Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-02-25

regular in the shape except this one.
They are of different lengths. but all
are of the same width aud height. 1t i'
a romantic place for picuic and has
been given up to such rurel festivities
for years. Every corner Of the cave has
been thoroughly explored a thousand
times, and the walls Of the limestone
chamber are covered with the names OF
visitors and the date Of their visit. One
high up on the wall, reads Won Bra
dy, 1882 Won Brady was pioneer
Indian fighter and hunter who came here
in advance Of the Ohio company in
1856. He was a daring man and sent
many Of the red men to tie happy
hunting grounds
DOWN THE WELL.
A few days ago party of gentlemen
of this county, interested in archeologi-
cal researches, visited the cave, we'll
provided with ropes, lanterns and tools,
bent on exploring the mysterious well
in the fourth chamber. An improvised
rope ladder, sixty feet in length, was
lowered down the well. Then enc Of
the party descended, whilest the others
watched above. Ten feet from the top
the wall was uneven, and, by placing
his feet on convenient edges, no diff
Guilty was experienced in making the
descent. About fifty feet down the
explorer found the entrance to another
cavern. This gallery at lis mouth is
ten feet six inches high and five feet
four inches in width. The gallery is
straight and lifty feet in length, where
It enters large room two hundred and
twenty feet long, one hundred and ten
feet wide and twenty-four feet high.
The gallery widens gradually and
where it enters the chamber measures
twenty-fve feet across. The roof, floor
and walls are smooth and even. In the
centre of the apartment ls sarcophagus
and mausoleum combined. The mauso-
leum at its base measures fifty,fve by
thirty-fye feot. It's Of simple, though
beautiful design, and carved out Of the
solid rock. It's base is paneled, on all
sides, these panels containing bas-re-
liefs which are supposed to represent
the fur seasons in mans life-child--
hood, youth, manhood and old age. AT
the ends OF the bas-reliefs are tablets
full of written characters, in shape
something like the Hebraic, presumed
10 be memorlams Of the person or per-
sons in whose honor the mausoleum is
erected. The carving on the bas-re-
liefs is of the most delicate description,
and fully equal to the Grecian school of
sculpture. The limits of a newspaper
article will net suffice fitly TO describe
them. From the floor TO the top Of this
base is SIX feet. The base is followed
out at the four corners, and these ex
cavations are covered with slabs OF
freestone, accurately fitted and so firm
" cemented that cold chisel struck
with heavy hammer made little or no
impression on the cement. They are
of uniform size. measuring five by
twelve feet. In the centre of the
mausoleum rises couch two feet five
inches in height, twelve feet in length
and FIVE feet in width.
TIE FIGURE OF A GIANT.
On this couch is extended the figure
of man. 1t is probably Of life size,
and measures nine feet four inches in
length. The limbs are finely proper
toned and disposed 10 an easy and
graceful manner. The arm are folded
across the breast and the fingers clasp
bunch Of leaves resembling oak, re-
produced with such fidelity to nature
that they look like petrlfactions. Every
vein and serration OF the leaf is perfect.
The figure is partially nude, man lie OF
scarf crossing the breast and loins and
falling in graceful folds on each slde.-
The face ls one Of great strength and
beauty, and the features are OF q
Hebrew cast. The head is covered
with a winged cap, or helmet. At each
corner OF the couch is a vase four feet
nine inches high, covered with beauti.
fully carved flowers and leaves. They
are in shape something like an amphora
except that the bottom Is fiat and the
handles affixed to The body of The vase
The neck Is thirteen inches in length
and tapers gradually and gracefully
The vases are of uniform size, although
the carved designs are different. They
measure in circumference four feet five
inches. The diameter of the neck i;
six inches. Suspended from the roof,
and directly over the head of the re-
cumbent figure, is q copper lamp o
unique design, elegantly chased, ant
kept in position by rods of the same
metal. At each corner Of the mauso
leum rises carved pyramidal column
surmountei by caps that are unmis
takably Doiic. On two sides Of thu
room are tombs Of humber design
They are side by side, OF uniform size
and twenty in number, ten ON side
Like the mausoleum they are carvet
out Of the solid rock and embellishet
with bas-reliefs. Their dimensions arr
as follows: Length, II feet; width,
feet; height, 5 feet. The tops arr
covered with slabs, securely cemented
On the front of each is raised scroll
covered with written characters, simila
to those on the panels Of the mauso
leum. On the wall Of the room, oppo
- A. oot-onoa ;e poinfod fwantv.fiyl