The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-22
THE NEW CAVERN
Inscription Of the Valleys Latest won
der Near strasburg.


'.aye,ns never developed. The latest dis.
coyerv In this valley Is thus described by
,.orrespondenf of the Baltimore Americana.
The quarry in which the cave IL located
il nj Strashurg junction, about "a mile from
tne town Of Sirasburg, and at the pom,
where the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
connects with the Virginia Midland. Inc
caye was discovered after blast by the
ouarrvmen, and was first entered by Mr.
George +. Decker, the manager OF the
works. ON Saturday party, consisting OF
Mr.. Decker, representatives OF the hrn,
which IL located i'm Washington, and an
american correspondent, entered the
cavernous mouth Of the opening IN the
quarry and proceeded to get rs far away
from the surface OF the earth as possible.
As vet. the cave has not been opened up
throughout in n manner 10 allow unimpeded
nrocress through the entire length discoy-
cred. and in places nerve, muscle and hll-
militv are required 10 effect passage. The
latter quality is called into requsitiOn
when il is necessary 10 pass through an
opening from ten TO thirty feet in length.
and nowher6 possessing a circumference OF
more than fOrty-eight inches. In such
cases crawling is the only mode OF pro
gress.
The first chamber entered after crawling
out of the sunlight is n small, low-rooied
apartment about the size Of an ordinary
room in an apartment house. II is uncOm-
fortably crowded with stalactites and stalag-
mites. and suspended from the hollow end OF
each and every specimen Of the former is Il
drop of water that glistens diamond-iike IN
the light Of the candles, with which every
man in the party is provided.
SOME QUEER DESIGNS.
On the stalagmite, or up-growing forma-
tions. Nature has layshed her most whini-
steal designs, and the lively imagination Is
quick to discover resemblances in the snap
en- masses of rock that the dullest mind Is
able to grasp and recognize:
Passing from the small chamber, small
passage is entered, out Of which, after
some lowly scrambling, the party emerges
singIy on a forty-iiye degree slope that
shoots down abruptly into an abyss Of dark
ness. which the feeble rays Of the candle
cannot dissipate. n long rope passes down
this slope, and clinging TO THIS, one after
another the party reached the bottom, only
10 find that the slope reasccnded the oppo-
site side at the same angle. just at the
lowest point of the two slOping paths Il
small hole opened out into other subter-
rapean territories. The two sloping paths
are rooted i'm by vaulted ceiling that rises
in the center. high above the heads oi the
explorers. Ascending the sl0ping rOckway
opposite the one by which the place was
entered. a small but beautiful cavern was
entered. II was filed with all forms and
sizes of stalactites. varying from the mi
mute pipe-stem formation 10 large column
in the center Of the room that could not be
spanned by the arms of the largest man IN
the party. Here the formations are Of a
lnstrOus white in many cases. ana the facets
rtalf lt-ffa
Returning to the bottom Of the incline,
the entire party Frustrated themselves, and
labori0uslv crawled through small tortl-
Gus passage followed from the solid rock
apparenty by the action of water. Emerg-
ing from this a large cavern was entered,
and from this on the party found smooth
sailing. as some seven large chambers are
entered from this apartment without much
trouble. Some Of them are on different
levels, but easy Of access, and all illed
with an abundance Of wonderful and beau
tiful formations.
ON Monday the cave was again entered,
for the sake of exploring further into the
bowels of the earth. Ropes, four by four
scantling, and cutting tools were carried m
and the really adventurous features began.
AYAwNING CHhsM.
one of the ugliest places in the cave "
located OF from one of the large chamber-.
4 steep and slippery incline leads abruptly
down 10 an open well. only the mouth OF
which could be seen. This yawned fright
fully distinct in the light of the candles,
and seemed 10 hinder further progress IN
that direction, which was all the more de-
plOrable. as large cavern could be seen
lust beyond. The motto of the explorers.
however, was nothing impossible or inn
passable," and in "a few seconds one OF the
party, with small rope about his waist.
was slipuing down toward the well. The
slippery clay gave No fOOthOld. and there
was nothing TO be done but Ia
lie quiet and slide. While appa-
rently safe distance from the
hole, the l=ostraie man was seen to throw
his candle aside and grasp the rope with
both hands. The dim light of the candles
above revealed nothing Of the possible
tragedy that was being enacted below. and
the feeling OF horror was intensified hun
bred fold when mass Ofrocks and clay was
heard tumbling through apparently inter
minahle space. The cry from the man al the
end Of the line was heard but that he was
still there was proven by the tautly-drawn
line. moment later the entire party had
started for the bottom of the incline, hold
Ing on 10 large rope fastened 10 large
stalagmite above. one Of the scanllings
WIS tdil4tN dlVit- anu AhtNNh NNA"'' ~"
well.
CAUGHT ~ A WELL.
Il was then seen that the man who had
first started down had plunged into the
well, and hung dangling IN mid air. tightly
squeezed by the rope that supported him.
With infinite trouble he was drawn out, ana
the entire party scrambled up sloping
bank on the opposite side Of the well from
which they had descended. Here halt was
called: a ball Of candle-Wick, saturated
with alcohol. was lighted and tossed into
the hole. and the entire party leaned for
ward and watched and listened. The fam
ing bali iluttered down between the perpcr-
dcular sides Of the pin FOR nearly sixty feet,
and then shot of to one side, out OF sight. \
reflection against the sides Of the hole at
the bottom showed what might have been
expected had the adventurous youth on the
rOpe fallen 10 the bottom. jagged edges Of
limestOae cropped out here and there, ready
TO cut % pieces the first object that fell upon
them.
After exploring the large cavern beyond,
the party turned back to the well. ana tax
ing hitch around the scantling across the
hole, a tWO-inch rope was lowered into il.
Down this rope, hand over hand. the entire
party proceeded to the bottom of the danger
Ous-l0Oking cavity. once down they were
amply rewarded for their pains.
An AwE-INsPIRING SCENE.
The wild. rugged aspect Of the scene that
opened ont before them awed the timd
ones Of the party with its grandeur.
Straight ahead, darkness doomed up, cut
ting on further sight in that direction.
Above, blackness formed the only ceiling
and to right and left massive walls of lime
stone rock rose in hedges and disappeared
in the gloom above. Tall, gh0stly stalag-
mites rose from out the blackness, and "A
haloO came echoing back from an invisible
wall.
out of this large chamber opened long
passage. in which it was easy 10 walk. as
fhe floor vas nearly level and the roof was
many feet above. This abruptly closed ont
among q thick bunch OF stalagmite iOrma-
tions, 30 numerous rs 10 impede progress in
that direction. In consequence, the further
exploration Of this passage was left for an
other day, when the stone-cuiters could De
put at work, and other passages were eX-
pl0red. Two rooms opening from one OF the
passages al the bottom of the well were
particularly charming, because Of their
wealth Of formations.
THE WORK OF NATURE.