South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1880-09-10
Communication.
Luray Cave.
For the Iaiellisenoer

For the Isiel.iSenccr.
! Mr.. HARPER Having read, and hesrd
50 much OF tho far-famed Luyav Cave,
determined, while in va, to make fy.
ing visit 10 that paint. Page valley lies
between the Msssanutten and Blue Ridge
Mountains, aud is distinguishes for the
beauty cf It's scenery, its fine farms. sub
stantisi Houses. and tho princely hospi-
tality Of its people.
! lilrsy is l. live town OF about eight
hundred inhabitants. 1t is situated on
| both sides OF stream called Hawk
Bill. From the southers part OF the
| town, can be- seen Stony Man, a peak
next IA height 70 the Peaks Of Otter. 4
railroad, that is building, viii be compile.
tad to Duray within the autumn. Among
the many desirable FEATURES OF Page
county, nothing impressed mo more ia
vorably than its entire freedom from
drunkenness. I Understood that the
sale Of Intoxicating liquors Is not allowed
m the county. But the greatest attrac>
ton of this section il the wonderful cave,
which is situated mile west OF Ilray.
4 description of this curiosity is mpos.
siblc. To be appreciated il must be seen
Oar party, more than forty in mum
Der, each bearing lighted candle. en-.
teroo the cave from within house built
over the entrance.
We descended by steps about CD feet
al tie bottom OF which IL Il small room.
beyond the room ia 3 passage way called
| The Grand Entrance; on eithor side OF
| which, are numerous stalactites of vari-
Gus shades, from dark yoliow 10 a
snow white.
The f,st room is The Arphitheatre.
so it. long and 20 wide, the ceiling 35 #.
high. One Is struck with awe ana ad-
miration, on eutcr;ng this apartment be.
cause Of its size ard m,guiiicence. just
| beyond Is The Fish Market, which j. a
stalactical formation resembling fish
hlnging against Il wall. We next came
TO The Elm Ramblo. which, / was told,
is hundreds of feet long and wide; but
the coiling is low. st the end OF this is
The Crystal Spring.
Next we came TO Pluto's Chasu. 1t
is 500 st. long, rs {. deep, and from 6
TO 10 #. wide, at the head Of this is
Proserpine's Pillar.
Alter this we came TO Prospect Col
umn, Oberons Grotto, Titana's Vale
| and The Fallen Column; this column Is
Il IT. long, aud 10 fit. diameter. 1t is
not known whether it is of staiactical or
stalas Ditical formation. Let il be- of
either kind, i must have been very many
years ia forming. Scientific men say
this cave is 1000 years old.
As &c pissed or We came 20 The S,ar-
csI Tent, which ~ cone shaped, The Fro.
zen Fcunt@in, The Ladics' Bath Room,
the water "a which 10 so clear that one
viii nor perceive any without looking We
~ closely.
"a we advanced, the secaes, il posi-
bic, became grander. And not a .cw
times did we bear IIow grand" Isn't
1t beautiful" Glow ZEAL" &c. But M
no paint did we heir sach exclamation
IS when We catered The Cathedral. IN
which - The Throne, The Old Cushion.
ed Chair. and The Organ, on which 8
tune can be performed The Angels
Wing is 10 the rigbt of THE entrance.
As vc proceeded W. came to Chat
-rSu's Lake Tower Of Babel. Giants
Hall 50 Il. tong. 50 IT, wide aad 100 #.
high, in which a. The Indian Sauaw
NJ the entrance % this hall is Sultan.
no's Column. Ia The han also j. dfa-
peiy 90 f.. long hung from the ceiling in
folds, and The Double Column, which IS
SO IS. high and 8 f.. in diaraeLey w
next came TO grand room called The
! Ballroom, which Is ITO g. long, lO2 vide
ana % II. high. Suspended froIn tho
".-H - 30 Lady = Riding Whip, perfect
o. Ils Eind. ia the Crave Yard near by,
th' .ombstone, look as il toy lad been
shaped " the Land " art. In u recess
10 one SIDE OF THIS room Is the Caskey
! SPrng. We see at this juncturo Ciuda-
tei'a W 6os her again leaving the Bali.
this room is n very largo sta!setite called
! The Chandelier
St,l! further on so car.c 20 Camrbsil's
Ian, 100 f. long ari wide. ty IS feet
. high. Various objects Of iutorest are