National Republican., 1886-08-31
THE CAvERNs OF LURAY.
Interesting Description OF the Wonder
ful Cave.

A"A O"NNs
Especial Correspondence Of the REPUBL1oAN.l
FALLS CHURCH, VA, Aug. Elf any Of
your readers who are natives Of Virginia
and love her as only her sons and daughters
can, have never had a glimpse OF the Blue
Ridge mountains they have failed to see
what, to me, is her browning glory. On
one Of the glorious days Of last week jolly
party left Washington en- route for the
caverns Of Luray, situated In the beautiful
Shenandoah valley OF our wonderful state.
Skirting green meadows, past fields OF
waving corn, over bridges whose height
make you dizzy to look down from the car
window, again into the valley-the ride Is
both picturesque and enchanting.
Rounding one Of these curves and over a
massive iron bridge Harper's Ferry appears.
IL lies where the Potomac and Shenandoah
rivers meet in deep gorge OF the Blue
Ridge mountains. On top Of the hill and
overlooking the village a curious church
towers It's tall spire, shimmering in the sun
light, looking down like sentinel on the
quaint and sleepy old town. At the foot Of
the hill and the center of interest is the old
fort. Weather-worn and battered, with
rusty doors showing traces OF many a
bullet mark, II recalls the night OF the 10th
Of Octob,r, when, with only seventeen men
and six negroes, John Brown--so humble,
so bold, so tender, SO brave-attempted to
handful, that which only millions OF men,
untold suffering, and long years OF priva-
tion and suspense accomplished at last.
But "hls soul goes marching on.n
A ride Of an hour and half and we
alight at Luray, little village in the very
heart OF the mountains. Around are
grassy hillsides and fruitful fields. Be-
yond, and stretching in either direction
are the Blue Ridge mountains, their deep
blue submits family outlined with here
and there peak standing out In rugged
| subllmity against the sky.
- The village itself contains many cur
ious specimens Of architecture, its main
street being q succession OF log huts aud
tumble.down houses Of later date with
here and there a more pretentlous build
ing, the traces Of aristocracy still lingering
around its frowning front, oaken doors
and heavy brass knocker. About a mile
west Of the town is Cave Hill, and is 80
/ slight an elevation that had we not known
the famous caverns were under It, no no.
tice would have been taken OF It, A two
story building has been erected over the
4 mouth OF the cave, and from II we descend
to the darkness below.
The roof is composed of blue limestone
about thirty-fve feet thick. draft OF
cool, clammy air greets us, and we find
ourselves In Entrance Hall, the vestibule OF
the realms of Stalacta. Our first emotion
is one Of mute wonder, and we are hushed
in silence. Gradually the mind accustoms
itself to the strange forms, grotesque i'm
ages, and wierd influence OF this subter-
rannean world.
Before us are glIttering stalactltes and
n world, flowing draperies, with borders Of
the most varied and delicate tints, snowy
cascades, and beyond-the pitchy darkness
y which, In the fitful glimmer OF our guides
lantern, gave us one glimpse OF the Inferno
of Dante. We fancy we see goblin shapes,
hnl. L. rt,Nrr nf Ntaa had
either as resenting our intrusion or watch
ful, keeping jealous guard over their
wonderful world. We pass the Flower
Garden, Washington's Column, huge
\ nuted stalagmite, 20 feet in diameter
by 80 feet in height, and reach
q Bears Paw to enter the Theater. From this
we have splendid scenic effects, the electric
light streaming through the arch which
spans the lake, and rejecting tints Of silver
and gold from the formations disclosed by
its rays. Before us is the Fish Market, Its
n punches Of black bass and silver fish hang
ing in a row, or "rock fish," as our guide
remarks-a musty ''cnestnut." Shades OF
Olympus are we to find that ubiquitous
q abomination In heaven2
"A To the right and up n fight Of steps aud
we are in the Elfn's Ramble, wide, open
Y space over 500 feet in length. The ceiling
Of blue limestone varies from one to six
teen feet In height, and necessitates some
4 careful management to explore 1t. The
~ floor is Of hard, dry clay, which crumbles
easily and makes a rather uncertain walk
= Beyond and in front of us is the awfu
Pluto's Chasm, yawning gulf rs feet deer
T. and 500 feet long. Looking over this abys
strange noises reach the ear, shudde
passes over you, and we see the powerful
god, with Proserplne In his arms, plung,
down, down deeper, till, with shrek, they
q disappear. To make the illusion complete
to our left is the Spectre, clad In shadowy
garments Of snowy whiteness, with one
hand raised as II In menace. Following III
dizzy edge we come to the Balcony, an ele
walton inclosed with columns overlooking
j the chasm. 1t contains draperies that, fol
u gorgeousness Of coloriDg and symmetrical
folding, are finer than anything In the cave
Below is Hovey's Hall, in which are
pieces OF statuary; one, perfect repre-
sentation of Hager looking with pensiyt
N eyes, toward her famishing child, Ishmael
Crystal Spring next claims our attention,
and gets its name from the bright crystals
OF lime carbonate which are forming at III
bottom and sides, as well as from the crys
tai pure water which fills 1t. In one part
OF Skeleton Gorge, at the foot OF an ugly
precipice, lie embedded the bones of a man
some OF the larger bones OF the leg, part OF
the skull, and a few vertebr@ remain
These have been pronounced genuine by
eminent authority, DR.. Z. II. Reynolds, o
the Smithsonian Institute, having sale
4" they were "undoubtedly real" They are
supposed TO be the bones OF some Indiar
who wandered in here and, losing his way
perhaps his candle, persisted; but fancy an6
IN fiction have woven many a tale OF love-
lorn despair over them. GIANTS Hall II
several large apartments In which gian'
shapes lowered on every hand, till, looking
up, you
Feel your identity shrink and contract
In the presence of natures immensities.
Titania's Vail is marvel of beauty and
wondrous blending of tints. The Sar
acen's Tent Is q large, circular inclosure
with long yellow draperies depending fort,
feet above us, and forming right roya
throne. The Organ is composed OF mum
Der OF long, sonorOus stalactites upon which
tune may be played. What impressed m,
wonderfully real resemblances was thu
Fallen Column. Only fragment of III
former self, 1t is still monster column
4. twelve feet In diameter. 1t is impossible Il
W estimate Its age, some scientists placing 4
at millions OF years. A tumbler standing
five years under the drip Of a stalactite wa
incrusted to depth OF only one-eighth o.
III an inch; at this rate Of growth q column ON
foot in diameter would, with all the con
ditions favorable, be formed In $40 years
Under ordinary circumstances, however
III Il would require several thousands, somI
III reckoners say tens OF thousands of years
The massive pile has fallen and at Its base
new column has formed. Pausing by this th
mind is lost In wonder Speculation Is los
III as we traverse back through the ages ant
think Of the centuries untold, required fo
its formation, the empires that have flour
ished and fallen, yet this giant pile sur
wives, q monument to natures God. Tn
Ball Room, large circular apartment, II
which cement floor has been laid, is bril-