The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-06-12
NATURAL CURIOSITY.
"B1owiog Cave" in Tucker
County, and its Pecutiarities.
A CURRENT OF COLD AIR
Rushcs from tho Mouth Of the Cavern
When the Weather Is Warm-A
Movement OH Foet to Erect
Summer Hotel There.
Special Correspondence Of IL. Inloillqencrf-,

PARSONS, W. VA, June f0.-Three O
four miles from Parsons, on the Yves
Virginia Central railroad, in Tuckel
county, is a natural curiosity which Il
attracting more attention at present, anG
promises soon to be put to practical use
1t is cave in q limestone formation, n,
the head Of Elk creek, q small tributary
OF the Black Fork Of Cheat river.
This cavern Is called Blowing Cave,
and the name Is descriptive one, and
would naturally suggest itself 10 ono
visiting the cave. During the warm
weather OF the summer n strong current
OF cold air rushes from the mouth OF the
cave, being strongest and most constant
when the weather Is hottest, and grow
Ing weaker as the day becomes cooler,
and ceasing entirely In cold weather.
Indeed, il the weather be very cold, the
current from the cave appears to grow
warm and person who Is chilled NAV
be warmed by standing before the open.
ing.
Until recently the cavern hos been
known to only few persons. But the
building Of the West Virginia Central
railroad through this region Of country
has brought many OF the out.of-the. way
places into notice, and this among the
others. Yet. few persons knew Of it
long ago. In the "History OF Tucker
County" published six years ago, the
following mention is made, in the chap
ter on Mountains and Mines"
BLOWING CAVE.
blowing Cave" at the head of Elk
creek, is more OF a curiosity than Jor.
dams Cave Is, although not as extensive.
1t is called Blowing Cave because in
warm weather strong current OF cold
air flows from it, and is sufficiently cold
to chill one who Temainsiu it few min.
utes. This cave has been explored to
the distance ofnfne hundred feet, and is |
is succession of chambers aud rooms,
some Of which are fantastic and beauti.
ful." page 1877
1t is understood that movement is |
now on foot TO utilize this cave and |
make it worth something. An Eastern
man offered fifty thousand dollars not |
long ago Tor the tract OF land on which
the cave is situated. The land is vaiua-
BILE, either for its timber or for agricul.
tural purposes. 1t is all wild now, with
not an acre but that Is in primcval for
est. The timber might well be worth |
many thousands; and the soil when the
timber shall have been removed will be
worth thousands. Butt isnot for these
that it is wanted. 1t is proposed to
make Of the tract OF wild land m i'm
mense park similar to those in England
where game is kept for hunting. 1t
would be well suited for this. 1t is n
wild, romantic region, unsurpassed for
natural beauty. The forest abounds in
all wild game known to West Virginia;
and for years and years 1t has been the
hunting grounds Of our local sportsmen,
who were well acquainted with its re-
sources OF game.
The streams, OF which there are many
flowing through it, are full oil trout and
other fish. Some OF these flow into Dry
Fork, others into Black Fork, and others
into Otter Fork. A finer system OF
mountain streams does not exist. And
streams with more inducements to oGer
the fishermen cannot be found in the
State. The tract OF land seems created
for some wild park or hunting ground.
A SUMMER HOTEL.
II those who are thinking OF its pur.
chase succeed in carrying through their
scheme, summer hotel will be built at |
the Blowing Cave. A large stream OF
cold, pure water flows from the cavern,
sufficient 10 supply the hotel and it's sur.
roundings dezan times.
It is also proposed to utilize the cold
air issuing from the cave. 1t will be
carried in pipes TO all rooms OF the hotel,
and thus, in the hottest days Of summer,
the guests at this resort can have rooms
as cool as they want them.
There is surely something here unique
in the way ola summer resort. A com.
bination Of so many pleasant and de-
lightful features can hardly be found in !
the country. Even in its wild state, as
it is now, the few persons who have gone
and seen for themselves say that there is
enough without adding the comforts OF
art to the romance OF nature. At pres
ent there is only path over the noun.
tain to the cave, but it is near the rail.
road, and if good road were built, a
drive OF less than an bour from the rail-
way station would bring the traveller
to it.