Year: 1879

the other side was narrow aperture
about three yards in 1ttSnt through
which We would have to wriggle. Some
of the party declined to try it but Mr.
Stebbins, exciting our imaginations
with the beauty that was beyond,
which, added to the fact that it was
comparatively an unknown region, de-
termined two Of us to make the at
tempt.


We carefully made our way along a
narrow slippery ledge, where the foot
hold was very undecided, 50 much Sc
that single misstep, or the breaking
of an accretion would have been suti
cient to send US whirling down through
the gloom, perhaps thousands Of feet
into the mysterious depths below. BY
carefully picking our way We reached
the opening and into it three of us
crawled. After much labor We wriggled
through, and on coming out upon the
other side, tie sight that met our view
was magnificent. It seemed to be the
opening Of a distinct cavern from the
one we had left. We were in the
Ground ROOM" and upon kind Of
gallery. Below us about twenty-four
feet was the floor, from the centre OF
which large pillar, rising about 80
feet to the roof above, finely apportion-
ed, was seen.


The gallery upon which we were was
circular in form and extended almost to
the room. The floor was covered with
chocolate incrusations that made it look
as though at one time it had been a
body of colored liquid which after being
lashed into brown suddy mass had
been by some unseen power instantly
petritied.


Issuing from this we retraced our
steps to another section Of the cave
where we followed broad walk to the
mouth of deep chasm. Since the dis
covery OF the caveit has been a nooted
question whether its existence was
known to any of the natives or any of
the prehistoric races. From the foot
print of a moccasined foot, clear and
perfect in outline, which was discover
ed upon the floor of one of the chambers,
an affirmative conclusion could only
be arrived at.


How long ago is something more diff
fcult to determine. That footprint,
made there amid the deep gloom, that
had settled within the cavernic cham
bers long centuries before, is as perfect
now as it was when first made being
encrusted with thick coating OF lime
store the result of formation of myr-
lads upon myriads of years. 1t is fair
to presume that the possessor of that
moccasin was only reckless member of
tribe whose only evidence of any ex-
istence at all as people lies enveloped
in the mysteries of the caverns Of
Luray. If wanderer, lost amid that
impenetrable gloom, did he succeed in
retracing his wayward footsteps A
mass of bones jammed between two
limestone formations at the foot of
"Skeleton Gulch" would unhesitating-
ly answer no.


Down the deep chasm we 60 and upon
reaching the bottom we ses lying in a
crevice in the rock the bones OF this
human creature. His jawbone, teeth
and sockets are visible as are also sew
eral bones of the leg, one of which
seems, at one period, to have been vio-
lently fractured, and number of physi-
clans have pronounced them human.
He undoubtedly came FROM over the
precipice, but so long ago that the re-
naming pieces of bone are covered with
a limestone covering which acts as a
preservative. By examination medical
men have pronounced the remains to be
those of boy of fourteen years.


Do those few pieces of bones connect
themselves with the mysterious being,
who in the strength of youth pressed
the soft yielding earth of those caverns
circumstantial combinations would an
swer yes. Hundreds of visitors senti-
mentalize over the unhappy fate of that
unfortunate youth. Who he was and
what he was will ever remain mys
terry, for the revelation disappeared
with the dying shrek, chorused as it
was by the fiendish laughter of the
gnomes OF despair, as it echoed and re-
echoed, faded and died behind the
masses of limestone.


The "Valley of the Rhine, In
perial Spring. and other wonderous
places were next visited, after which
we slowly retraced our steps towards
the entrance, which we reached in due
time and slowly and laboriously climb
led the stairway and stepped out into
the mellow glow of the moonlight after
an under ground journey of six hours.


The full extent of these oaverns is
not known as there are numerous pass
ages which remain unexplored, and
aside from this there are supposed to be
hundreds of immense chambers, far
grandsr and imposing than the more
accessible ones, if that were possible, in
the depths below. Eminent scientists
confirm this conclusion, and say be-
meath the upper vaults hundreds of feet
there runs deep river, having an out
lot somewhere at the foot of the noun
tains, which receives and carries off the
constantly running streamlets of water.
This drainage renders the floor Of the
caverns comparatively dry and makes
exploration more agreeable. A. F.F.


ssThe FURRY Of Stocks"
always means all opportunity for some
shrewd and lively operator to make
very handsome nroft. Messrs. Lawrence