The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-01-24
Especial Correspondence vIRG1NIAN
LETTERS FROM, COLORADO.
NUMBER EIGHT.
CAVE OF THE WINDS

In June 1880. John and George Pickett,
boys of Colorado Springs, were out in Man.
itou Canyon, taking lesson in practical
geology, under the guidance of Rev. r. T.
Cross OF Denver. Some objection was
made by the proprietor of an insignificant
cavern on the mountain side to their en-
trance. eNever mind boys" said their
teacher, 1--WE will go and find cave for
ourselves and, in fact, they did, climb
ing up the canyon wall at point one mile
from the entrance on the west side. Here
the entrance to the Cave of the Winds
was discovered. 1t is approached through
a double archway in the rocky wall, re-
sembling in formation the Natural Bridge
of Virginia, but much higher. The rocky
bridges passed, you look upwards through
circular opening in the rock, fringed
with pinons, and see the sky-it is a roof
less, natural Pantheon. A staircase, with
landings has been constructed to the en-.
trance, which is covered by frame shanty,
where you register. and are invested with
Bingham aprons, of the from-throat-to-
heels pattern. You grasp lamps and can
dies, and soon find yourself within the
bowels of the earth. The Cave of the
Winds is of Upper Silurian formation, and
much resembles in it's general form and
features, Luray in Virginia. 1t extends
through the mountains heart about three
miles to another entrance in the Ute Pass.
The two openings give ample ventilation
to the cave, through which fresh breeze
is always passing. 1t has, summer and
winter, a uniform temperature of $40.
Nothing could be damp in Colorado, not
even cave, and the disagreeable wet and
mud of subterranean exploration, are lack
ing. 1t is not altogether an advantage
however, for the less powerful agency of
water in ManitOu has carved out rooms of
lower pitch and smaller lime formations
than at Luray 1t is the verdict of those
who have visited the two caves, that
Luray'S Ornamentation is on a grander
scale, and is smore imposing, but that it
lacks the cOralline and hoar-frOst work
which lavishes it's fretting in the Cave of
the Winds. Messrs. Rinehart & Snider,
proprietors, have placed, not ladders, but
upright staircas es throughout the cave,
and climbing is made easy. There are one
hundred rooms, about eighty of which are
open to visitors. The Ute pass entrance,
which leads into room six hundred feet
long, will shortly be arranged so that visi-
tors may pass through portions of the cave
on horseback. The chambers are mainly
upon three general levels, in the lowest of
which are fossilized skeletons of animals,
imbedded in the rock, and many fossil fish.
The passages are smooth and long, with
domed roofs of an oval shape and many of
them fringed with stalactites of varying
thickness, from needle-like points to those
large as mans arm. The rooms have re-
ceived fanciful names, Music Hall, Bridal
Chamber. Cathedral Alcoves, Floral Tenn
pie and Boston Avenue. Visitors may
amuse themselves in tracing the Siamese
Twins, Monks, Chinese, Baby, Bride,
Sleeping Bird, Prairie Dog. &c. A very
realistic ''Hogshead'' in stone, hanging
from the rock marks the centre of the cave.
Cascade Hall has a beautiful waterfall
still holding in the stone. the undulating
lines OF falling water. In Music Hall the
resonant stalactites give back to the touch
the notes of the stone, sweet, clear and
deep, and you may literally hammer out a
tune. Canopy hall, two hundred and fifty
feet long, is rooted with the folds of a
snowy canopy, containing nearly 100 per
70 al I,o1G 80 .1oI
by the ''icy curtain' fringed with stall
actites.
The most beautiful formations in the
cave are in Alabaster Hall, where the sides
of the room are embossed in delicate ala
baster crystals. roses, ferns and eobwebs of
purest white, glittering over the mineral
veins of the walls. The ceiling is encrusted
with coral wreaths, in thousand fowery
forms. These alabaster crystals are trans
lucent, as you find by holding your light
behind them. Over some of them, the
water still drips, as it has done for thou
sands of years. In the bridal chamber is
curious bed apparently of roots and twigs
or grapes, in glistening stone. This bo-
tryoidal formation is unique, and puzzle
to biologists. In Alabaster Grotto Sx6
feet, every inch of wall and ceiling is COW
cred with prismatic, clear, and sparkling
crystals. none coarser than sea-weed, the
smallest, fine as asbestos filaments.
The cave should rank as one of the most
prominent attractions of Colorado Springs
and Manitou.
The cost OF admission, including guide,
is $l.O0 per head, and during the season,
conveyances will take you to the foot of
the staircase in Manitou canyon.
UTE PASS.
Happy is the man who goes up Ute pass,
equally unhappy is he who comes down.
For the former, the right of way is the
right of the way and close under the brink