Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-06-04
IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.

New Market mas rather an ancient appear
ance. 1t is situated near the line dividing
the counties Of Shenandoah and Rocking
ham and near the base of the Massanutton
mountain. The country around - lovely
and exceedingly fertile. The town is small,
numbering, perhaps, not more than five
hundred inhabitants. Passing along the
streets every one seems to be engaged, and
whilst the salutations of the day are politely
extended, there is an utter absence of that
inquisitive look so Characteristic of the cold,
calculating and methodical Yankee. 1t en-
joys the advantages of a clearinghouse,
and has flourishing and prominent insti-
tuition of learning, presided over by an ex-
perienced and able corps of professors
New market is not without historic record
1t was a conspicuous and prominent point
during the entire war. 1t was here, on the
10Th of May, 1864, that Gen. Breckenridge's
small command of three thousand men, two
hundred and fifty of whom we're youths
from the Virginia Military Institute, put to
flight Gen. Seigers force Of twelve thousand
soldiers. So complete was the Confederate
victory that Seigers dead and wounded
were left on the battle field, many of his guns
and over five hundred prisoners taken. Gen.
Seigel only saved his command from being
captured BY reason of the burning of the
bridge over a stream which flows not a great
way from the town. Col. Whites command,
the 35th Battalion, was stationed for long
time near this place, and doubtless many of
our county boys who were of this COM
mand still retain lively recollections Of those
days.
Having secured delightful room at the
Central Hotel, which is under the manage
ment A. J. Hoffman, Esq, the pleasant and
genial gentleman, we started in search Of the
Office of the Shenandoah Valley, having been
informed that such was the title of paper
published in the town. Introducing our
selves to one of the editors and propretors,
we were received with that cordial hos
pitality for which the press of Virginia is
so remarkable. The Shenandoah Valley is a
spirited, ably edited and progressive paper,
and the third in age in the State, having been
established as early as 1906. There are two
other journals published in this Office by the
same proprietors, one weekly and the other
monthly. We were presented by the pro-
prietor with handsome copy of a poem
entitled, "Idothea," by Prof Jos Salyard,
of New Market, work favorably criticised
by European and American reviewers. 1t
was published in this Office and is artistic
ally and tastefully executed.
After an early and charming breakfast
we found Capt Burke with an elegant car
riage and pair ready to convey us to the cave.
Anhour's ride over adelightful road, through
rich and luxurious country, passing such
wheat fields as we never before beheld,
brought us to the residence of Reuben Zir-
kle, Esq, an extensive farmer and the owner
of the caverns. Introducing ourselves to
this gentlemen, we handel him letter of
introduction, kindly given by Mr.. Henkle
of the Shenandoah Valley We were kindly
received, and Mr.. Zirkle placed us at once
under the care of two of his sons with in
structions that we be shown every portion
of the caverns as far as have been explored.
A few moments ride brought us to this
most wonderful and gigantic freak of nature.
The entrance to the caverns is from an ele-
waited position. Immediately over the en-
trance a substantial building has been erect
ed. The building contains ladies' and gen
tlemen's dressing rooms, ball room, an
observatory and refreshment ROOM In
little while our party, consisting of three
guides and ourselves, were ready for the
descent Each person having been provided
with tin reflector, each reflector contain
ing three lighted candles, whilst one Of the
guides was further provided with leather
satchel hung over his shoulder and filled
with candles TO be used in case of any
emergency II is here proper To add that
the novelty and excitement of making a
circuit of three miles under ground was not
altogether unattended with some nervous
ness. The varied splendor and magnifcence
of the chambers, corridors, Alpine passes and
romantic and frownng ravines and wierd
abysses passing before our vision in the short
space of three hours has so crowded the
plate of memory that we will not be able
to give but a faint and minute description OF
our visit through these caverns. Persons who
have visited other caves for the purpose of
giving well defined and correct view of
their formations, beauties and wonders spent
weeks in preparing an intelligent and ac-
curatc description of some of their most
conspicuous and marvellous charms and
scenes
Opening door upon the side Of the pas
sage, we descended pair Of steps sixty-tlve
feet in length, the terminus of which brought
us to the Reception Room" or ante-chamber.
Here we stood for few moments almost
paralyzed with the strange, novel and freak
ish beauty which sprung up before us. This
room is twenty-five by ninety feet The cell
ing is between eight and ten feet in height,
and is deliberately and artisticaly frescoed,
the colors gray and blue beautifully blended.
Large clusters OF snow banks also adorn the
angles Of the upper walls, the crests being
delicately tinged with cerulean blue and
from which hang glittering pendants or stall
actites. Near the walls and reaching TO the
ceiling rise grotesque columns of immense
proportions, as though to dispe all lear from
the mind of the visitor, and between which
are carved the most fantastic alcoves Here,
perhaps, away back in the dim vista of bur
led centuries, some gallant courtler may have
awaited the queenly presence Of the fair god.
dess who was 10 conduct him through the
jeweied splendors Of the subtermnean cav.
erns, over the realm of which she presided.
We also noticed near the entrance To this
chamber "a statue which, by reason of its re-
sembiance, has been named William Cul.
len Bryant" also many other objects of in.
terest, but the want OF space precludes us
from giving any mention Of the same.
We left this chamber by narrow passage
Of seventy-hye feet in length, through solid
limestone rock, five feet in height and about