Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-08-01
THE CAVES OF I.URAY,
arottoes of Wonderful Beauty and
 Legendary Interest.
Lofty Chambers and Figures of Surpass. ing Attrnctfveness-Narro Escape of Early Exrlorer-Eiectric
 Lights on the Staiactites.

of Early Exrlorer-Etectric
 flights on the Sta1actites.
 A few years ago Luray was an obscure Virginia village; now its fame has extended to the whole civilized world, writes a St. Louis Republic correspondent. Situated in the midst of the magnificent Shenandoah valley, it's simple and industrious inhab- itants knew little Or nothing of the great world beyond tho lofty mountains that sur round their homes. The discovery of the caves, in the summer of 1878, has made Luray one of the most famous places on the American continent, ranking with Niagara Falls, Watkins Glen, the Natural Bridge and other great natural curiosities which abound in the United States.
 The caves are one milo from Luray. They can be visited with perfect case and com fort, being lighted by electricity, and every facility is furnished for viewing the marvel ous beauties that delight the eye in every direction. Descendinga a stairway of solid masonry sixty feet. the visitor finds him. self in a lofty arched room, forming the ante chamber to the caves. He is at once astonished by the bewildering array of formations that surround hlm in every direction. Several vaulted passages extend from this apartment into other chambers and labyrinths, each possessing distinct and peculiar beauty. At every step new delight breaks upon the sight Stalactltes hang from the lofty rooms in infinite varie- ty and of unimaginable @oyelpess, while from the floor forest of stalagmites rises in myriads of formations. Drop by drop during unnumbered centuries this crystal line substance has been forming, assuming fantastic, grand and beautiful shapes, such as gnomes, statues, fluted columns, bridal vails, urns, bowers, angels wings, flower gardens, fish markets and all manner of rare and enchanting forms.
 As we advance farther in tho cavern 6 magnificent chamber Is entered, of oval shape, and surpassing every thing made by mortal hands Its lofty roof is fretted by ipnumerable designs in frost work and deli cate tracery, forming the most wonderful shapes. From the center of this splendid apartment arises gigantic pillar of white rock of exquisite beauty, extending from floor to ceiling. This is called the "Wash- ington Pillar" A basin formed by drop' ming water lies at it's base, huge monsters stand out of the surrounding walls, while stupendous brown buffaloes depend from the ceilings. In every direction, as far as the eve can reach, fantastic and shadoWy forms of purest white gleam Ill the light like so many alf-hnlshed statues in nn artist's studio. Passing on, we meet streams of crystal water, cascades oI snowy whlteness, springs and pools and tiny lakes In the Naiad's Bath, adouble column stands, one-half of which is a stalactite descending from tho ceiling to the floor, 50 feet; the other portion of the column is stalagmlte which rises from tue floor to the distance Of 30 feet; the column is formed of successive stories, ono above the other, and subdivided into diminutive columns. From this lovely
 tC PntnfC the widest and most striking features of the Luray caves. 1t Is an awful gulf, 50 feet wide, 14O feet long and 800 feet deep On tho back of the chasm stands "Porcu- nine's Pillar,n a brown and white column, while half way down the gorge appears an- other column resembling spectcr waving its arms.
 One of the most remarkable formations is the "Fish Market" displaying rows of stalactitcs, closely resembling catfish and black bass, which arc wet and shiny, and seem to offer tempting dish for an epi. cure Beyond this, tho visitors attention is attracted by lofty pillar called the "Empress' Column" It is thirty feet high and composed of beautiful fittings and earvip asI it is dark at the bottom, but be- comes white near the center, and ter inmates in delicate pink tint. Other pillars in this vicinity support turban- crowned sultana and Indian sQuaW. The Comet Column" and the Hollow Column" also deserve mention. But more remark able than any of these Is an exact repre- sentation of the dome of the Capitol at Washington, erected on mass of fallen stalactites. In the Round Room" stands a symmetrical column, seventy feet high and of various colors. Leaving thls portion Of the caves, the ',Ball-Room'' is entered, q
 h,,n I,oI fnnt lnrS Here the young people of Luray occasion ally meet "to chase the glowing hours with flying feet" In passing around the "Ball- Room" various glittering figures are seen Among these the most striking is Cinderella Leaving the Ball." her flowing garments and fragile figure attracting great admiration.
 It would be impossible within the limits of a brief article to get more than pass ng glimpse of the thousand strange and brilliant formations that fill the visitor to she Luray Caves with amazemcnt and de- tight We can only name the ''Tower of Babel" "Mohammed's Coffin," "The Cathedral" "Oberon's Grotto." the Bridal Chamber" the Frozen Fount- ain," "Titan's Swords" etc.
 There Is a local tradition at Luray that many years ago Peter Rufrner, descend AuG O1 Ouc O1 tAc Cdl y SOGuASAS oA cho AoACh- andoah Valley, while hunting wild game, disappeared, and was not seen for two or three days, when the finding of his gun at the mouth of the cave led to his discovery Re was alive, but half dead from hunger and fright. The mouth of the caves, now open to all the world, is about 32o paccs northeast of the cave which was accidentally discov- cred by MT. Ruffner
 Since the introduction of electric lights the caves have been visited by tourists from all portions of the world. It is esti- mated that ct least 250, 900 people have been there during the ten years the caves have been open to tho public Travellers who have seen all the famous caves of this coun- try and Europe have declared that in the beauty, brilliancy and variety of it's forma- kions llrau snrnasseS the Mammnth Cave