Daily Republican., 1888-10-09
a EEIr TO LUKAE GAVE
BT AMBROSE 8. oTTRT.

we leiL OlAymOnt In the O'CLOCK
train for Philadelphia. Chester, the
only city between Claymont and
Philadelphia, has population Of 80,
600. We spent twelve years Of our
life there, and well do we remember
when 1t was a town and when It was
IcoTporated as a city. II had no water
works and none OF the streets were
|cobhled. Mr.. John Larkin was Its
first mayor. We moved the ground
where the Madison street church
stands for the above gentleman nearly
twenty five years ago. We LEFT
Philadelphia at quarter past eight for
Harrisburg. One Of the grandest
sights along the Pennsylvania Rail-
road is the splendid view of the Ches
ter Valley. We noticed one thing,
and that was, the farmers of Brandy.
wine Hundred can raise as good corn
as we saw anywhere enroute. On
toward Harrisburg we noticed the
buildings and fences were all white
washed, and In several places men
land women were seen at that branch
OF work. Toe farmers all seem TO be
busy in putting In their wheat. In
some fields one was narrowing, another
drilling We arrived in Harrisburg
at quarter past eleven. We passed
thirty-oue trains between the two
cities. Here we changed cars to the
Cumberland Valley road to Hagers
town. Len Harrisburg five minutes
to twelve. Down the above railroad a
magnificent view of the Blue Ridge
Mountains can be seen for many
miles. We passed through Carlisle; a
fair was in session there. One of the
most prominent towns on this route
was the above place. The eye can
see some of the grandest sights down
this valley Clover cut for seed was
seen lying In many of the fields. There
seems to be great many locust trees,
large and small, In this valley. Large
barns of stylish build, with o small
house, not over two stories high, may
be seen. We noticed that the public
roads were very narrow. At Green
Castle Mr.. Handy and myself Lad
quite laugh ut the pump handles.
They had enough Of iron In them to
make two ordinary handles. The end
OF them had regular ring on them
with a large ball on the extreme end.
In the above valley there is spring
that enough of water runs from to run
grist mill. Arrived at Hagerstown
at quarter past three: laid over here
for four hours. We took a stroll
around the town, and saw that 1t was
far behind the times in buildings and
pavements. Len HsRerstOwn for Lu-
ray Gave at Z O'Clock. Crossed the
Potomac ut Shepherdtown. Passed
through the noted Charlestown. where
John Brown was hung, Arrived at
Luray at half-past ten. The town has
q population OF eighteen hundred. The
houses are nearly all frame. The Hotel
Luray has accommodations for three
hundred persons. For days lodging
and board from three to five dollars a
day Is charged. The building is OF a
cottage style, gotten up in a cheap
style, but good, substantial building
We spent the night there; in the morn,
ing sher break fast, about 8 o'clock,
we took a stage, with about fifteen
other persons, for the well known
cave. Another stage followed with as
many more. This great cave lies in
the great valley OF Virginia, between
Blue Ridge and the North Mountains
Shenandoah Valley is memorable
spot In the minds OF many during the
late war. Upon It's banks at Front
Royal the first battle of Jackson's cele-
brated valley campaign was fought.
The village of Luray is not unknown
to fame. Stonewall Jackson passed
through Its streets. Then, as now,
the village was noted for its good
looking girls. About one mile and a
quarter west of Luray, on the New
market pike, is conical hill known
as Cave Hill. A cave was known to
exist in the neighborhood Mr.. b, P.
Stebbins OF Easton, Md and Messrs.
A. ]. and William B. Campbell were
his companions in hunting for the
cave. They were nicknsmed "Csve
aunters." They became the objects
| of good-natuTed ridicule from their
friends, who charged them with mis-.
taking rabbits hiding places for mares
nests, and jumping rabbits for spright-
ly young colts. On the 18th of Au-
gust, 1878, the cave was found. Mr..
Andrew Campbell WAS the first one to
enter the cave
His nephew, William B. Campbell.
let him down with rope tied around
his body. He found himself in mar
row rift about Is feet long by 8 wide,
with no apparent outlet. Closer in
spectlon disclosed a hole through
which with some trouble he passed in
to a large open space now known as
Entrance Hall-heuco became the dis
lcoVerer of the cave. Since opening
the cave, it has been visited by many
thousands of persons representing all
parts of the world. As many as ], 1853
visitors enter the cave in one day. The
general verdict is that the Luray Cave
le1cels all others in beautyot Its calcite
formations. Soon after its discovery
the tract OF land owe lying the cave
which obtained twenty. eight and one
half acres, was sold by order Of the
county court al auction TO close up q
bankrupt estate, and Hessrs. Stebbins,
Campbell & Co., became the puTcha
sers. The price paid was $l7 per acre,
or double what the land had brought
at a previous sale. in the course OF 4
few days, tho town was stirred to its
circumference by the announcement of
the discovery ola wonderful cave. The
news came to the relatives Of the origi-
nal owner; they instituted suit for its
recovery. After the case was carried
in court for several years, 1t was de-
cided In favor Of the plaintiffs. The
diMculty had hardly been settled when
the Luray Cave ard Hotel Company
purchased il tor $40, 600. A hand.