Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-01-30
WONDERS UNDERGROUND.
Magnificent Cayerns Newly Discovered
in Virginia.
Newmarket, Va, Cor. New York Herald

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the Massanutton range, appears to be
honeycomhed with cayerns. The land
throughout this region is Of rolling
character and is mostly under cultiva-
ton. Here and there are to be seen
houses Of considerable size, built OF
brick or of wood, with yerandas: these
are the plantation homes of the oiden
time. Most of the other habitations
outside Of the villages are small one
stored cabins, many Of them being OF
logs. But it is the underground world
that in this region has most interest for
the visitor. The existence of cave is
usually indicated by numerous depres-
sions of the land, into which surface
water runs freely in wet seasons and
from which draughts of air are observ-
ed to come. Scores of these openings
nave been explored, but few Of them
have been found to possess any consid-
cradle dimensions. The Meyers, the
Madison and Fountain caves were the
largest known until within year. They
were discovered about seyenty-tive years
ago. They are situated five miles from
Meyers Station, on the Valley Branch
of the Baltimore and OHIO railroad, and
their entrances are all within the COM
pass of a half-mile. The great Luray
cavern was discovered about one year
ago. 1t is situated in the town of Luray,
about 16 miles northeast of Newmarket
Station, on the same railroad. The cir
cumstances under which it was found
were rs follows: 4 travelling photo
grapher visited the place, and, becom-
ing interested in the subject of caves,
commenced making Investigations.
Soon he was joined by two residents of
Luray who had made some explora-
tions, and the three made systematic
examination of the whole region. One
day, in an open field, within short dis
tunce of several houses, they removed
some loose stones at the bottom of lit
tie hollow and found a passage large
cally into the ground. One of the three
was lowered with a rope, while the 9TH
ers remained outside. In the meantime
a party of boys had come to the spot.
When the man came up he was pale
with emotion, so grand was the subter-
ranean world Of which he had a glimpse
while below, but seeing the boys and de-
termined to keep his discovery Il secret
with his own party for the time being,
he declared that another failure had
been made. The three managed to get
money enough together to purchase the
field, and the value of the discovery
was not made known to the public I'M
til the deeds had been passed and pos
session of the property secured.
NEWLY DISCOVERED WONDERS.
About six miles southeast from New
market Station, in the foothills of the
Massanutton range, and on the land of
Mr.. Reuben Zrkle, farmer of indie
pendent means, indications of cavern
have been noticed for years. A few
weeks ago, Mr.. Zirkle and one or two
members of his family were strolling
about the place, and, removing few
stones which they thought might cover
an aperture, revealed q jagged open
ing. descending almost perpendicularly.
Having procured lights they descended,
and at the depth of thirty feet found
themselves in q roomy chamber. Ex-
ploration has been vigorously prosecut-
ed by Mr.. Zirkle and his two sons, J. c,
and A. E., and they have up to this date
penetrated to the distance OF nearly a
mile in direct line. The descent into
the first chamber is made by means of
q wooden stairway. This apartment is
about 100 feet in length, and its ceiling,
which is II or Is feet high, is studded
MT ~ Oh In Of
mary or beet-shaped form. A side
room, Is feet wide and high, with a
smoothly arched ceiling, extends from
this for a considerable distance. Pro-
ceeding through long passage varying
from to feet in width, and from to
z in height, and crossing at right angles
a long, low gallery, then going through
a longer passage and making a sharp
turn, the second hall is reached. This
is % feet wide, 200 feet long and from
% to 80 feet high, with smooth walls.
Stepping then TO much lower level a
room is entered which is of very ir-
regular form and numbered with enor-
nous blocks of rocks which have fallen
FROM the roof. In the ceiling is q wide
fissure extending upward out of sight.
On leaving this scene OF chaos the
course is to level so feet higher.
through an intricate system of cham
bers, the largest 40 by go feet and 10
feet high. Descending from thence
over succession of shallow basins
which in rainy seasons are filled with
water you come first to hall 100 feet
in length, with asmooth yaulted ceiling
and from this pass into grand cham
Der 500 feet long, GO feet wide and 80
feet high, with a floor covered with
angular masses of stone. An apart
ment following this is about 40 feet
high, 300 feet long and 40 feet wide,
and this is succeeded by room 100x50
feet and Is feet high. From this
beautifully arched passage leads to
chamber 50x50 feet and 80 feet high,
in which one Of the wonders of the
cave is to be seen. The floor is divided
by an immense fssure which extends
III semi-circular form to the next
apartment. A stairway las been con-
structed to the bottom of the fissure,
fifty or sixty feet below, where is found
a stream Of pellucid water five or six
foot IN width