The New York herald., 1878-11-17
AGE OF THE FORMATIONS.
History Of the Place Traced in StaIactites TO
the Era Of Creation.
N A It U r E'S A r. t.
Beautiful Monuments, Grottoes, Columns
and Balconies
THE WEIRD ROTUNDA

LuRAr, Page county, Va. Nov. II. 1873.
The arrival of the HERALD, with map of the won
derful recently discovered here took every
body by surprise Even the adventurous discoverers
and explorers were astonshed ut the remarkable
racy and faithfulness OF detail displayed in the pub
shed plan Of the subter chambers corridors.
chasms, halls and galleries. besides locating the many
wonders in which the caverns abound. The only re-
gret in connection with it was the limited supply that
reached here as everybody wanted copy. The re-
cent discoveries considerably augmented the be-
fore known dimensions Of the cayerns. From tho
entrance to the caverns. at the base Of
the hill in which they are. the descent
is gradual 10 the centre, distance
of quarter of mile where it is about two hundred
feet below the level ground, and $50 below the apex
Of the hill. Measuring from the entrance on tho
east to the extreme OF the explorations the west
tho distance is about three quarters of mile, and
from the discoveries the southeast to tho
shxmber lying northwest Of Giants Hall, the dis
lance ID also about the The territory. however
Of the caverns does not cover In extent any
thing like that which the dimensions given would
Indicate, but the chambers. corridors, chasms and
halls are scattered in every direction within that
space Last weeks explorations and discoveries which
we're 80 fully described in the HERALD Of the
reached by corridors leading from the chambers
in the immediate vicinity Of the Skeletons Gulch."
They additional extent of fye or six
Another range. yet unexplored runs directly west
from the galleries Of Giants Hail.. Of which csti
mate can be made. The more recent discoveries.
which are fully described below. extend in north
eastcrly direction from the Giants Hall = toward
Fort Mountain " of the Massannutton range. and
cover about seven acres. The entire area of the
proper far explored variously esti.
mated at from sixty to scventy-fvc acres.
FURTHER EVAPORATION.
/ In the interest Of the public, through the medium
Of the HERALD have Just made another visit to the
csverns Reaching the first gallery 1 cross over
through : left hand southeriy route and enter
chamber whose walls are formed by series Of great
columns. knitted together in compact form. Here
are The Three Monuments and 'The Bsthhouse"
The monuments each fifteen feet in height. rest
ing ON square pedestals Of dark stone their tops
capped with pure white. running into rich brown
shout their centres. They great curiosites and
vary elegant struetures. "The Bathhouse.' immeti-
afcly opposite ID reached by flight of four steps
composed Of brownish stone, ending at white sill.
Tho doorway ia tall and archcd, and inside three
basins Of water may be seen each raised about
shove the other, forming a handsome cascade. The
water runs on rapidly. but where tell.
A DISMAL OUTLOOK,
A rocky descent Of fifty feet, and a seemingly new
opens up Afew feet to the left dark and dismal
body Of wster extends many feet and loses itself in
the distance No lines could be more appropriate
20 this place than those from virgil's 9th En.:-
Deep was the cave. and downward az it went
From the wide mouth . rocky, rough descent;
And here tn access gloomy grove defends.
And there tn unnavgable lake extends
Der whose unhappy waters. void Of light.
No bird prcsumes to steer his airy fight.
CHEERING GORGEOUS PROSPECT.
path to the right of this gloomy lake leads into
of the most sublime parts of the caverns From
noor TO dome at this point considerably
hundred feet. In front and on all sides monster
columns reared themselves upward. Many OF these
marvellously beautiful and Of most imposing
signs. They looked like immense giants compared
with all other columns in the Huge slabs Of
beautifully colored stone, many seventy feet in
length in width from two to thirty, and almost
transparent. hung suspended from the dome in all
directions. Numbers of them had assumed the like
OF immense leaves touched by frost. others the
wings of huge BIRDS and others still resembed
fancy leatherwork . large scale. Thou
sands Of tons Of various colored stalactites
Of wonderful length. interviewer with these
beautiful slabs. formed amazing draperies.
Formations Of salagma in exquisitely shaped white
monuments. several surmounted by well defined
figures. added their charms to the sccne while bowl.
aers here and there the size Of ordinary houses gave
idea Of the gigantic character Of the surround
lngs. At the mouth Of opening leading into
smother cavern stood figure OF stonc thirty feet in
height half man. half beast which looked like great
eentsur guarding tho approach to sacred ground.
Winding around columns mounds and other gigantic
formations. many places appeared - IL snow had
fallen, perfect was the white formation. Proceed
ing the columns and drapcres became
grander. Several pillars appeared. containing in
their huge sides inches holding springs
Of icy cold water. Many columns had fallen, and.
with walls Of rock half crumbled away formed pic
lures OF magnificent ruins. Occasionally the brink
Of an immense chssm would be reached; again the
top Of vast rocky piles; then deep ravnes and Hill.
Sides and finally very steep HILL which ended at an
opening leading into gallery overlooking the great
''tiants Hail." From this gallery there appeared to
be several outlets of contracted character. One OF
these thirty feet above the level Of the gal
iery hoor. over piece Of handsome stone drapery
A ladder being procured IL a comparatively
easy matter to reach the aperture. but very
difncult ono TO squeeze through However
with the assistance of . heavy hammer
the opening was increased sufficiently to enter on
hands and knees. but even this did not last long
The space became smaller and tho dragging
through process had TO be rcsorted to. This con-
tnucd few yards, when less difhculty expert
cnced. All this time the route was running parallel
with the gallery but suddenly IL turned directly to
the left opened up sufficiently for crawling and con-
tinued this way, at times becoming larger, for at
least hundred and fifty yards, where II ended At
. large chamber. which proved to be an attractive
one, though rather uncomfortable at FIRST, for at
avery step the water was knee deep
THE CHAMBER HUNDRED SPRINGS
1t had LOG springs Of pure cold water each in dis
tinct basin and all surrounded by beautiful crysaic
particles, forming network and frctwork of every
imaginable style. These springs ranged in length and
breadth from few inches to several feet and none
were less than twelve inches in DEPTH and many two
feet or more.
ANCIENT CAVERN.
This room led into another which appeared to be
very ancient from the appearance of its pillars and
drspcrics. All Of these seemed crumblng away, ex