Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-12-07
CAVE OF LURAY.
vIRGINIA's GREATEST AND GRANDEsT
NATURAL CURIOSITY.
Some of the Wonderful Things in This
Vast Cavern of the shen-
andoah Valley.

The fertile valley of the Shenandoah,
with its beautiful scenery, which has been
isolated from the rest of the world, is now
opened up by railroad, which has become
the popular route to the Caverns and White
Sulphur Springs. It is hard to realize that
less than twenty years ago this valley OF
natural loneliness was the scene of such
frightful carnage. At last we arrive at
Luray, Va. Here, twenty years ago. oc.
Cured Stonewall Jackson's famous flank
movement on Banks, while Lees army
passed here few months later. But Luray
is now celebrated by reason of the opening
of its wonderful cave. A ride of over a
mile brings us to its mouth.
AT THE CAVE.
To look at "Cave Hill" nobody would
suppose that beneath its plain. looking ex-
terror was a cave which is destined to be-
come one of the most famous and widely.
known of all the underground phenomena
OF this world. In the waitingroom our
party, equipped with light-giving appa-
ratus, consisting of combination of re-
fiector and candlestick, descend through
what looks like cellar stairway. Down,
down, and onward we 60 for hours, wind
ing through miles Of corridors down by
the side OF gaping chasms, then up, way
up among the domes OF grand halls, keep
ing close to the heels of the guide, who,
whenever striking feature of the case was
reached, proceeded to enhance the value OF
the sight by means of an illumination with
magnesium tape. Rubber suits or extra
wrappings are not required-there are no
drippings from above. The temperature is
pleasant, uniformly of sixty degrees, and
the ventilation excellent. Neither is it
necessary at any time to crawl or climblike
bears or apes, but the journey throughout
is safe, easy and cleanly. During the
presence of excursions or large parties the
caverns are illuminated with
ELECTRIC LIGHT.
The roof of the cave is said to average from
$50 to 200 feet in thickness and to consist
of an immense bed of limestone rock,
through which the water soaks from the
surface, each drop, impregnated with lime
stone, depositing its mite, thus beginning
the formation of stalactites and stalagmites,
which it takes centuries to bring to respect
full proportions. The cave was accidentally
two years ago in digging down
through sink. hole. The only human relic
found in the cave is an encrusted human
skeleton lying in the bottom OF pit, which
has been pronounced by professional gen.
tleman to be that of full grown man. The
formations of the cave are SO varied and
profuse, presenting at every step, from the
moment you enter till you reach its re-
hottest limit, new objects for admiration or
wonder, that the mind becomes confused,
overwhelmed, and unable to "take in
such throng of objects rarely and sweet
ly beautiful or awfully grand and sublime.
Indeed, its endless variety-no two rooms
the same appearance, no two
stalactites or stagamites being alike-con-
stitutes one of its principal charms and dis
tinguishes it above all other known caves.
A FAIRY.LIKE INTERIOR.
The crystal monuments and alabaster
columns, high and vast; the crypts, clois-
tiers and cathedral. like apartments of this
majestic under world the glittering pen
dants and pearl-hke formations on every
hand statues no bigger than lady's fin
ger, Others like the "great giant Christie
pher." Here and there you will find quiet
pools and peaceful lakes, which the winds
of Heaven have never kissed, and millions
of the most curious and beautiful forms
which the fantastic brain of fairies could
conceive poutirg, trickling rills and
flowers, and pieces of drapery to carved
and fiuted columns groups of statuary and
arched domes of imposing dimensions make
one feel as if he were in the enchanted
abode of the subterranean gods. Here
pendant millions of stalactites, like taper.
ing pencils, brlstle from the arching dome
overhead, while stalagmites are grouped
about like statuary on every hand. One
is lost in admiration and wonder over mas
sive columns, carved and futed, great for
ests of leafess trees, grand cathedrals with
lofty spires, forts and castles in picturesque
ruins, foaming cascades that seem to have
been stilled forever by breath of ever
lasting frost, richly carved pillars and Pc
destals, immense organs whose pipes are
actually attuned, to some extent, in per-
feet harmony with the laws of musical
sound, folds of lovely drapery ornamented
with tracery
LIKE FINE LACE
Work hung with the edgings of heavy
silver bullion, solemn looking GENE
teries with grim wildernesses OF
tombstones and monuments and shafts in
sad disorder, and thousand other designs
which curious nature, in this her play
ground fashioned during centuries that
were untold ages old when Egypt's race
was in its youth. Some of the figures
seem to be cut from the clearest crystal,
while others run through the various
grades of crystalline translucency into
grades that are Opaque, and in colors from
a white that rivals the driven snow through
all the tints between that and dull black.
Each point of interest is worthy of special
comment, but we must forbear for want Of
space and be content with mere mention Of
each as we pass them in our meanderings.
In the grand entrance is the great amphi.
theater, twenty feet high and eighty feet
wide. Just beyond and in the center
stand Washington's Pillar, measuring four.
teen by thirty feet; Vegetable Garden,
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