The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1903-01-22

IHss ridge Of broaen Hills Of var, hsights,
With slopes more or less rugged intsrsse'-
led sv deep hclio~s. From che highest
points one can command quite an extern
sise view Of Stone Mountain and the
mountains berond TO the north~ard.
The Gap in the mountains through
Which aows North Fork river eoursine hs
way through th. narrow valley. and the
to~n of Pennington Gap lying between tbs
mountains and The ridse--Ali together /,
forming a picturesque view. Near the
summit Of one Of the larger knoils. II one
knows exactly where to look. may be dis
covered small opening in the side OF the
ridge. which bears marks Of frequent pas
sage This IL the entrance 70 the Sslly /
Cave. Having pressed the small entrance
one finds himself harried down steep
slope for some twenty yards While in
half- STOPPING position, and feels some
What relieved when be enters narrow
hallway some 200 or 300 yards Long, vary
ing IN ~idth from 10 10 feet, and in
height from 10 TO 100 feet. gently siopirg
downward. Al the extremity Of this ball
which widens At frequent intervals and
the height becomes ,s<apS-regulSr, in
? eF~ss isg 10 200 feet or more. the view up
ward being lost in sislaciitie formations.
the descent becomes more rapid, more
irregular and the passage more difficult.
IN some instances one must descend al
most perpendieulary several feet over
the rough edges Of huge masses of rock
aud hetsceu jagged projections from the
narrow walls. some times over chasms 20
feet deep, and over narrow bridges.
Overhead the view is delightful, the
wallis as far A. one can see being covered
With staiactiies Of every conceivable form
varying in sire from the reddish brown
uccdlc-likc formation 60 huge iciclos Of
harder stone Of "a grsyish color. la some
places the walls we're covered with moss
like iulormaiions as far mp as one could
see. in Others the grayer, harder sialacii-
ties ~crc arranged la masses resembling
huge punches of bananas, and approach.
p ing them Ia color and shape
d The mineral deposits Of the moss like
formations are chiefly cathohates with
trace of cobalt, those OF the hauaua lik'
: formations are principally siicates-
Passing on from this lovely view one i'
fnrcihly reminded of the passage through
zoe needle eve, tor De must indeed he
come very humble iu order 60 make th
passage. it is gratifying however. Co hul
That this low narrow passage i- also short
p. and one need not keep the scmi-rccumheu
.tccumhout foF stout. tall aud stit people
position scrt long The passage for som
distance b. damp, narrow, long aud unin
,iuug, though uuf altogether uuiutercst
ling. The deposits are principally kaoli
and limestone. Oue hears the hollow
= cavcrrous sounds underneath. soon o
mcfl,s boo io O. more capacious part oi OBJ
cavern. desccuds steep slopes boy means q
sscr- cut n thc soft dcposits, crosses
r narro~ bridge aud is ushercd into Ga
large and commodious audience room.
g.. amphi-theatrical iu shape, with archie
ceiling aud elevated seats, having a seal
ing aud capacity of 300 or more. Tibet
ere even hooks ot stone for hanging lai
tcrn- ou the ceilings aud walls. aud q
- elevated platform for the performer
. There was once rrarhophcne entcrieii
mont given here 90 iargc and npprec
alive audience.
The passage next lcads hs thc iru
staud. Huge huuchos of bananas hai
ready Tor salc--haLanas &C ah sizes, %
.Inf perfect arrangements in huncle
Here o. few stalcrmltcs are found ui N
4. same Kind of formation. 2c-. lining o.
uaus ~ith beautiful red aud brown uut'
Ter nations which elistcn like diamond
This fo some Be- che most beautiful part
the cave while others prefer the NH
.nf room co. ratior. The walls of which al
a|- covered With beautiful irostwork oi ga
e, cium carbonate. which reflects lhe lE
IiEcm vriads cot snow CRYSTALS beneath q
ra,s of thc morning sun The view
simply magnificent
Here vo tarrs Tor awhile o. admire %
heantv around aud above us. To- oi
ns place We see o. human footprint OF ncrie
1901 form above our heads. 10 must have hc'
Ids made ages ago, but we pass on and Diet
rk the soaud oi dripping and splashing waite
Az We see deem openings beyond, where rocl
.-2 and earth have been falling, and We r
- trace cur steps to~ard che beautiful poo
After crossing "a bright sparkling hroo|
BOB Oct ac come 90 pool of pure water, Gle
Az CRYSTAL. beautiful formations ot silic'
and "a small amount ot carhouates. in a
shape of sugar plums aie found in proiu
son. Further ou in recess oi the ca
-. cru Us found wonderful formation
M. stalactitcs known as the pipe orga
quite a number of tones cau Nc produc
- hv striking the hollow slender tubes vi
piece of metal, above aud beyond ma
De found hy dificult ascent another pa
Drama OF sialactitcs aud stalagmit'
forming picture pleasing 90 behold.
srv Other views aud formations TOO hume
w ous to mention much less 90 describe
tract thc attention. AZ almost every tai
~ huf perhaps We have detained you Q
long alreaiy so we fctracc our steps,
-'2 ccnd ths diMcult ras-agcvay rcgretu
- not a trip hundreds Of feet bencath &
= surface and thousands OF Yards IN exte
(, IoNsoN