Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-06-11
VOL. 66.
HISTORY OF THE VALLEY.
APPENDIX ".
DESCRIPTION OF WENERS
CAVE.
BY Il. L. COOKE, A. NJ.
BY Il. L. COOKE, A. NJ.

side of the ridge running nearly
y. and +. parallel to the Blue
Ridge, and somewhat more than
two miles distant from it.
The western declivity of this
ridge is very gradual, and the visi-
tor, as he approaches from that
direction, little imagines from its
appearance that 1t embowels one
of Natures masterpieces. The cas-
tern declivity, however, is quite
PERCEPTIONS and difficult of ascent.
The Guides house is situate on
the northern extremity of this
ridge, and is distant eight hundred
wards from the entrance of the
Cave. In going from the house to
the Cave, you pass the entrance of
Madison's Cave, which is two hun
dred and twenty yards from the
other. MadisOn'S Cave was known
and visited as a curiosity, long
before the discovery OF Weyer's,
/ but it is now passed by and neg
I lected, as unworthy of notice, com
pared with Its more imposing rival,
although it has had the pen Of a
Jefferson to describe its beauties.
Let me remark here, that the
incurious visitor, who goes because
others 90, and is but slightly In
| terested in the mysteries of Nature,
may retain his usual dress when he
enters the Cave which | am at
tempting to describe but if he is
desirous of prying into every re-
cesS,-climbing every accessible
precipice,-and S eeng all the beau
ties Of this subterranean wonder,
| would advise him to provide him
self with such hablliments as will
Withstand craggy projections, or
receive no detriment from a gener-
GUS coating of mud.
The ascent from the bottom of
the hill to the mouth of the
Cave is steep, but is rendered less
fatigring, by the zigzag course of
the path, which is one hundred
and twenty yards in length.
Before entering the Cave, let us
rest ourselves on the benches be-
fore the door, that we may become
perfectly cool, while the Guide un-
locks the door, strikes a hight and
tells the story fits first discovery.
It seems that about the year
1904, one Bernard Weyer ranged
these hills as a hunter. While
pursuing his daily vocation, he
found his match in a lawless
Ground hog, which not only elud-
ed all his efforts, but eventually
succeeded in carrying off the traps
which had been set for his capture.
Enraged at the loss OF his traps he
made an assault upon the domicil
of the depredatOr, with spade and
mattOck.
A few moments labor brought
/ him to the ante.chamber Of this
stupendous Cavern, where he found
his traps safely deposited.
The entrance originally was
small and difficult of access but
the enterprise of the proprietor
has obviated these inconvenience:
it is now enclosed by a wooden
well, having door in the centre,
which admits you to the ante
chamber.
At first it is about eight feet IL
height, but after proceeding a few
yards, in S. w. direction, it be
comes contracted to the space o
three or four feet square.
At the distance of twenty-fou
feet from the entrance,-descend
ing at an angle of fnineteen degrees
you reach the Dragons Room, 81
called from a stalactitic con erection
which the Nomenclator undOubted
ly supposed to resemble that non
descript animal.
Above the Dragons room ther
r is an opening of considerable beau
ty, but of small size, called th
Devils Galley.
Leaving this room, which is no
very interesting, you proceed in
more sOutherly direction, to thu
entrance Of SOlOmOn's Temple
through a high but narrow passage
sixty-six feet in length, which is b.
no means difficult of access. Here
. you make a perpendicular decen
OF thirteen feet, by means of an ar
tifcial bank of earth and rock, AM
you find yourself in one of th
finest rooms in the whole Cave.
is irregular in shape, being thirt,
feet long, and forty-hve broad
running nearly at right angles b
the main course of the Cave A
YOU raise your eyes, after descend
ing the bank before mentioned
they rest upon an elevated seat
surrounded by sparry incrusta
tions, which sparkle beautifully il
the light of your candles.
This is not unaptly styled Solo
mons Throne. Every thing in thi
room, receives its name from th'
Wise Man Immediately to tb
, left of the steps, as you descend
YOU will find his Meat-hOuse ant
at the eastern extremity Of th
room, is a beautiful pillar Of whit
staIactite, somewhat defaced by tb
}, smoke of candles, called by bi
Y name. With strange inconsistency
\ -, ;nstrnction resembling fallin