Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1903-06-20
GENERAL.
The Great CavcrnS Of Luray.
In Nanadu did kubla X han

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Through caverns mcasureless to man,
Down to Il sunless sea.
Situated at Luray, Page county, Vir-
ginia, in the famous Shenandoah Valley,
on the line of the Norfolk and Western
Railway, i'll region renowned for the
picturesqucneSs of its scenery and cele-
brated for its historic associations, are the
CAvERNS OF LURAY.
The caves were discovered i'll 1878, and
shortly thereafter opened to the public.
The full extent of their subterranean
depths was not then known, or even
dreamed of, and not until thoroughly
equipped exploring parties had penetrat-
ed seemingly endless chambers and lab
yrinthine passages We're their boundlesS
riches disclosed and made accessible to
visitors. Since that time the fame of
the Caverns has penetrated the utter
most parts of the earth.
Within the past few years the number
of visitors has been enormous. Persons
from all quarters of the globe-scientists
explorers and tourists, have wandered
through the wonderful chambers, and the
general verdict of their united testimony
is that Luray Caverns excel all others
in the combined extent, variety, scien-
tlllC lllltEtSI anu ttdtly Ol tJltlG GAZETTE
formations. A party sent ont from the
Smithsonian Institute reports that
Comparing this great natural curiosity
with others of the same class, it is safe
to say that there is probably no other
cave in the world more completely and
profusely decorated with stalactitic and
Stalagmitic ornamentation than that of
Luray.'
Recognizing the inestimable value of
their remarkable possession, the manage
ment of the CavernS has provided every
facility for visiting all the chambers and
seeing all the wonders in the most COM
Portable manner. Cement walks have
been laid, stairways bridges, and iron
ratings have been erected where such
help was necessary, and the entire sub
terranean palace is illuminated by both
arc and incandescent electric lights.
The interior is singularly free from
dampness or dripping water, and no
special preparation for the visit is needed
i'll the matter of clothing. Plain cloth
ing and stout shoes comprise the neces-
sary outfit, wraps being superfluous, as
the temperature remains, winter and
summer, at about a degrees.
IN THE FAIRY REALM.
Entering the grand vestibulc, the
first emotion felt by the visitor is one of
mute wonder The mind fails to grasp
the grandeur revealed i'll such a ma jes-
tic manner, until it gradually accuStoms
itself to the mOnstrous shapes, the
almost perceptible silence and the weird
influence of this Suhterrancan realm.
Queer shapes present themselves at
every turn, aping grotcsqucly the OBJ
JectS of the Outer world, now suggest
ing some growth of animal life, now re-
scmbling some familiar vegetable forma-
ton, or taking the shape and form of
some creation of man. Glltterlng sal
actites blaze i'll front, f1uted columns,
draperies in broad folds and thousand
sints, cascades of snow white stone, il
Illuminated by the glare of the electric
light, fill the mind with carious sensa-
tions OF wonder and admiration. Awe
and reverence possess tn" beholder He
stands amazed III the royal chambers of
the King of Nature.
The various apartments and objects
have all been named i'll honor of some
distinguished persunage or after some
thing to which they bear striking re-
srmblance.
The Eltin Ramble, an open plateau
five hundred feet long by one hundred
i'll breadth, is the playing ground of the
princesses of this fairy realm. Pluto's
Chasm, wide rift in the walls, con-
talns spectre clothed in shadowy
draperies. Hovey's Hall is adorned
with statuary and stalactite draperies,
which. for beauty of coloring, trans
lucency and symmetrical folding, are
unexcelled by anything i'll the cave.
Giants Hall is vast space, embracing
several chambers. Heroic sentinel forms
loom up on every side, guarding the
marvellous beauty of Titania's Veil, and
watching over the crystal waters of
Diana Bath. The Saracen's Tent, the
Cathedral, with its grand organ, and the
Bridal Chamber, all bear striking re-
semblance to the objects for which they
are named. HadeS, a region sparkling
with limpid lakes and pcopled with
SOblinS, receives Its name from the be-
wildering windings and labyrinthine
meanderings through which the tourist
must tread his way. Notwithstanding
IFS uninviting name. it Is very attract
i've portion of the cave and contains
many wonderful formations. The Ball
Room, a magnificent apartment, gor-
geously furnished, is full of interest,
while Campbell's Hall, named for the
diScoverer of the cave, is rich i'll beauti-
ful and enchanting OrnamcntatlOn.
SILVER LAKES.
Iii addition to the solid formations of
stone and crystal, number of beautiful
lakes are found in various parts of the
caves.
Crystal Lake is IA body of pellucid
water i'll a setting of sparkling Stalac
ii es, and the Imperial Spring is silver
pool richly enclosed in forest of
columns. 1t is arched above with
myriads of stalactites, reflected with
most beautiful effect in the calm flood
of the spring. The transparent waters
of these lakes are so deceptive that rash
visitors frequently subject themselves
to Il wetting in order to convince their
skeptical minds of the genuineness of
the fluid.
No other Caverns are known in which
there can be- found such an infinite va
riety of quaint, curious and wonderful
formations. Almost every object in
nature is here reproduced III. startling
similarity, while the curious shapes and
indescribable grouping of thousands of
others seem to he the handiwork of Ma
ture in playful mood. Fantastic,
grotesque, beautiful, weird. grand and
superb, are words which find expression
on the lips of every one who gaZes upon
the treasures of this "house not made
with hands,
VI III.