Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-09-24
SCIENTIFIC EXPLORATION.
Discovery of Extensive Caves
and Fissures Near Harper's
EarrV
A. >, Gsesrson Charlestown. w. Va.


Ferry.
Spirit OF Jefferson, Charlestown, W. Va.
Mr. Otto Lugger, custodian OF the
| MARYLAND Academy of Sciences, and
himself very enthusiastic naturalist,
returned to the city last week from
Harper's Ferry, where he went to ex-
plore n cave in which ne heard that
some blind insects had recently been
found. A gentleman informed him
that he had visited the caveand secured
an anOphthalmus, catalpO and curculo,
all of which are species OF the eetle
genius. The blind curculio is something
not known in this country, the Euro
pean troglarhynchus anOphthalmus be
ing found only in the great KalenbOrgor
cave. and a second species in the Villa
Franche cave, and Mr.. Lugger at once
started to try and obtain specimen.
The cave in question Is about one and
a quarter miles west OF Harper's Ferry,
on the line of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad and on the Virginia side. The
entrance TO it is by feet, and about
90 feet above the level of the river. Mr.
Lugger SAYS, however, that it is not
cave, but an immense crack or assure,
extending through the mountain from
the Potomac TO the Shenandoah. 1t Is
from 1 to S feet IN width, the walls be-
ING composed of limestone, mixed with
slate, and dipping at an angle OF eighty
two degrees. Mr.. Lugger explored 1t
for distance OF four miles, being pro-
vided with two dozen candles, a lantern
light, and he is of opinion that 1t eX-
tends four miles further. 1t is OF i'm
mense height, in fact so high that even
with the aid OF the calcium light, the
roof would not be seen. The floor, the
surface of which is very irregular, has
been formed of large rocks that have
detached themselves from the walls or
sunk down. Underneath the floor Is
another cave or chasm, the depth OF
which could not be determined. Mr..
Lugger climbed up the rocks which
form its sides, and after attaching Ian
tern to a rope y feet in length lowered
il, but no bottom was reached, nor
could he see anything beneath the Ian
tern but darkness. The sides, however,
make an inclined plane, and the lime
stone seemed to be covered with 4 gel
atinous and clayey substance. stone
was then dropped, which, after rebound
ing three times from the walls, dropped
with Il splash into water. In nine OBJ
servations which were taken, the aver
age time of the stone reaching the bot
tom was twenty-five and One-tenth sec
onds, which, had the stone fallen per-
pendicularly, would indicate depth oil
eight hundred feet. No stalactltes
were met with; except that occasionally
II 4 l,n IL q
line about an inch wide. 1t Is evident
that the assure is the result OF some up
heaval-probably an earthquake.
At Harper's Ferry the same stratum
OF limestone is horizontal, the angle IN
creaSing until il becomes almost per
pendcular. Next there comes forma-
ton of black marble, capable OF taking
on very fine polish, and akin to that
found i'm Frederick county, Md, and IN
Egypt. After that OnOther formation OF
slaty limestone, also nearly perpendicu-
lar, and with the angle DETECTING to the
west
Numbers of bats were found in the
great fissure, but no insects, except
those which had entered it Tor the pur-
pose of Information. Mr. Lugger does not
there being neither stagnant nor running
water there, either OF which are neces-
sarv for their existence. In Europe there
are 400 species of blind insects, while
in the United States there are only %,
and the finding OF Curcuho would ena-
Die the student to trace the relation be-
tween the geographical and geological
history OF the two countries. 1t needs
thousands of years 10 perfectly develop
a blind insect that others may be repro
duced. In American caves there have
often been found blind crawfish, and
sometimes blind CriCkets. In the most
of these eases there has been simply a
skin over the retina, while in others the
nerve has been found to be entirely
gone. by the law of compensation,
however, which prevails in nature, the
fish when il becomes blind has its barbs,
and the cricket and beetle its antennT,
or legs lengthcuded, 50 that in each
case some sense has been made more
acute.
The cave in question, which Is on the
farm of Mr.. John Rau, is called John
Browns cave, and was used rs beer
saloon during the late war. About
mile and a quarter further west, and on
the line OF the railroad, is another cave,
which Mr.. Lugyer was anxious TO eX-
plore, but on reaching it he found that
the entrance had Caved i'm, and TO open
it again would have required more tune
and money than he had at his disposal.
lie talked. however, with several old
people who visited it years ago. From
their statements ii iSeXtcnsive and lofty
and is divided into large rooms, in which
there are many Stalactltes and many
stalagmitcS. The geological formation
is the marble limestone. Mr.. Lugger
saws he will positively explore it next
spring, and is in hopes that 1t Will equal
the now famous l.uray cave.
A singular fact, and one OF interest to
naturalstS, may be mentioned: In the
wear 1864 two domestiCated goats lett
the neighborhOod of Harper's Ferry
and ran away to Maryland Heights.
Since then they have gradually increaS-
eel until the flock numbers about 800.
They are i'm every respect wild goats,
without the least trace of domestic hab-
its. At night they shelter under pro-
iecting cliff which faces Hampers Ferry,
and Mr.. Luggcr says that on the day he
was there he counted about $50 OF them
browsing together. Some oithe sports
men of the vicinity shoot them OCCASION
ally.
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