Daily Republican., 1888-05-18
LrrrEx rsom rae sourH.
The wonderTal Lursy Oave-A htghs
Worth rsavennE nundrsds Of Mites
to Zee.
Luray, YVES. vieinia, May 10. :


to see.
Luray, Yves. virsinis, May 10.
The excursloni t., after having satisfied
the inner man, on Tuesday morning pro-
ceeded 10 coaches to explore the mysteries
of the world famed Luary Cave. We
then had delightful ride OF some fifteen
miles over hiliy road, dotted bere and
there with old log cabins, the homes OIL
the colored people, aqd through de-
liRhtful country, the monot ny being
broken by numerous little pickaninies
following the coaches, crying "please
mister, We me penny" 1t Is needless
to say they got several pennies, and 1t
was real amusing to see the little tots
tumbling over one another In the scram-
BILE for the coveted prize. Ths cavern
being reached, the party was provided
with GU des and divided up in small par
ties, proceeded down pair of wooden
steps into the bowels of the earth. Cam
dies were placed throughout to give
better view OF all the mysteries of the
work of the Creator. Electric lights also
illuminated the cavern giving 1t weired
and ghostly look. at the same time CALL
lug forth exclamstions OF admiration as
each new an 1 startling formation came
to view. tn y being known as sta ecitiee
anu w Wlbnlu buG CbfC 1to
plank and cement walks, bridges, stair
ways, railinRs, ETC., and nearly seven
miles OF electric wire for illuminating
purposes The first place on entering is
called Entrance Hall, the vestibule OF the
realms If stalacta. The feeling was
that we had or tered o new state of being.
Queer shape, present themselves at every
turn, every object suggesting some
growth OF animal or vegetable life, yet
every resemblance proves them iliusive.
We behold the glittering alactites and
huted columns, strong enough to bear
world draperies In broad folds and @
thousand tiats; cascades of snow white
stones, and beyond, q background Of
pitehy darkness, 10 which the imagina-
tion locates more than the eye can see.
Fancy is dazed by the incomprehensible
stimulus 1t receives from multitude Of
nov | forms. We see the mechanic
spirits of the underworld, gnomes and
imps, who dart from shadow to shadow,
behind column and angle, to watch
that we do no harm to their marvellous
hsndiwork. The most prominent won
ders are Washington's Column, q massive
stalagmite twenty feet In diameter by
thirty in height, reaching from floor to
ceiling; the Flower Garden, the TheateT,,
the Natural Bridge over Muddy Lake,
the Fish Market, the Crystal Spring,
Proserpine's Column, the Spectre, the
Balcony, Ob:ron's Grutto, Titania's Veh,
Sarcen's Tent and Fallen Column, the
Organ and Throne, the Tower of Babel,
the Empresses' Column, Hall of Eblis,
Henry Barid, or Double Column, the
Chalcedony Cascade, or Cascade Spring,
and thousand of Interesting and start
ling sights meet your eye at every turn
above and around you on every side.
We viewed the Bo tomless Pit with awe.
The guide said that Mr.. A. j. Campbell
was lowered down It at one time seventy
five feet, but gave up the job of trying to
reach bottom. We spent two hours
viewing tbs wonders and could always
find something new to attract our atten-
ton. the temperature Ia about go de-
grees at this time of the year. The cave
was discovered August 18th, 1878 by
Messrs. A. j. Campbell and William B.
Campbell, who arc both employed as
| guides. Since Its opening 1t has been.
visited by many thousand persons, as
many as IA 1866 persons having vitited it
10 year, and the records show that
! l,46S persons entered the cave in one day.
It Is the property of the Luray Cave aud
Hotel Company, who purchased 1t for
$40, 900 in 1881. Luray is located in
Page County, and is the county seat It
is hemmed in on every side with a rim
of Blue Mountains, on the west by the
Shenandoah, beautiful river. II was
tho scene of several skiImishes in the
late unpleasaR ness, as our southern
friends rem irked to he press representa-
tiVes. The country aroand Luray was
surprise to yoar scribe, and If he could
have week off this summer he would
not ask to spend it at better place.
W. s. w..