Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-09-24

A CAv-ORTING EXPEDITION
Seven Of cur young men inspired by the
reports that had reached them Of the
subterranean grandeurs Of the Luray
caverns, determined to explore the
hidden chambers OF the caves in this
neighborhood. On last Wednesday,
we started out for the cave known as
the Hotel cave which had been known
almost century ago, but on account
Of the abrupt descents, has not yet been
fully explored. Supplied with candles,
lamps, matches, ropes and fully clad for
the purpose, we entered the cavern
about 10 A. NJ. For about seventy
feet wa crawled upon our hands and
knees, when the passage opened so that
we could walk for a short distance. A
large rock about eight feet in hight
blocked further explorations IN that
direction, but by climbing the rock We
found an entrance which presented a
large open chamber through which we
passed without difficulty. From this
point We gradually descended upon
hands and knees, and entered small
chamber. In front was pool of water
the surface Of which was about II inches
below a large rock which formed the
ceiling. At this point one of our party
suddenly remembered that he had
neglected to attend to some inportan
business aad Immediately returned to
the outside Of the cave. One OF the
party ventured into the pool bu: return
ed wet to his neck and reported moth
ing but thick darkness. Another effort
was made, but on account Of the diff
Guilty Of securing light the party return
ed with the same report. An expert
ment was then tried BY puttinga candle
on hat and pushing the hat out into
pool. BY this means the party was
enabled TO ascertain the character Of
the pool. All pi tched in and swan
across except two, who here determin-
ed that their desire to see subterranean
wonders was fully appeased. 1t was
ascertained after crossing. that the water
from this pool descended over falls a
distance Of probably fifty feet. Our
party now reduced 10 four continued the
exploration. Here the chamber became
wider and the ceiling was atolt 30 or
10 feet above US. Beautiful stalacltes
descended from the ceiling, soma were
Of pure white, others presented different
cOlors. On the side appeared beauti-
fol presentation of water fall, the
crystals glistened and presented the ap-
pearance Of thousands Of diamonds. -
We found engraved upon the side Of
this chamber a number of names and
dates, among which were those of II.
Hickman and L. Huddle, 1904. An
other name which could not be decl.
phered was followed by the date 1911.
Following this same passage we found
formation resembling the fish market Of
the Luray Cave, and opposite this was
the representations of a number of birds,
among which was an almost perfectly
formed dove, ofpure white. Following
this same chamber we found another
pool of clear water, which was about 2
feet deep. Crossing this we found beau
tiful scenery. The ceiling continuing
about the same height until we reached
what has always been regarded the end
of the cave. This widened out into
large room. On one side we found an
opening which descended almost 4
pendlcularly for great distance,
the aid of ropes we descended q
thirty or forty feet, but the rope
being long enough we did not desc
to the bottom. From the main aiss
which we entered there are humble
passages which have not yet beeps
plored. Ourparty returned by the
route, finding our friends aDxi2
awaiting for Us. There IS undouk
large caverns, but it may be necs
to go 10 much greater depth
they can be fully explored,