Democratic messenger., 1888-08-11

Of going up biz and
been our GU Ne
axd0w shenandoah
at Luray at 1880 and aN
.s.s~'il hack with view TO has,cnin.
-FOUR way to the wonderful caverns Of
which every scliool.boy and girl has heard
but were advised that II woult. better "a
enter this Labyrinth about iclock ~
m. when II could be seen gran.
!, deur, brilliantly illuminate Aricity.
= During the interval, bciOf III en-.
, ter, we took In th: town oply
typical Virginia scttlen In
! times" Luray Inn, the /.
|" poriancc. is beautifully An
U the Blue Ridge aud AlV aims,
which appearantly sly s. ,6wn.-
: After taking in the kng our.
, selves with all that desired 10
:. supply the craving kr man we
" bctook oursclvcS Nv wonder of
the world. Luy Situated about
onc.half mile Y Own with only n
- small house ed by porches to
:. " mark the cnt thc spot which af.
:. forls adm Z Or thousands of visitors
Entering ,svc we were first taken in o
= Giants Where we saw the two jumbo
:. clephY guards. one on either side Of the
~ cny e, as IL placed there for the purpose
". name naturally suggests. Passing on
III were shown the Fish Market, Fallen
Iz'illar, Dinah's Bath, Birds Nest. Ladies'
( Riding Whip, and Breakfast Shawl, Wet
Blankc, and old Kris" finally coming
To the Ball lioom. where could be seen
Cinderella, taking her departure through
side door, robcd in mantle of white,
with long trail. the work of nature aud
more beautiful than pen can ,lescrihc or
man can conceive. II was while admiring
the beauties Of the hall Room that the
ring aud cclaes--- c''prcl Organ and
-. Nd mellow
: 1.-The chimes. soitencu dis
acc they had traycrsetl, struck our ears
with sweet tiniinnabulations that produc.
-. .'e ,v ."ic. the beautiful hymn
Nearer my God TO Thee" Carried away
with the harmonious sounds of the music
we fastened away 10 the Cathedral where
we enjoyed in rapt attention the melodies
of several sweet and familiar tunes. pro.
duced from an organ which Dame Nature
had so fitiingly placed there
!, was with great reluctance indeed ila,
we took our departure from these cayerns
in which we bchcld many other equally
beautiful scenes. with sh---g irrace and
.Giture's hand. and
1..,sne best of writers have spent
months Of hard labor in trying to write up
but have finally been compelled to rclin-
quish their task, having but family de.
scribed part OF the beauties of the cave
and the wonderful work which nature has
performed therein. II was In this cave
that Mr.. Collins, special reporter o: the
New York Herald spent twelve days in
writing up its wonders, after which he
joined the Jenctte Expedition to the North
Pole and perisled In the Arctic Ocean
while trying TO further the interest Of
scientific discovery. A large gro,to in
Luray Cave has since been named in his
honor.
While at Luray We were accosted by n
gentleman, who Ind learned there was a
Purncll in our party. and he wanted Ia
know IL he knew Lieut.. Purnell he was
informed tina, he was ON the right track
and that We all lad warm place for the
Confederate Lieutenant in our hearts.
Mr.. Bradford, the gentleman in question
was u member Of Lieut.. George W. Pur.
nclrs Company and asked us To remember
him Ia that gentleman.
We leit luray about $50 p. M, taking
the tram for lIagcrstown. at which place
we arrived about $50 y. M, and made
our way Tor the new hotel recently erected
by ex-G0yernor Hamilton. There we were
cordially received and given most excel.
lent rooms for the night. The hotel Is
supplied with all modern convcnicnces.
such as electric bells, elevators, etc, and
the rooms handsomely furnished. Amer
IA good nights rest We were up and stirring
around a, 6.30 u. M. We ate hearty break.
fast aud bade the genial landlord of the
Hamilton" good bye" and once more
We were on the train bound for Blue
Mountain Station. There we were join.
cd by ten more of the "prcss" party who
like ourselves were bound for Gettysburg,
the scene of the greatest battle Of the late
war. After four hours ride we arrived
safely a, the town of Gctteysburg and
deposited our traps nj the Eagle hostelry.
ailer which we ate good dinner and pre-.
pared TO visit the once bloody battlefield.
II was four o'clock when the hacks that
were TO convey our party on It's tour of
inspection arrived; soon we were all
aboard and Captain Long, who was To nc,
rs guide. took his seat In our hack and re.
qucs,ed us to examine map of the hattie.
field placed before us. The National
Cemetery was our first stopping place and
here we viewed the fitting monument
erected 10 the thousands Of brave men
both Union andConiedcra,e soldicrs--who
sleep beneath It's shadow. Captain Long
detained us at this point for few minutes
only and then we passed out OF the cemc-
terry grounds and made our way TO East
Cemetery iIill where the first days fight
took place where Union forces under
command Of General Meade were stationed.
Here Il was that Captain Long ieciured
TO ua ior iiiiy minutes. that We might un-
ders,and the position ofeach army bciofe
the rain Of shot and shell began. and then
he brought the heroes Of each army closer