The New York herald., 1878-10-19
The Discovery Of an Immense Subterranean
Palace Of Stalacta in Virginia.
DEVELOPING A RABBIT HOLE.
Remarkable Natural Formations in the
Various Chambers.
PETRIFIED SKELETON.

LuRAY, Page County. Va, Oct. Is, 1878.
cave OF vast proportions has Just been discovered
about one mile OF this town, and about three
hundred yards north OF ine Newmarket and Sperry-
vile turnpike. At this point the land rises suddenly
some three hundred feet, with width varying from
a quarter OF a miie to mile and halt, and running
north in less broken ridges for several miles
toward what is known as the Fort Mountain, small
spur OF the Massanutton range. This land is OF
rather poor qualiiy, but has been less under
cultivation Tor years. Tho south side or larger knob
or this ridge has been always known by the name Of
"Cavs HILL" from the TACT OF small cave having
been discovered there, probably century back. This
cave is OF small sons and very easy OF
cess there being an almost perpendicuiar descent OF
seventy feet. The interest in this has long since
worn out, and of late 1t has been seldom visited.
However this been the key TO the discovery Just
made.
DISCOVERED.
In the town OF Luray, which is just one mile dis
tant resides a photographer by the name OF b. p.
Stebbns stebbIns removed 10 this place q few
months ago and opened MS smail gallery. He
moderately patron;zsd but was not growing rich and
had plenty oil Idle time his hands Being OF u
somewhat romantic ne In the habit OF
spending portion OF his time roaming through
the adjacent woods fields On one OF these expe-
ditions across tho small cave have de-
scribed. This LED him TO thinking and examining
further. He hnaliy came to the conclusion from the
topography oi the country and other reasons that
must be other caves the vicinity. With this
IN mind he proposed to several parties in town to
make thorough search. IN hopes OF discovering an
opening. Hs was finally joined by two young mea
named Campbell, sons OF the sheriff of the county,
William CampbelA These parties IN one of their
pedItions stopped little clump Of under
growth side OF the RIDGE in the middle Of
which they discovered wnat they supposed 10 be q
rabbit hole They commenced digging, and as thoy
pulled out the earth and stones the hole be-
came larger. They worked at It the rest
OF that day, and then went home with
the understanding hat they not say anything
to anybody, but were to meet there early the next
morning. This understanding was faithfully CON-
pied with, and the morning, bright and early,
found the explorers the ground. They went 10
work with renewed energy and before night
enough TO convince them that their work would net
be in vain. The day, after hard labor, they
reached what tney thought was the mouth OF small
cave, the opening beng about two and q half feet
square. This they quickly enlarged. Then lighting
couple OF candles they proceeded enter. To this
they had TO assume a STOPPING posture. Alter a few
steps they found they could straighten up
THE ANTE-cHAMBER
As their eyes became used the gloom ana the
faint light the candles shed their rays
ing objects they found themselves In immense
vauited chamber about ninety ieet square, with
height Of thrty-hve iorty tect- They utterly
asounded, but pressed on In search Of further open
ings, which they found on every side. After hour
or spent in this way they saw that
The task OF discovery would occupy days
they, however. enough TO show th,m
that they had a small fortune within reach. They
held a consultation, found that the land which
their cave situated TO be sold at the
term OF the Circuit Court September % which would
occur In few DAYS They deter mi led 10 say nothing
xhaL leV naG we're
which contained about thirtyeig acres Accord-
which considered far price BY the unni-
tated After tins they went to work Ia earnest, and
have added daily to their discoveries
UNDERGROUND woNDERA
Your correspondent having invitation to visit
the cave. company with Judge stewart of the Page
County Court ana several ladies, proceeded to tne
place oil interest Alter good view of the surrounds
ing scenery, We descended to the entrance OF the
Campbell and several masors aud carpenters all
busily employed dttlng up the entrances. Mr.
an after each had been furnished with candle,
descended the temporary stairway distance OF
thirty feet to the entrance proper, which is now
about SIX test high by three width. This has been
recently improved by door frame and door. The
entrance 10 surmouDted by massive rock made by
nature into a well finished archway. Alter entering
lhe door stopped 10 light our candles, and
then proceeded downward about ieet more,
came TO level floor. Here we
found ourselves In immense room nearly one
iecL The ceniDg OF smooth limestone, save
masses OF stalacties hung here and there
in clusters Among these stalscttes were three I'M
mense ciu sters resembling many magnificent
chandeliers, perfect we're they n construction, the
main dropping Instance of twsive nftcen feet
IRON the ceiling. The wallis OF the apartment were
formed oil every conceivable color of stone shaped
into ali kinds OF 1utlngs and columns, the
whole covered with a brilliant gloss. In the
ccDtre, facing the entrance and imbedded In
the rock the floor is double ngure as Of two per
Sous casped IN each others arms and IN . stooping
posture. Toe features OF enc, though lndstinct,
wou d TO be those OF an old woman. The other
face appears be pressed closely TO the body OF the
he
Inc arms. Wnether they he petrined remains OF
human beings whether ngurcs roughly carved out
OF stone II hard tell Certain II 10 that tney do
further end OF this room an immense column III
teen feet diameter rises from floor 10 ceiling,
spreading the top either side ike branches
OF a huge oak and forming two archways, through
which may pass IN different directIsns TO other
chamocrs Passing to the ieft through the lever
arch proceed through three or four small cham
bers all covered with thousands OF stalactites Of the
brilliant coors, aud reach room w1ich 10 AZ
most a fac-simile 81 an old Roman chapel supported
on all sues by CorinthIan columns OF bronze and
blue and white, with ceiling OF buh
ORGANIC ROMANS.
To the lett STANDS bold relief from the wall as
perfect "a shaped organ ever iooKcd at The pipes
separate, and 80 dstinct that you have 10 feei
Them dis pei the illusion. | clamDered up some
klaOe with my candle; the effect grand Immedi-
ntciy opposite Is most supcrbly shaped canopy OF
white stone, the folds iooking soft as II made Of
nne camDrc This canopy With ia dra peries, fully
eIght from end TO end about the regular
Ia other respects. ia tue middle oi the
Of blue and Qua coiOrod stone which could easily be
taken ior roughly made alar the wallis are brilliant
with slalaclitc. From the cciing /. 900 pend
ms whte a the driven snow, lOoking as II Insy had
been ana iasnioned IRON the purest marble
Leaving this chapel We pass through large hallway,
Il. which we nnd besutilui little spring OF the purcst
watcr constantly flowing; never drank better. Pro-
cesdng low feet iurtnsr We came 10 trap door in