The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-05-10

we had through the kindness of the
Editorial Association OF Cumberland
county, the pleasure of joining an Ex-
cursion consisting of nearly two hum
dred editors with their wives and lady
friends, for the purpose of visiting the
newly discovered caves at Luray, Virgin
10. The special train left Harrisburg at
$50 A. NJ, arrived at Luray at noon.-
The route travelled over was the Cumber-
land Valley road TO Hagerstown and
from there by the Shenandoah Valley
II. r., to Luray. This road has been
recently opened and passes through one
of the best valleys In the State. Arriv-
ing at Luray the visitors were furnished
dinner at the expense of the Railroad
company the party being divided be-
tween the two hotels as neither was
able to accommodate SO large a number.
After dinner, carriages took the excur-
sionists to the cave, which on this occa-
sion was illuminated by six thousand
candles.
These caverns were discovered last
year and the company has since had
number of hands employed in building
bridges across places where they are re-
quired, putting down board walks where
needed, and making the various points
of interest more accessible. We had
previously visited Mammoth cave in
KY, and consequently thought it rath-
er waste of time to visit any other cave,
ctrt,nOcinn ont,II
that one. We were however compelled
to ackno wledge that in every point ex-
cept size, the Luray caverns surpass the
Mammoth cave, land the Virginia caves
are large enough to satisfy any one) 1t
is impossible for pen or tongue to give
any just description of the wonders of
these caves as they must be seen to be
appreciated, but the following is list
of some of the points of interest to
which visitors attention is called.
/. Grand Entrance, 20 feet high, so feet
Wide 9. Washington's Pillar, 14x30 feet
8. stebbin's Avenue, to the left 4. The
Flower Garden 5. Amphtheatre 9. Mud
dy Lake. z. Natural Bridge; s. Fish Mar
ket; 9. Pluto's Chasm, 75 feet deep: 500 feet
long; 10. Specter Column, in Pluto's chasm,
pines Pillar; ~. Crystal Spring 15. Stone
wall Avenue, or Skeleton Gorge IA. Imperl-
al Spring; Is. Brands Cascade; 10. Ober-
on's Grotto; II. Titania's Veil IS. Fallen
Column; 10. saracen's Tent; go. Frozen
Fountain 81 Dlana's Bath /; 29. Angels
Wing 2S. Cathedral, or Organ Room, with
Organ; 81. Tower of Babel; %. Entrance
to Giants Hall; 26. Indian Squaw 81. Sui
tana Column 2s. Bird Columns 30. Giants
Hall 30. Double Column; 81. Ball Room ;
32. Cemetery; 33. Casket Spring "a. Gin
derella, leaving the ball Room; 35. Camp
BELLS Hall SO. Scale Column 81. Express
Column, 40 feet high.
We have not space for description of
the various views, but will partially
describe the ball room. This is probably
ofa mile from the entrance, and is reach
ed by broad passage which opens out to q
room from one hundred and fifty to two
hundred feet in circumference, with a
ceiling about forty feet high. This cell
ing is ornamented with beautiful stalac-
tites of all sizes and shapes, some of
them white, some bronze color, all
seeming to be richly carved. The walls
do not rise perpendicularly,b but recede as
they rise and are pIentifully supplied
with stalagmites which vary in size,
shape and beauty. The ground has been
hoored over and railing and seats are
placed around the room making COM
Portable place to rest. The Singer Cornet
Band of Mechanicsburg, which had been
engaged for the trip, played several
pieces in this room, and a number of the
party enjoyed an underground dance.
After leaving the caverns, supper was
furnished, and at P. M, the train start
ed on its return. The hotel accommo-
dations are not sufficient now for large
party, but Mr.. John H. Adams, pro-
prietor of the Cave house, did all he
could to render our visit pleasant. The
Company is preparing the foundation
for the erection of large hotel which
when done will be a pleasant stopping
place for the crowd of travellers who will
soon begin to visit that place.
Iunlata County We copy the follow
ing from the Juniata county papers. of
last week