Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1886-09-11
MARTINsBURG. W. VA SATURDAY SEPTEMBER IL 1886

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in the woods to hunt Indians. Har-
vey .seconed the motion to adjourn
to breakfast. Peyton kicked hole
in the platform. And thus the night
wore away. A good joke was rails
ed on Thompson, of the Echo. He
was eating breakfast at a house near
by, and in order to impress the young
lady who waited upon the table with
the nobility and greatness of the
party, pointed to Senator Dawson
and said !: "That is Senator Dawson,
to the left Show him some distinc-
ton" "Humph" said the little
Miss, "that's nothing. Our uncle is
Governor. She referred to Will
son. The laugh that followed led
the patriot Of the Echo to eat his
breakfast in silence.
After considerable delay we final
ly got under way. and reached Luz
ray at / o'clock after one of the
most miserable and unbearable rides
imaginable. The beautiful scenery
was destroyed, or at least had no at
fractions for us, who were COMPEL
ed to stop at every station, and to
wait for hours, unnecessarily. The
editors all unite in condeming the
miserable ride on the Shenandoah
Valley Road. There would have
been more pleasure found in walk
ing. But when we reached Luray,
we found some comfort in the shady,
pretty confines Of "Luray Inn.n
This hotel is artistic and built in the
attractive Queen Anne style of ar
chitecture. From the observatory
the mountain scenery was beautiful
beyond description. The tables were
supplied with the best from Eastern
markets, and the attendants are po-
lite and quick. 1t is run by Geo. X.
Mullin, for years the renowned pro-
prietor of the st. Cloud Hotel, at
Philadelphia, recently destroyed by
fire. After short rest, we took the
hacks for the great Luray Caverns,
which are located II miles west of
the Inn.
LURAY cAvERNs.
Arriving at the house which is
built over the entrance to the cav
ern, we were soon vending our way
cautiously down the entrance; our
guides each carrying holder with
three candles therein. The decent
is very easily accomplished. Sud-
denly the quick scintillating flashes
of the electric burrs caught our eye.
Reaching these we for the first time
began to realize the grandeur Of the
cayerns. In front thousand glisten-
ing formations flashed in the light.
Huge stalactites and stalagmites
frowned down upon us. Sharp
pointed fragments and formations
lined the roof above In few min
utes the guides called our attention
to four human bones, which were at
the bottom of q precipice, and prob.
ably were the bones of an Indian
child, who had by mischance wan
dered into the cave, and stumbling
over the bluff, persisted there from
cold and hunger. The next feature
was the "Fish Market which re-
sembles long shelf of fish on strings,
hung up for sale. Old Santa Klaus,
stood mute upon the right, and a
pure white angels wing protruded
from large column on the left.
"Pluto's Chasm", a dark ravine over
800 feet in length, and IS in depth,
caused chill to creep over us, and
the spectres, resembling three ghosts
standing down in it's awful darkness,
made our blood run cold. Up again
we followed the guides, around gi-
gantic mounds and hanging columns,
through dark passage-ways, up wind
ing stairs, until the mind became
lost in the labyrinths of Natures
grand formations. Look over there
at that huge fallen column, which has
/, been down, according to biologists,
! for 4 600 years; and see that second
one formed on W., se fallen monster,
which has been over two Thousand
years in forming. The human mind
is as chaos in considering these reck-
onings? This fallen column was down
when the food deluged the earth,
and all the mighty kings who ruled
the East were unknown. when, from
its pedestal, ii fell in all it's grandc. n.
Since the second formation, the Sd.
yiour of the world has been upon the
earth, and the great Roman and an
cient empires have been destroyed.
How wonderful are thy works, O.
GodI Passing away from this col
umn, we descended into the "Ball
Room" which is large enough to ac-
commodate 400 people. TO the
right is the 1Cemetery," and to the
lnft thn taLInu &c a. G;n,a4.. Is 1850