy
the pencil OF the artist, but L feel that my pen
is too feeble 20 attempt to supply the pencil
place. No mere description can do Justice to
these subterrapean formations-they must be
seen to be appreciated. At the end of the
Cave, there are five large basins, which In wet
weather are full Of water; one OF them was
about half full when we saw them. They are
about foot deep and very near each other
They extend across the passage, which, at this
place. is very narrow.
On retracing our steps, we were SHOWN many
interesting objects which we had not seen on
our way in-many of them being in passages
leading off from the main passage, SO that our
return was as interesting as our entrance. On
ascending to the entrance, we found that We
had been in the Cave Just two hours. The
storm had passed away and the sun was shi-
ming brightly as we took our departure, and
only wish that all may enjoy their visit to the
Cave as much [ did, and | am sure their first
visit will not be their last
Yours, respectfully,