The New York herald., 1878-11-12

white formation. which we at hrst took to be the
same as that surrounding and near other springs.
but upon closer inspection found it to be pure lime
in on unsacked state. How it there il il impos-
sible to imagine. 1t was formed through some pro-
unknown to the writer Adjoining this chamber
another, with Mosaic foorand walls of bllleish
color. surmounted by pure white dome, from the
middle Of which hung suspended cluster Of semi
transparent stalactites resembling a chandelier
We named 1t ''the Blue Drawing ROOM
and made exist with high opinion of its beauty
and elegance. Quite in contrast the next cham
ber. sombreshued room, seeming to he composed
OF dark stone. but had its attractive features well
others. large formation lowered up in the shape
OF n camel back locomotive aud tender. and the
more light we threw on it the better it looked.
I would state here that instead OF carrying
the simple candle. a. We did on former
occasions the proprietors furnished with candle
sticks to which small tin rehectors attached.
Theae made o decided Improvement In the strength
of our light and able TO discern objects at
least three times the distance. and could readily
the bottom of many Of the chasms. springs and lakes.
We left the "camel back" after christening the
apartment 'fhe Engine Room" and then COM
menced climbing over various boulders and
formations, jumping from rock to rock:
sometimes hanging immense CULTS. and
again letting ourselves down gradually BY the aid of
small staag1nites into their bottom. Sometimes
wading through small ponds and streams and then
into masses Of mud knee deep. we reached narrow
passage which led into notable for its
slender stalactites and their peculiar shapes. They
measured generally about six feet. per-
fectly round and not an inch in diameter.
Some of them had heads, which rem
dercd them still more beautiful. Upon breaking
1vUc nd entirpy npd
light in weight On side, about ivc feet from
the hoor we discovered an opening about two and
4 half feet square and of great length. We
clirned up and commenced digging ourselves
through. II was hard work. for the mud was
at least six inches deep, and we had to dras,
poupds of IL with After a hundred feet or more
Of this kind of work emerged into open space
and oil putting and blowing and greatly fatigued sat
down TO rest. In few minutes Strengthened M
and commenced taking observations. We found onr-
selves in the narrow gallery of immense chamber
probably hundred feet square. We ewcrc nearly fifty
feet from the foor and % many from the DOME The
p,acs had dark weird and awful look. VIC could
not climb down, for thero we're no foo< or
hand holds. We could only gaze into the
abyss. It seemed q fitting place for Macbeths
witches to celebrate their orgies and could almost
imagine the mystic caudron down in the depths and
hoar the solemn incantation-
Double double. toll and trouble.
Fire burn and carldron bubble
ANOTHER DAYS EXPLORATION.
with this apartment ended our explorations for the
day. The explorers back to Luray tired. foot
sore and weary swearing OF from further vsits for
a week but after good nights rest and
hearty breakfast, though somewhat stiff and
sore they we're anxious for another tour Of discovery
Accordingly they again proceeded TO the caverns snd
crossing the first gallery, came to the great cbasm.
How We got down il I don't know TO this hour; how
evcr vo found ourselves safe and sound in it's bottom
Tbon commenced the task Of ascending the other side
which was a little over one hundred feet to the
dome Two ladders wore sphoed together. forming one
Ionu ono OF sixty-aye feet. This asccnded, and
found. TO our SURPRISE that places that looked like
slight indentatons and rrotuberanccs were
vide ,educs and excellent footholds With
ont looking at tho awful depth below us
we carefully but rapidly reached within three feet Of
the dome and stepped into small gallery. This led
ma into larger one. of some length. which in turn
brought us TO q natural stairway and into circular
room The salnctitcs from the ceiling so thick
tat some had forced others ont ofplacc II seccd
there were millions within acircumfcrence'of ahun-
drod and nfiy feet They werc similar to those wo
found in one Of the lower rooms, many OF them
having assumed beautiful shapes. After some trouble
Wa. found m outlet Just barely largo enpush 70