The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-08-02
Somerset. July 81 lss2,

druggists.
SOMERSET, July 81 1852.
BY request have prepared the following
description Of the caverns of Luray, Page
county. Va. having visited them July -
1852:
4 party of us dropped oil the excursion
train at Wayncsburg, in order to reach the
caves. On arriving at Luray We boarded
coach drawn by three horses, and were soon
landed at the building covering The entrance
to the great cayerns, one-half mile from the
railroad station. We at once procured tick
e.s and were ready 10 enter the cave. To do
so We descended a stairway, as If going
down into cellar. Within the cave are
plank and cement walks, bndges. stairways,
etc The temperature of the caves is said to
/ be from - to 5s degrees.
The thirteen electric lights suspended at
many points relieve the visitor from carry
Ing his own torch; still, if desired, the guide
provides each person with lantern. At
the word ready" we follow the guide; 4
door is opened and we are met by draft
of cool air At tie foot of the stairway We
find ourselves in Entrance Hall
Strange shapes SHOW thenselyes at every
turn, and every object that meets our eye
suggests some growth OF animal on yecscta-
bic life On all sides are glittering stalac-
,ites and columns strong enough TO bear a
world. Draperies with broad folds, cas-
cades OF snow-white stone, and beyond a
background of pitchy darkness.
First to attract our attention Is Washing
TONS Column. a auted column about twenty
five feet in diameter by thirty feet in height,
reaching from floor to ceiling. Further on
we reach the garden, q space enclosed with
natural border and resembling vegetable
forms-bHnches OF asparagus, caulifiower
cabbages. etc We now descend a stairway
to the level Of Muddy las4e, ans ~ doing so
see on the wall or sock I've parallel lines
scratches of bear 5 paws our salqe as-
scrts. Then We pass on through ti.e thea
tire 10 the fish market, where We see hang
ing on our left in rows, black bass and si!-
yer perch, done up in bunches; rock fist,
too, according to our guides ancient joke
Then we come to Eifn Ramble, vast open
plateau. said to be 500 feet long and BOO feet
eide The ceiling is blue limestone and the
floor dry clay The distance from floor to
ceiling is frogl one TO sixteen feet Next Is
Pluto's cave, seyelty-fiye feet deep, aHd 4
length of five hnnd!ei feet. Atthe bottom
of the ehasm is Ihe.specire, : ia.l sialectlie'
looking very ghsstly indeed in The din
light. Walking towards il We come to
Minew Lake small pool of calm. clear
water. Returning along the edge Of the
chasn and going down q stairway, We are IA
Havery Hall where we see some tine lorna
tions. a cluster Of coral and piece Of statu-
arv. Hagar and IshIuael. TheresFe sixteen
alabaster scarfs hanging side by side Of
beau.iful color-tliree show-white, thirteen
Ike agate
Next on oas way Is CFystal spring. so
named from the crystals, formed ai llws et
the bottom and sides. The guide nov shows
n, a part of Skeleton George" tho bones
of q man lying partly i'nbe'iied in drip
stones.
Next We come TO Brands Cascade and
Imperial Spring. The cascade Is formed Of
snow-white stone. a. is the ladies toilet Ia
lie. We now make for Giants Hall. @i-
s.lt forms are Oh every side. To the LEFT we
catch glimpse Of "Tiianea's Veil, and to
the right is the lovely sru1ea Fonntain.
The little lake near 10y IS called @Diana' ;
Bath" The "saraceBs' Tent is a large cir
cular space enoi0-ed By long yellow draper
les suspended from The ceiling some forty
feet above.
We now pass fallen monster staiactite.
twelve feet in diameter by twenty in length.
Next is the organ, and by raPping it with a
pencil We find it gives out notes We next
enter the Throne Room" which is beautiful
i.eycpG description. Retracins our steps to
ile io-et eaa al HE Organ Poom We find
ourselves iale 20 f4cs With peFHepiipgiaf
banner Of mosaic staiaOtites. 70 the lett is
the Tower of Babel" We next reach Gi-
ants Hall proper, where we find Empress
Column, which is pure white, but the Sui
tana Column" near by, is discolored with
sge We now come to the base Of the "Dou-
bia Coi.I.,., lie one a stalactite hanging
about fifty teet rfo,.. IT, aeiiing to within
few feet Of the fioor. the other riSiag ., it,
side from the floor nearly as high. 4 little
further Oh IS "Mohammed's Coffin, AZ i'm
s.6sse honder Of limestone suspended in
the air. beiHg tisi ~ thR center. The Ball
Rooni" il large open spsee Heari. circular.
!, j. hoored with piank and provided with
benches. This apartment. the l0EeiieS: in
the cave. j. go feet below the surface
The next Is Collins GTotfo, and on leav-
ing this W. stop 20 examine the bids
ae-s elsi'y in tl'e ro-'k containing three
, teaaiifq. Si!;is riss4 Eye pesrls.
"CampSeii's iisli. ~ si.-.'n.e.ls t4{ II.
in diameter and IS feet high. Is remarkable
! for tie variety OF color, some pcarly white.
/ Others red, yellow, biueish, and jetIy black
sss ...-sc cgT way back in the Hall of
Kbliz," very side deP-aHeat, Hp = fight
of SiaiFs. Here ere the 'CaL,e, CGlGmE, -
/ the ''CaInei's Head the "i;andksrolI.ef 50
{ the Wet Blanket" and the bridal Cham
( ber" From here We are shown hack 70 En-
trance Hall, and mount the stairway into
the light of day, realizing that we have enor-
mons apPetites and perhaps trihe tired by
-l;e so.srs We hsve spent in this wonderful
cave. - FxcTRsToSIsT.
GaSFLUEsCE iTEEs.
M. sailivaa johnson and family, of Al
legheny City. are visiting friends here and
at Addison.
Frank r. Flick aud family, OF the ZANE