Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-06-11

Radish Room to this delightful
place.
| cannot refrain from reprobatlnl
her, the vandal spirit OF some visi
tors, whoregardless prohibitions
will persist in breaking of and de
facing, these splendid specimens Of
Natures workmanship, forgetting
that a single blow may destroy the
work of centuries.
The main passage TO the rest Of
the Cavern is Immediately opposite
TO the entrance to SolOmOn's Temple
and YOU reach it by an ascent OF
twelve feet, to what is called The
Porter's Lodge. From this place
pursuing the same course, you pass
along a passage varying from ten
to thirty feet in height-from ten
10 fifteen in breadth-aI ! fifty
eight in length, until you reach
Barney's Hall, which receives Its
name from the fancied resemblance
of prostate stalactite, at the base
of one that is upright, to old Com
Barney, and the cannon that he
used at the "Bladensburgh races
Near the centre of the room,
which is small and scarcely deserves
the name, an upright board points
out to the visitor the main path OF
the Cave, which runs to the right
Two passages run of to the left
first one to a large, irregular room,
called the Lawyers Office, in which
is fine spring, or rather a reser-
vOir where the droppings from the
ceiling have collected the other
through a passage to what is called
The Armory, from an incrustation
that has received the name OF
Ajax Shield. Between the Law
yer's Office and the Armory,
and communicating with both,
is another large, irregular
apartment, which is named
Weyer's Hall, after the original
discoverer of the Cave, who to-
gether with his dog, stands i'm
mortalized in one corner.
Before we get bewildered and
lost in this part of the Cave, which
is more intricate than any other,
let us return to the guide board in
Barney's Hall, and pursue the
route usually taken by visitors
Following the right hand opening
mentioned above, which is rather
low, teng not more than five
feet high, you pass INTO the Twin
Room, taking heed lest you fall in
to the Devils Bake Oven, which
yawns close by your feet. This
room is small, and communicates
directly with the Bannister Room
which is fifty nine feet from the
guide board. The arch here sud
denly expands, and becomes elevat
ed to the height Of thirty, and by
dint of hard climbing You may re
turn to the Porter's Lodge, through
a passage directly over the OnC
which you have just passed.
A descent of thirty-nlne feet du'
west from the Twin Room, bringi
you to the lanyard, which contains
many beauties. The floor is irreg
ular ; IN some places sinAing int
holes somewhat resembling tai
vats, which together with severa
hanging stalactites resembling
hides, have given a name to thl
immense apartment. On the S. /
side of the room, Immediately +
the left of the main path, is a larg
opening, which admits you at one
into the Armory.
1t may be well to remark here
that a notice of many beautiful al
pearances in the different rooms ha
been omitted, because they ar
noted upon the Map of the Cave
lately published by the author &
this sketch.
Changing your course to the \
w. you leave lanyard by roug
but not difficult ascent of twent
feet, at an angle of eighteen degree
. into what may be considered a
. elevated continuation of the sam
. room, but which has been deserved
ly dignified with a distinct appella
tion.
4 To your right, as you step upo
level ground, you will observe
perpendicular wall Of rock, risin
A, with great regularity ; if you strik
: upon it with your hand, it send
forth a deep, mellow sound, strongl
/ resembling thetones ofa Bass DIuI
= whence the room has received tn
! name of the Drum Room. Upon
3 closer examination, this apparer
t wall will be found to be only thi
stalactitic partition, extending froI
p the ceiling to the floor.
} You leave the Drum Room by
; flight of natured steps, seven feet i
q perpendicular height. A large oper
, ing new presents itself, which e1
, pands to an extensive apartment
= to reach which 1t is necessary t
make a nearly perpendicular do
scent of ten feet, by means of sui
stantial stone steps. This apsr
, ment is the far.famed ball room. ]
, is one hundred feet long, SO wide
D and about twenty five high, run
ming at right angles to the path b
which you entered it. The gener'
Q course of this room is from n.
q l q.