The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-08-05
For the Democratic Adcocdte.
THE LURAY CAVERNS.
Vivid DcscriptiOn-Weird Hangings and
Fancy Beautiful and
Varied Gave ScRncrY. &c.


ty Of ladies and gentlemen Including your
correspondent left New Windsor under a
clear, blue sky. en- route for Luray Caves.
The distance there and to return Is two hun
dred and sixty miles, which was made with
very little delay. The scenery was grand, and
the expressions of wonder and admiration
from the excursionists were continual.
After pleasant ride we arrived at the little
town of Luray, which nestles cozily among a
series of hills most beautiful to behold, and
which are wonderfully bright and blue the
year round, Swallowed only by the passing
cloud Nor is the beauty of situation its only
attraction; it has some historic lore. Gen.
Stonewen jackson made his well known flank
movement upon Gen. Banks at Strasburg
through the Luray Valley. Gen. Shields
also, through this same valley, attempted to
intercept the willy Confederate in his retreat
before Fremont The chief attraction of Lu-
raw. however, is its wonderful cave, which
was discovered about four years ago by Mr..
B. p. Stebbins, of Talbot county, Nd, and
Messrs. A. j. Campbell and VIM. B. Camp
bell, of Iuray, Va. From the history of the
cave we learn that the Mammoth and hyan-
dette Caves are both much larger, but they
lack the weird hangings and fancy treseoings
Of Luray, as well as its beautiful and strange
ly varied cave =.senery.
number of omnibuses, we now hasten TO cave
hill distance of one mile and quarter.
This Hill is rather unpretentious looking, soil
thin vegetation scant, its brow adorned with
a growth of scrub timber. The entrance to
the cave is near the foot, on the southeast
side of the hill. and oyer it strong two-story
wooden building has been erected. We de-
scended by an entrance twenty feet high by
eighty wide. which ushered us into this won
drous world Of eaTth-imprisioned crystals and
pearly formations. Our first emotion was not
Of chill or horror, as we had supposed. but of
awe and wonder SO great that we felt ourselves
statues, incapable Of following the CHEEKY
..Readyi' of the guide who met US at this
moment, and who assumed the name of guide
No. 1" and We can say truly that he was a
number one gHidc for having conducted our
party so successfully.
ahe entrance chamber we find to be long
and lofty, having near is centre a huge col
umu, beautifully eolored, groOved and veined,
bearing the name of WashingtOn's Pillar.
Behind this line of similar formations ex-
tend the length of the room. Passing through
the entrance chamber and admiriug its bean
tiful walls We find on our Left the Flower
Garden. an enclosure containing thousands
Of s;alagmites Enthusiastically formed and rcsem-
bling plants. Next comes the Amphithe1ire,
a circular apartment, strangely and grOsesque-
" ornamentsd. Descending flight Of steps
We tread our WAY by Muddy Lake, the mar
rowest part OF its rayine-like walls being
spanned by the Natural Bridge, which
bear. a striking resemblance to lis namesake
in the upper world. Adjacent stands the
Fish Market. its walls adorned with rows Of
the .'iinuy tribe looking as fresh aud plump
as thoagh hung mp for sale IN verifable mar
kei. The way now lcaaS np another flight OF
steps and across high bib where the roof
nearly touches or heads aud we stand on the
brink of Plate, Chasm. Deep, dirk. cavern
Gus, awfnl il yawEs At cur feet ia n frigtsttal
manner and the guide tells Us i Is - feet
deep and 500 long. Near by Is PEoserpiee $
Pillar, tall, white, shapeiy, keeping eternal
watch and ward over her lords domInInns-
Higher up the hills Crystal Spriag. ofSprings
the very gem Fitted IN cleaning ICY eoor,
It's basin resembling paress marble, IS tiled
with water diamond clear. Leaving here, nc
descend Skeletons Gorre-a loae. long de-
seent-only 10 find at the bottom portion q
a human skeleton firmly embedded in the
rock The skull and lcx-banes arr very dis
tincf aud unnaistakahle. The story goes
s.An Indisn maiden, wronxed and sighted,
sought The solitude and Shelter 81 the cav.
and falling, by a sd miss,cp. her light weai
out and a terrible and iaeyitahie death await.
ed her Passing on throagh this p@lace Of
nAiare. 80 pause on the briRk Of ehassn, a
one cad 81 which mountainous val bears =
elacier-like formation known ~ Brand i Gas.
e7sde. Its bread surface hes whi,s and gle&ni-
ing in the light; At is foot glittrFs a spring.
AT the bead IL this cascade. on the eress af a
bill. i Imperial Spring, lsrre, clear. deep,
surrounded hy lofts brown ealnmns, between
which the eve catches the glcan e reafiy
glistening suo~drifls. 1isausa' Veil, lady ;
failet Stand. Oberon Grgzte. the gilsseuinx
Snow Raak. the famous Frozen foansain and
the beantifsii little lake. Dianas Bah, are
alone worthy Of 4 trip. StoopiaE under an
immense rock We come 70 a saddenly wldcned
ss,aes aud stand IN front Of SAraceas Test
IL appearance i lofty and Imposing. kas.
pres Coiamu i large and wonderfai s,aias;-
mite rising 80 feet irnn the gr0aaa in marvel
Gus beauty, growing and increasing everyday,
and consequently pare white. The leaaiy ~
this column ! enhanced By the eleesrie light
which appears - give Is deise4sc ross tiSf-
family cleaning throagh sheeny folds 81
creamy lace. Passing on Nc hpa lyias across
our path The Fallca Column. grooved aad
hronxed shaft. q feet ia length and 10 IN
circumference Judging bY the formations
which have accumulated upon q, = noted
scientist asserts thAt Is lrll many Thousand
years aso.
The Augei's Wing Is AZ once Fpeagnized.
II Is so perfectly shaped. long, si0ping, grace.
ful and 20 light snd airy that one almost
irnazines it, snowy plnmAge waving The
next that attracts our attention Is a m4ss1fe
structure resembllagan organ. Many beau-
tifui combinations Of musical SQUADS arr pro
duced b. striking r0w Of ssalaetises arranged
across the ireai, three Of ihem sounding the
ErSt three notes of the scale clearly and dis
tiaesiy. Behind the organ i Palfis AID
cushioned chair. On our Eay 50 AiiAai' :
Hall We pass Good TemplaE Spring. whose
[ water. nesting in little brown aleaFe, i ~
{ clear as crystal Descending into the ball -
F find Al the foot Suitana Column, which Is tail
aud slender Of dark polished green, relieved
{ BY gtintings OF pale gold aud crowned with
z an exquisigely shaped arm, beautifully chased
+ and ovnamented Everything in this hall i
on q grand scale lts ceiling IS niuety feel
I high, apparently supported by an immense
! double column. one side Of which Is grpoved
ard the other composed Of carved layers
Huge rocks Of fantastic shapes loom a our
Z sides and hang above our heads Tonabs,
{ temples, domes, spires, minaFeis and tboa.
sand and one weird groupings mee; the eye
+ a. every turn Wildly, grandiy beautiful j,
E Giants HALL Passi&g through n naFTou
( corridor we turn 20 the left and ascend by uu-
mcrous steps into Campbell's HAD. Long
wide. roomy. aud most OF the formations an
white and Of exquisite shape and hnisls. g'yins
one the impression Of Riry palace.
We walk through fretied corridors until ~
emerge into the Ball Room, fine large room
{ III profuselg with electric lights aud IN which
a platform has been laid, surrounded by seats
+ IL ceiliag fairly rivals the finest freseoing,
and Is the most beautiful in the cave. Upon
questioning the guide he tells Us We are go
+ feet below the surface. Among the stalag
mites on the left, we catch glimpse Of Gin
+ derella heeey floating tram as she lesves the
scene Of her fairy triumph. just beyond
these stalagmites is Cask 4 Spring inelosei ia
I heavy folds of brown drapery. Near the Bal
Room is a cemetery. Three cleaning white
graves marked with .'stone Al head and foot
lie within the enclosure. The terminus q
this room is mountainous wall, bearing OF
its eraggy sides walled and turreted castles;
10 the left Il becomes smoother and Is adorned
BY groups of statnary. some OF them very
beautiful. The Birds Nest, Ladies Hand
kerohief. StOnewall Jackson's Tent and Ave
nue, are all worthy Of special mention.
This is but partial and meagre description
of the all-inspiring wonders Of this cavern
ssThe half can never be told il must be seen
to be appreciated. The most graphic per
must fail in the portrayal of the varied beau
( ties of these wonderful cayerns. Access now
to Lnay by railroad is so easy and so cheap
that every one ought to avail themselves Of
/ the first opportunity. A large and handsome
hotel has been erected, finely situated and
( commanding an extended view of the noun