Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-11-20

1885, in the Gazetteer of Virginia. 1t
gives a full account Of the exploration
of this cavern, and describes minutely
several of the halls. In closing the
writer gives the following interesting
account of its first exploration.
a Mr.. Ruflher, who was nearly as
much celebrated for deeds of sylvan
prowess as the renowned Putnam, in
passing this Cave some thirty years
ago, conceived the beld and hazardous
design of entering the dark unknown
alone. He accordingly prepared HIM
self a tlambeau Of pine, and placed his
rifle across the mouth, to indicate, in
case anything should happen, to his
friends, ii they should chance to see 1t,
that he was in the Cave. He descen-
ded, but soon fell and put out his light,
and, as might haye been expected, was
soon lost and bewildered in its labyrinth
of passages. 1t happened that some OF
his friends, in passing the Cave, dis
covered his gun, and rightly concluding
that he had gone into it, they procured
lights and entered in search OF, and
found him, and brought him out again,
after his having been in forty-eight
hours.
This brave fellow was among the
pioneers who were foremost i'll eXplor-
ing and setting our Western frontier,
and was at last killed by the Indians,
after haying performed deeds OF valor
and daring proves which would have
done honor 10 the character OF hero.
We suggest the prOprlety of commend
rating the exploit mentioned IN the last
paragraph, by calling this Cave in future
'Ruhner's Cave"
The baHimorean, in comm enting on
what he terms The New York
Herald's Mares Nest" says:
Under the caption of Wonderful
Caverns," correspondent of the New
York Herald has sent that journal a
long account of what he denominates
the recent discovery Of "a cave OF vast
proportions. 1t is located about one
mile west of Luray, Page county, Va,
and some three hundred yards north OF
the New Market and Sperryville turnpike
The description is known to be greatly
exaggerated. and the grandiloquent
style in which the correspondent has
INDUCED was evidently intended for
special purpose.
The truth is, that the cave in question
was discovered about fifty-three wears
ago, 1925, and full accounts of that ex-
ploration and description of the cave
were Published in the Virginia Gazetteer
IN the year 1885. We reproduce this
account and description on the first
page of THE BALTIMOREAN of Nov.
10th, and such Of our readers as may
have read the New York Herald'S cor
respondence will find a marked con-
trast. The fact that the cave has been
comparatively deserted for more than
Fifty wears is evidence that the magma
ton of the HerGldS correspondent was
either greatly inhamed, or that he has
purposely magniiied the sights, 50 lar as
grandeur and gorgeOusness are concern
ed. Be this as 1t may,lt certainly Is not
q recent discovery. and we have no
doubt of another fact: 1t is scarcely to
be believed that 1t equals Weyer's Cave
in Augusta county. Virginia, much less
50 immeasurablY surpasses it, as the
correspondent would have the public
believe"
An acquaintance with the facts in the
case may convince the BaHimorean that
the MARES nest" was discovered by
him. instead of by the correspondent OF
the New York HcrGld. About the
same distance from Luray and. in fact, in
the same hill cavern was discovered
years ago. That cave has been fire.
quenlly visited by the people OF Page
county and is known to this day as
"Rufner's Cave" but it IS not the
cave recently visited by the correspon'
dent of the Herald. There seems to be
no connection. This may in some
measure account for the fact that the
Balimorean thinks 1.-THE imagination OF
the Herald'S correspondent was either
greatly inflamed, or that he has pur-
posely mag-ifed the sights, SO far as
grandeur and gorgeousness are con
cerned." Parties who are very familiar
with Weyer's cave, having been III 1t
number Of times, are OF the opinion
that the recently discovered cave near
Luray is superior to it. We are assured
by gentlemen ofhigh standing, that the
descriptions written by the correspon-
dents who have visited the cave are not
exaggerated or overdrawn. The Baltl-
more IN, we think, has certainly but
Internationally, done injustice to the
prOprIetors of the cave AS matter
of fair play, let him visit the cavern
and give his readers the benefit OF a
fair, impartial, and ifhe chooses ccm-
paratve, description Of the unnamed
cave near Luray.