Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-05-12
LURAY CAVE, VA.
Chambers that Rival the Won
ders Of Mammoth Cave.

Correspondent Philadelphia Public Ledger.l
We arrived at Luray about half-past
twelve o'clock, and after dinner at the
hotels, visited the newly discovered
cave, the opening to which is about
one mile from the town. 1t was dis
covered, not by chance, but as the
result of a long search by Mr.. b. z.
Stebbins, formerly of Easton, Md,
and some friends, who thought it
likely, from surface indications, that
there we're caves in the neighborhood,
and set to work to find them. They
did a great deal of fruitless digging,
and were duly ~ridiculed; but in 1878
they were rewarded, by finding an
entrance TO what is claimed to be "the
most beautiful cave in the world"
The track of land beneath which it
lies was bought by the ~discoverer OF
the cave, but it is now the property of
the railroad company, and consider
able money has been expended in
fitting it up with walks, stairways, etc,
for the use of visitors. The entrance
is from a small house, wEere visitors
rest before and after entering the cave.
The party is led by the guide down
what might be the cellar stairs, only
that in this case they descend prob
ably forty feet, and are lined with
massive masonry TO support the roof
at the entrance.
Passing under a low, natural arch
way, the entrance hall is reached, a
great cavern, beautifully decorated by
nature with weird stalactites, stalag-
mites and other formations. The cave
was brilliantly Illuminated for our
visit by upwards of three thousand
candles, mounted on the stalagmites,
Oh set in the long galleries, which
Only small boys can enter on hands
and knees, or hung in chandeliers
from the stone carved ceiling. From
the entrance hall, which seems to the
visitor the perfection OF cave scenery,
various passage ways lead to other
apartments, chasms and great halls, as
much superior in size and grandeur to
the entrance as that surpasses antiei-
pations. l cannot pretend to describe
the wonders Of this cavern, which is
probably two or three miles in length
of its passage ways, and descends in
the hall room to a depth of 260 feet
from the surface. The first impression
is that there is a great deal of same.
ness in the formations-that one of
the great halls, for instance, is much
like another-but a very little study
and reflection shows that in the mat
ter Of variety as well as beauty the
Luray cave can hardly be excelled.
1t is in a limestone region, of course,
and the stalactites and stllagmites
formed by the crys~tallization Of lime
aud magnesia, carried down to it in
the water that drips from the roof,
seem to meet here all the conditions
necessary to their perfect develop
ment in an infinite variety Of form.
There is not merely the ordinary sta
~lactite like an i%ciele, and its compan-
ion stalagmite built upward from the
floor, but some of these have grown in
the Luray cave to enormous size.
There are cave crystals and cave
pearls, stone cascades formed by the
trickling of the lime bearing water
over inclined planes, horizontal stone
growths, and branches or twigs and
blankets made by the ~lattening out
of stslactites and stalagmites. These
are frequently recurYed and present
much of the appearance Of a folded
blanket suspended from the roof. The
newly-formed stalactites are pule
white; the older growths are colored
in various shades by the iron or other
minerals they contain. Some of the
blankets mentioned above are very Gu
rious in this respect. While they are
being formed the iron will be carried
down to them for a time; then nothing
but lime and magnesia; then more
iron or some other mineral, the result
being that the blanket will be given
a border regularly striped in colors.
When lights are placed behind the
transparent ~stalactites the effect is very
beautiful. the iron showing bands OF
red or reddish brown in contrast with
the m~ilk-white lime.
Ordinarily the visitor and his guide
carry candles with them and OCCASION
ally light a piece of magnesium ribbon
to obtain a passing glimpse Of this
fairy land but we were favored with
a most brilliant illumination all
through the cave, and guides were sta
toned at every turning place to tell us
the fanciful names given to various
stalactites. A lively Imagination can
transform these queer formations into
stone images Of all kinds, and 50 VIZ
have a succession Of more or less sug-
gestiye names given to them by for.
mer visitors. The amphitheatre Of
ball room is a magnificent apartment,
probably as large as Musical Fund
nall, and hoored over. The light'
from a thousand candles were reflected
from the stone sculptured walls anC
ceilings, and our band, having accom-.
panied US to the cave, furnished The
music for a dance.
Luray contains many beautiful.
springs, lined with crystals and filled
to the brim with water 50 Transparent.
that its presence is only made appar
ent to the eye by light reflected from
its surface. The atmosphere Of tn,
cave appears to be entirely pure, and
though somewhat damp, the visito.
who has thick shoes can wander abOu
in every part without Inconvenience
A good deal Of money has been ex
pended in fitting up walks and stair
ways, so as TO give head room. TIL.
main apartments can all be reached
while walking upright or simply stoop
ing under a fallen column, but Their
are vast caYerns yet unexplored, 4
which the adventurous tourist cal
only 90 on hands and knees. ALTHOUGH
smaller than the Mammoth cave
Luray is pronounced bymen who hay
seen both more interesting and beau