Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-08-12
/ SCIENTIFIC Visit 10 the Famous
E.uray Cave.
[Corresponde1ace OF The g.nrl


Luray Is not to be considered in any way as an
official report Of the expedition. The writer
has several motives in preparing a brief de
scription OF this most enjoyable visit. First, a
promise to THE STAR to ''say something" on
the subject: second, tacit understanding on
the part OF the members that he should be the
'scr1he;' third, simple sense OF duty to the
pubic In giving the Cave as much prominence
as possible; and lastly, to testify on behalf OF
the party our unqualified appreciation or the
splendid manner in which we were treated by
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company while
en t0g0ge, and TO publicly return thanks to
MeSSrs StebbinS Jordan and BrOldus and the
people or Luray in general, Tor the hospitality
ara gcod Fellowship extended TO the party
while their guests.
The expedition was formed for the purpose OF
thoroughly exploring the cavern TO determine
It's size and geological structure: to photograph
all objects OF special character, and to collect
such data in general as would be necessary TO
form scientific comparison between this and
similar cavernS on the continent.
The party consisted OF VIM. j. Rhees. esq
CHER clerk Smithsonian institution; James
Rhees, Jr.; Prot. Charles Rau, Smithsonian H.
Columbian College; Prof. j. Howard Gore.
Columbian College: DR.. Elmer r. Reynolds. sec
rotary OF the Archaeological Society; Daniel
Leech, ESQ.,, Smithsonian Institution; James
Leech, ESQ: Dr.. Fred ". TAYLOR, Smithsonian
Institution; DR.. 80, Paleontologist; T. w. Smil-
He esq. Smithsonian Institution. and Messrs.
T.. a. hIuSWdy dlG H. W. CdIlpDti.
The party left Washington On the 18th ult.
via the B. and .. railroad. AT Winchester we
were joined by Professors Mason and Gore. We
dashed past the scene of Sheridan's ride; past
classic woodstock: dined at Mt. Jackson. ana
reached Newmarket station at O'Clock D. H.,
where we found two coaches waiting for the
party. A few minutes later we crossed the
North branch OF the Shenandoah. and were soon
daShtng through the picturesque streets OF
Newmarket. We quietly selected rooms at the
hotel, and changing our ralment, started for
THE ENDLESS CAvERNs,
four miles south Of the town. We were accom-
panied by Mr. Ambrose L. Henkel, the young,
enterprising and handsome editor OF New
market paper. Mr.. Henkel was one Of the pio-
neer explorers of the Endless Cayerns having
passed through them 10 less than eleven times
prior to our visit. They are situated about
eleven hundred feet above Washington, In the
western base of the MaSSannuttan mountains
which. at this point, reach an altitude OF twelve
hundred feet, making in all about twenty-five
hundred feet above Pennsylvania avenue. From
the mouth OF the cavern Mr.. Smile succeeded
In taking charming panoramic view OF the
valley, embracing the battlefield Of Newman
ket and the scene Of Gen. Hunters celebrated
barn burning expedition. The temperature at
the door OF the cavern was I62, and upon en-
JtilDg, the thermometer dropped down TO sc
FAIR The entrance is made by steep descent
or SlXty-nye feet, but the real cavern does not
commence until the foot OF the stairway is
reached. The main gallery runs parallel with
miles. The caverns appear to have been ap
piGpIiately named, as they are simply con-
urIouS SERIES OF irregular shaped grottOeS con-
necttG by narrow and tortuous passages. through
which, thousands OF years ago, an fmpeCu0Is
river probably forced Its way. This idea Is sls-
tained by the fact that the walls are erOd u
aud generally deficient In stalactIte formations.
We found many things TO admire-lakeS
pools, springs, Cascades, chasln5, and In on9
slace a running stream seveaty-flve feet below
he root OF the cave. This was sounded aud lis
fJn !, Il
was subsequently, reached from a chamber at a
lower point 1t is from five to seven feet wide
and flows In northwestern direction toward
the town. To Judge by the current, it must be
situated in the lowest part OF the cave, and
nearly on a level with the mill-Stream In the
valley. After continuing our journey Tor three
mills, and taxing several negatives with the aid
of the magnesium light, the party retraced
tier steps 10 the entrance, and re-emoarking
In the stage reached the hotel about midnight
The following morning we made an early
start for Luray. The MasSannutten Pass Was
reached at 10 O'Clock, and we stopped TO rest
and be photographed with the Shenandoah
Valley for background. Ii nestled calmly Ia
the hay light eight hundred feet below us.
While above, on both sides CT the Pass, the
mountain rose to an additional altitude OF four
hundred feet. 1t was delicious, quiet, dreamy
scene, aud one not easily forgotten The SIN oke
curled laZily up from the valley and was
absorbed by the azure sky; the pines and hem
locks waved high overhead and talked and
whispered in broken signs as sad as
THE moaning Of doves in immemorsl elns, -
And the Inurmuring OF innumerabe bees"
1t required two hours 10 descend from the
Pass to the south branch OF the Shenandoah, In
Page county. After fordlng this Stream we
crossed barren. rocky waste OF land that was
worth one hundred dollars an acre until the
great freshet of 1871, when the river rose
eighteen feet above its ordinary level and
washed out thirty five acres OF land to a uni
three miles below and deposited on meadow
which has since been used for agricultural
purposes. the cid proverb of Ian ILL wind y
etc. was practically illustrated in this case tor
the meadow. which before the tnundatiOn WAS
worth sixty dollars an acre, Is now valued at
one hundred and eighty-tive dollars an acre.
THE LURAY CAyEs AND HOW THEY WERE DIS
COVERED.
we arrived at Luray at O'Clock o. ~. and
took possession OF the rooms that had been re-
served for us at the Cave Hotel After dinner
we changed our dresses and took the stage for
the cave, which IS situated to the right Of the
turnpike, about three fourths OF a mile west CT
the town. The cave and a few acres of sur
rounding land belongs to Mr.. B. p. Stebbins.
Inc entrance Is near the eastern summit of A
sugar-loaI hill, midway between the Massannut.
ten Mountains and the Blue Ridge Iu was dis
covered oy the present proprietor about two
years ago, and was not, as is generally sun
posed, the result OF an accident. On the con
trary. IL required long and still hunt to md
1t, although its presence was clearly indicated
by sink-hOleS and other "symptorns' nlainIv
UNDERSTOOD Dy the cave-huntng veteran who
owns Ii. The limestone which covers ana sur
rounds the cave belongs to the canadian or
Middle Period Of the Lower Silurian,n The
weathered surface Is nearly white while the
body OF the rock is OF an intensely BLUSH hlack
color. Many fossils belonging to this formation
are found On or near the surface. Those most
commonly met with In this region are C,.in0iGS
and 1filObieS.
AT the Office we registered, and after refluctnp
our temperature to the requisite degree We were
taken In charge by Mr. StebbIns and his sons
who conducted US down a broad and easily-de.
cending stairway, which landed US th1rty-rive
feet below the entrance. The Thermometer fell
10 $50 Fahrenheit, which was two degtee;
higher than at the Endless Cavern. Leaving
the stairway we approach the Vestlbule or En-,
trance Chamber. an irregular shaped room thir-
ty-f1Ve feet high by something like one hundred
and eighty feet Ia length; It's breadth varying
In an cratic anG picturesque 10 amer. We noW
get out Cur nole books, measuring ana sound
ing liIes, While MIR. Smilie brings 10 the rear
with his camera tripod and magnesium lantern
The first thing in order, however, before pro-
ceediDg was to hear brief lecture on the for
nation Of stalactiteS, StalagmtteS helictites.
potrycids. calcite cry stalls and cave pearls. This
Introductory course" was necessary, In order
to scientifically familiariZe some OF us with the
growth OF the cavern and its aforementioned
accessories. The first object TO attract special
attent1on-Outstde OF the "Avernian" darkness
through which weare pluDgipg-is Washington's
Column, which looms up soIeInnly in the sombre
reachts ucm the door to the ceiling, and Is