Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1878-11-30
THE H.a.RAY CAvERSS.
Discovery OF NEW WoSpERs-THE
Mosr GORGEOUS CHAMBER OF ALL

The wonderful cayerns near 'Luray,
Page county, Va, ale still being explor-
ed and fresh discoveries constantly
made. The New York Herald CORES
pondent describes number OF the new
galleries and chambers discovered. In
one spacious chamber there were JOG
springs of pure cold water, each IN
distinct basin. The correspondent gives
the following description of what he
STYLES the most gorgeous chamber OF
all:
AT last, through o narrow opening,
we came suddenly into the most BRILL
ant room in the cave, and almost twin
IN size to the "Giant's Hall proper.
rrbe contrast between this and "Giants
Hall" was complete While in the lat
ter everything is dark, weird and awful,
everything here was light, brilliant and
gorgeous A scene Of unparalleled
splendor, of sublime grandeur, burst
upon us. The whole scene was brilliant
and dazzling beyond description. Ii an
artist never failed before he would fail
here, for this Uncomfortable mass OF
sulendor no brush could paint or pen
depict in the mind of men. There were
no facilities for measuring this chamber,
as all its parts are not yet accessible.
Several bridges and number OF stair
WAYS will be required. The formations
are marvellously beautiful, a number OF
them being entirely beyond description.
There is an absence of springs, but
beautiful grottoes, bowers and palace
like structures are to be seen at every
turn. In one place Chinese pagoda
presented itself; there were four en-
frances between its columns. Its roof
was steeple pointed, and served as a
canopy for the rarest and most exquisite
ly beautiful structure yet discovered.
This marvellous formation was white
monument, seven feet high, twelve
inches in diameter at its largest part,
tapering up 10 delicate head and
forming in and rising from the centre
of pedestal of dark stone, perfectly
round and about two and ahalf feet in
diameter, the whole resting on per-
factly square platform five feet either
way. This platform rested at the height
of twelve inches on second platform
about seven feet square, and this in turn
on third, somewhat larger, and the
third finally on a fourth still larger.
These platforms and monument itself
were formed of masses OF beautiful
white crystallic particles, unlike any
other formation in the cavern. The
whole glistencd uoder our lights and
presented transcendently beautiful
soectacle. We stand in awe and almost
terror before the wonderful struc-
,ure. One can only remember that
the work of nature are beyond the com
prehension Of poor weak mortals. The
principal colors in this gigantic room
are light buff and pure white. There Is
not a speck of dirt or mud IN view.
Even the chasms and ravines have
white lining. The dome is pure buff,
with thousands Of lovely white s.alac-
titles hanging from it. Where there are
few columns, mounds and monuments
IN other chambers there are hundreds
mere; all Sranu, Oflinant and beautiful.
From the gallery on the right struc-
ture in shape of monster shell hung
ont, seemingly without support. Climb,
ing up into the gallery and examining
it an opening was found which would
admit a man easily. 1t would measure
nearly eight by ten feet, land is sufficient
ly high for one to move about in it
without STOPPING There must be a
very large number of openings from
this room, as we conld easily discern
many up among the draperies hanging
about It's walls; but the route at present
is so difficult that the strongest man
could not drag ladder long enough to
reach most of them. With little more
labor and expenditure these apartures
may be easily reached, and perhaps
OTHER large discoveries will take place.