Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-05-22
jRAU's CAVE.
Progress of the Work Of Opening
1t Up. a.
Its ocation and Situation-Beautiful and
Romantic Surroundings of Harper's
feiy-sd Dick Hard at
Work

Work is rapidly progressing On the IN
terror of Rams cave, the new subterrsnean
wopder, at Harrer Ferry. Last evening
REsISTER reporter had an interesting
chat With Mr. G. 4. Beuter, one of the
owners of the CSye, who had received
recent information from there. Rau's
cave is in Prospect Hill, about mile
this side of Harper's Ferry. To resch it,
at pre-, ent, one must go 10 Harper's Ferry
and take the road over Bolivar Heights,
making . short and interesting drive. 1t
is supposed the bill is honeycombed with
caves, connecting with each other, and
in this series new discoveries are being
made every day. Rsu's cave consists
of three principa, caverDs, occupying
spece over a mile in length. Work is now
being done on corridors to connect them,
end of such height as to render PASSAGE
The distance is 10 feet, the caves lying
alongside Of each other.
These caves are crystal caves, similar to
that at Luray, and the effect, when bril-
liantly lighted, is grand and striking. AS
usual, there are bridal chambers, Gothic
calhedrals, echo caverns, art galleries,
crystal palaces, and Cd forth, besides lu-
merOQS Columns duu uOhCSi nltuN
out number. The stala mites and st1'ar.
lites assume all sorts of grotesque and
beautiful forms, and from Mr.. Beuter's ac-
count, the cave must be thing Of beauty
and Joy forever.
AS soon as the cave is ready for visitors,
which will be about the end of July, the
b. d o. authorities will erect depot at
the spot and make it q tirst-class stat'on.
Before the war there was station at this
point but it has long since been discontn-
ued. This section Of country is remark
an added attraction. Nsture, Las
been very lavish of her charms
about Harper's Ferry. At this
point the Shenandoah empties into the
Potomac, coming down the Valley OF Vir-
gina, which history made memorable in
the civil war. Gigantic mountains enclose
the junction of the two rivers, wooded to
their very SUBMITS. Opposite the town
Maryland Heights leo up, upon the sum-
init of which once s; 2oi a battery, from
which the guns could throw she'll nc :rly
into Charlestown, where John Brown was
hung. Just opposite and rising
above the town, loom Bolivar Heights,
crowned by an ancient cemetery in which
the writer has found tombstones bear.ug
dates nearly back to the Revolution. JEFF
ferson's rc;k is near by-a pulpit-like for
nation, carved Win the SOuNeulT5o VI many
pilgrimage. Virginia Heights frown across
the stony bed of the Shenandoah, and nest
ed at the ieet Of the three eminenees, is
! the village OF Harpers Ferry,
enclosed by the railroad track
which winds over the "I" bridge
| and disappears in the distance. TIL did
arsenal and the " fC..' In which John
Brown was Captured are prominent feat.
! ties OF the remarkable little town. 1t is
sipgula- that more tourists do not visit
there, but the opening of the cave will no
doubt largely increase the number.
His Wheeling friends would no doubt
be amused to see Ed. Dick, who is now at
| the cave, in charge OF force OF eleven
men. They are engaged in making the
corridors already men toned and have
finished the connection between the
first and second caves. In the
drilling they struck a bed Of iron ore,
which played havoc with the tools, until q
bed of limestone succeeded it. Springs OF
water also retnrd the work, as they gush
forth from the walls. Ed. says he Is work
ing from in the morning until $3.50 in the
evening, and gets pretty well tired ont
each day.
When the cave is opened Wheeling will
doubtless contribute a goodly share of the
sight-seers who will visit it.