The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-06-24
EXCURSION TO IuRAv oAvERss.
One of the Largest and Most Successful
Affairs Ever Sent Out From Roanoke.

One of the Largest and Most Successful
Affairs Ever Sent Out From Roanoke
Probably no larger or more successful
excursion ever left Roanoke than the
one yesterday to Luray Caverns under
the direction of the Railroad Depart.
ment Y. M G. A. It was one admirably
managed from the start, a source of
pleasurable enjoyment to the 500 persons
who took the trip and entirely devoid of
the least possible Objectionable features
from the beginning to the end.
Since the conception of the scheme
OF running low rate excursion TO Vlr.
ginia's famous underground wonder, tho
whole plan has been worked out in the
most complete and thorough manner.
IL ID due to the earnest efforts of the
committee, Messrs. &. B. Workman,
d. A. Gillis, j. e. Graham, and the
secretary, w. w. Lyman, that the az
fair was so successful and to them a
large number of people are indebted for
an enjoyable occasion.
AS had been stated, the sale Of tickets
was closed on Friday. and 90 great had
been the demand, that two sections
were necessary to transport the excur-
sionists. The depot was crowded with
people long before o'clock Yesterday
morning, the hour adver tised tor start
ing. The first section, which was to
run as an express, was sent OF promptly
twenty minutes in advance OF the
second section, which did local work
and picked up passengers all along the
route, from Troutville to Basic City.
Both sections arrived within a few
moments OF each other at Luray at
about l O'Clock, and from that time
until after the quaint little town was
overrun with men, women and children
from Roanoke, Salem and all the prin-
clpal stations along the Shenandoah
Valley division
The grand scenery of the Valley of
Virginia was never seen to better ad-
vantage. A hot sun poured down its
rays from cloudless sky and reflected
splendor from the majeslic James, the
placid Shenandoah and the numerous
clear mountain brooks, whose paths were
lntersected with tho track Of the model
Norfolk and Western system, The
mountains wore Of the most intense
blue, and the beautiful farming lands of
this favored garden spot OF the Old Do
mlnlon were weighted with the varied
products OF the soil.
Luray Caverns surpass description.
Words are not adequate to express the
wonders of these famous subterranean
passages The visitors, divided into
parties of convenient size, viewed the
marvels by the light OF electric arc
lamps and talIow candies-feasted their
eyes on the marvellous formations and
listened with rapture to tho Ginning
columns, whose resonance resounoed In
a most remarkable and pleasing manner.
However hot the sun may have been
oh a nrfa r.
freshing GOODNESS prevailed, which
created the same exhilarating effec, ao
Turkish bath upon q heated And ex.
hausted body.
Seven hundred and twenty-five tickets
were taken as the cavern entrance
Many who accompanied the excursion
probably did not go in at all. Those
who aid felt amply repaid for the long
ride and the exertion attendant upon
such trip.
Picnic baskets predominated among
the excursionists, but good dinners and
excellent refreshments we're served az
reasonable prizes at Lursys many hotels
and restaurants. The inner man need
not have suffered in any way
Both sections were started on the
return trip shortly after No 4 had
passed. Section No. WAS in charge
OF Conductor Calder, Engineer Mayo
and Fireman Stull, and No. under
the care Of Conductor Noftsinger, En-
gineer Oney and Fireman Cuddy. All
are deserving OF credit for careful,
conscientious and courteous treatment
OF their passengers.
The trains landed their human
freight, as had been advertised, shortly
after 10 o'clock. having made the $50
miles, including stops, in exactly five
hours.
Everything was extremely ORDERLY
and enjoyable and Roanoke's best citi-
zens who took the trip were loud in
their praise of the management of the
whole affair.
The Railroad Department have m ade
handsome sum to DO devoted TO pay
ing oil the expense OF the department..