Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1881-05-10
EDITORIAL EXCURSION TO THE
LURAY CAVERNS.

Valley Railroads, to the wonderful Euray
Cascrns, in Page county, Va. The excur.
sion was organized under the auspices of the
Cumberland Valley Editorial Association.
through the courtesy of the Cumberland and
Shenandoah Valley Railroads. and the party
Partaking of its pleasures was composed of
members of the Association and invited
guests. (of which latter we were more than
pleased to be numbered, } and their wives and
sweethesrts. The special train conveying
the excursionists left Harrisburg, Pa, at
$50. a. NJ, and passed Charlestown at
about 10, reaching Luray a. about / o'clock.
O.. P Hatch, Esq., the GenI. Passenger and
Freight Agent of the s. v. R. r., was in
charge. assisted by Mr.. J. c. CassolI, Chief
Dispatcher of Trains, the train being run by
two excellent Conductors, Capt. Miller, of
the Cumberland Valley, and Capt. VIM. T.
Daugherty, of the Shenandoah Valley.
About two hundred persons wero aboard
after leaving CbarIestewn, the following. as
far as we could gather them, being the
members of the editorial fraternity incIudcd:
ALI. SandersOn. PresidentC. v. Editorial
Association, Chronicle, Shippensbury; a. h.
Addans, Secretary. Herald and Mirror.
Carlisle; w. u. Breslin, Adoeriiser. and
Tob. Reinahl, Courier, Lebanon; Frank
Fry, Neios. and George Schrou. LcRyer.
Newport; f. -. Heiyes. Contributor to N.
y. Country GsnHrmon. Hiram Young, Dis
patch. Isaac Rudisell, Only, H, s, McNair.
Republican, aud D.. a. Fry and Son, Penn.
sytcamtan, York; r. II. Mundav. Froof
Sheet, r. $. Menam'n, Printers C;rcah,r,
Manly l.. Gillian. record. A. VI. SpangIer
and James Mcrorks!I. Ecemiag STIR. and
Addison Il. Burke and Raymond johnson.
Pablic LeLJer, Philadsiphia; Colonel John
"aIiewer and John Wallower, Jr., Lp1e.
pendent. and Elias Mumms. Patriot. Harris
burg; Jocob p. Ancney, Herald, and A. III.
Rambo, Current Columbia; II. J.. Stable,
Compiler, Gettysburg; w. y. Henssll, la
feuiyencer. j. b. Warfel, New Era, and K
b. Risk, Eremiqer. Lancaster; Henry A
Tyson, Posi-, and Daniel s. Frances, Spirit.
Reading; n. D. Smith. Herald, Hanover;
j.. w. Stofer, Journal, Middietown: r. n
Thomas. Independent Journal, Meehanics.
burg; E. W. Shapley, Bulletin, Dillsburg;
J. B.. Morrow, Spirit of the Valley. and
John Fashnatt, Enterprise, MELVILLE; John
a. MCGEE, Democrat, John II. Shively.
4d0ocdte, and Frank Mortimer, Times, New
Bloomfield; i. Zeamer, Volunteer, II. K.
Ptciaer, Sentinel, j. B, Brstton. formerly of
Herald. and r. Mccartney. Herald and
~HH'O'1 OeAlis4S {. ". anu II. H.. wagner,
Ne'Os. Shippensburg; III. A. Fo!tz, and %.
w. Curriden, Public Opinion, J. G. Orr.
Valley Spirit. j: G. sohaf. Register, and
Nevtn Pomerey, Repository, Chambersburg;
Is. a. Wingard and r. G. Patterson, Local
Press, and W. f. Patton. Echo, Greencastle;
%. o. Blair, Record, and Samuel Douglas
Keystone Gazette, Waynesbcro; r. NJ. Elrly,
Echo, Mt. Holly Springs; w. S. Herbert
Daily Ners, W. Fl. A. Hamilton. obi
feHow, and Ira H.. Hayes, Globe. Hagers-
town; a. Y. Lee, Valley Farmer, Stauntou:
D. y. Eiehelberger, Jr,, Statesman. Mar
tinsburg; 81. N. and w. W. B. GslIaher.
Free Press, and Geo. W. Hsines, Spirit Of
Jefferson, Cbarlestown.
The excursion was slzo accomnaniea and
entertained by the Johannesburg (Pa.)
CorBet Band.
AT Luray, the Association and its guests
were sumptuously entertained with dinner
and supper at the Rust House and Cave
Hotel, BY the officers Of the railroad compa-
mics.
OF the wonderful Caverus of Lurav. Ito
which the party was conveyed 10 vehicles
furnished especially for their use. directly
after dinner,) we scarcely know how to write.
70 describe them in detail would REQUIRE
volumes, and the grandest conception would
fail to give one who has not been there a fair
idea of their wonderful formation and sub,
lime beauty.
Illuminated by two thousand FIVE hum
ared lights, and numerous chandeliers, the
magnificent Entrance Hall, westinghouse
Piller, the Flower Garden. the Ampitheatre,
the Natural Arch and the Fish Market, with
Its wonderful formation. looking for ali the
world like strings of bass and perch each
enlist our closest attention. Next we come
to the verge of Pluto's Chasm, n vawninc
% ahvaa sorantv Eyo Co... | eOo
long. aud attempting to peer into it, dismal
depths We may we'll imnsine it a Et abode
for a very fend iucarnate whilst casting cur
eyes away down to the left We SEQ Swinging
up from its depths tho Spectre. a tall. white
futed sta'nctite hedacked with a fringe Of
snowy drapcries. presenting a weird and
striking appearance. Prncernine's Pillar. the
Crystal Spring. Imperial Spring, Titania's
Veil, Froz'n Fountain. D,ana's Rsth. Throne.
Tower of Babel. Casket Suring Gamphe,l's
Hail, and Empress Column. arc sll beautiful
heSond conception. Down in the depths of
Skeleton Gorge ia 10 be seen lmhc6d.d rho
tkeIet"n of what Is said to he a female human
beng. supposed to have fallen into an en-.
trance to the cave at some remote period IF
the past. and there wandered around and
died The Cathedral, OF Organ Room. is |
one OF the greatest attractions of the eaverus.
10 here we hnd q group Of mammoth natural
staiaotite pipes, which whom struck by a stick
send out sweet musical tones, and upon
which MIR. Campbell, one of the discoverers
OF the caverns. plays complete pieces of
music. The Ball Room is a spacious cham-
oes' nsted up with a large dancing platform
and comfortable seats, and here some oF ,ba
younger members of tho party ..tinned tbo
light. fantastic toe" to the music Of n. NJ
ehsnicsburg Band.
But our time and space forbid rs to dvs}l1
longer on this subject. Suffice i. to saw in
conclusion that the Luray Cavsrns, with all