Morning journal and courier., 1883-02-09
Luray Cave.
A Charming Lecture i'm North Sheffield
 Hall Laak EvenfuR.

A CM@rm1mg Lecture In North Sheme1d
 Hall Last Evening.
 Every sitting was occupied in North Shef- field hall last evening, as we'll as nearly all the standing room, the occasion being the delivery of remarkably charming lecture, filled with marvellous descriptive beauty, by Rev. H. 0. Hovey, whose studies of the fa- nous natural caves of the world have been more exhaustive than those of any other observer
 While the body of the lecture was for the purpose of making familiar the glories of the ceve of Luray, in Virginia, great deal of special information touching wonderful dis coveries underground was given and with cIearness of description and wealth of diction rarely at the command of even the most en- thuEiastic of speaker. The audience was well calculated to inspire the lecturer, for it was composed of the most distinguished members of the college circles, there being also large number of ladies.
 The speaker told about the discovery of the cave by man named Campbell, @ tin smith, and photographer named Stebbins, in August of 1878. With gentleman named Brand and one or two others Mir. Hovey early proceeded to aid in developing the splendors which are now so well known to travellers, and which were partly shown at b40 COuC1ub1Ou O1 JUG 1oCbuES, ny A0du6 LII large stereoscopic views from photographs taken by electric light The lecture gave an account of his first efforts in penetrating the hidden mysteries of the place, once jeopar- dizing his life. He gave vivid description of the explorations with their grand results, described the spacious halls and galleries and their fantastic formations in translucent stone, the deep soundings and magnificent prospects illuminated by electric lights. He said that the cave of Luray, though small compared with some others, makes up in beauty for any lack in extent, as it is the most beautiful of any in either the Old or New World Rich in stalactites and sparry concretions, it is now visited each year by large number of travellers, for whose convenience in the way of explorations arrangements are made at moderate cost to the visitor. On one occasion ten thousand candles were used to light these wonderful halls from chandeliers hung from the tips of stalactites: There are now seven miles of wire to furnish the thirteen electric lamps that throw their illumination on the beauties of the place. Stringent rules prevail against 1njurlng or carrying away the specimens, the law mak- ing it in some instances an offense punisha- ble by fine of $500 and imprisonment of one month. In 1882 there were more than 12, GOO visitors to the cave: Tracks of wild animals and prints of Indian moccasins have been seen, and charcoal, and on one of the pillars are evidences that anIimprisoned bear endeavored to get outside by climbing. There was also found a human skeleton, partly imbedded in the deposit of the cave.
 Among the more attractive and magnificent things here to be seen are the leaning tower which ineEnes twenty degrees, on account of the drip stone of its composition being un- dermined by water. In a crystal pool is round, dead black stone called "the cannon ball"; the Washington pillar with it's vein- ing; Pluto's chasm, alabaster cascade, the eherubsin alabaster, the six ehimes-broad blades which when struck give out music like that of bells-and other strange things to as- tonish the beholder. In one apartment are sixteen scarves and columns of stalagmites like Mexican onyx. In the cathedral are the fifty six organ pipes, which, when struck with blows of the fist, play tunes such as "My Maryland" Then there is the rose tinted Empress column, the swords of the Iii tans, fifty feet long and with sharp edges, room, one hundred feet across the coral spring the birds eggs and cave pearls suit able for golden settings, were all eloquently described. Blue stalagmites that appear to float on sea of milk, and the castles and towers along the edges of lake now dry i; huge blocks striated like agate; Brand s cascade-a mass of alabaster thirty feet vide and forty four feet high, shining like pol ished wax, were among the strange things told of.
 The stereoscopic views shown at the con- clusion of the lecture were exceedingly beau tiful and are probably the finest specimens of subterranean photographic work ever made.