Year: 1878

opposite shore and VIC we'll repaid for doing it.
The a-st spsrtncut wc entered of beauti-
full columns of all sizes and shapes slabs of immense
length hanging like curtains in folds and 10 thin we
could see our lights through them.


MYSTERIOUS ANIMAL FOOTPRINTS.


Glancing at the floor we discovered the footprints
Of animals. They were not only distinct, but per-
feet AZ II just made. The clay soft, and these
prints in many places snnken at least inch.
showing that heavy animals had passed over the
ground We examined them closely but could
not make ont whether they were bear
tracks or the tracks OF other wild beasts.
Following these marks they led ns into
several other caverns. and proceeded the tracks
became more numerous. They had not hardened, IA
we very easily obliterated many Of them with the
soles OF our boots. We found thousands of them at
every turn. Nothing in the shape OF wild animals
have been known in this region nearer than the noun
tains for century back One of our party thought
the tracks had been made hundreds Of years ago.
This may be correct theory. but not probable one
in my mind. cannot imagine how they would
tain their distinct formation for such length OF
time unless they had become hardened like the other
formations Of these caverns. II may be
that these caverns extend out to the noun
tains. Something in the shape OF a boulder,
or earthly formation may have fallen within recent





these animals passed into the chambers we were cx
ploring In that case it is probable we may never
trace out their exit, and the animals themselves may
never be able 10 revisit these haunts The proprietor
however, intend making strenuous efforts to hnd any
openings through which they may have found their
way Where there any probable opening digging will
be resorted to- In many parts OF the the tracks
Of foxes were found and in place the skull and
several of tho bones Of one At this the party
not surprised. for fox may crawl through very
hmali opening, not larger than the "rabbit hole
through which the cavcrns were frst discovered
Larger anirals would require larger space and
where they could pass man could probably
do the same. So VIC felt all the more anxious
to trace them mp. II is the impression that
these caverns will eventually be found to
extend in chain to the Shenandoah River for at VA
rious points along tina. river side hinge openings have
been found leading into Of various Sizes but
none Of them have been particularly explored owing
to large bodies Of wasor found in them and the di-
Guilty Of climbing their steep rocky interiors
This chain Of may extend under the bed
OF the river and toward the mountains. The whole
country looks less cavcrnous from its forma-
ton hut the equal Of these great caves think will
never be found.


ANOTHER Lrsr or wovpEna.


The explorers left the chambers containing the
tracks and proceeding through several narrow open
ings and following long gulch. climbed another
hill and came suddenly into apartment with walls
of crystal whose polish reelected faces One half
the noor was elevated three feet above the lower half
and in the upper part series OF bcauti-
fu springs probably ten in all. Each was
distinct and differently formed from tho other The
largest was about three feet sqnare and four feet in
depth The lower portion of the floor contained two
large lakes and small one the handsomcst /
think in the column. ten feet in diameter
and perfectly white, supported the DOME and spread
out nj the top like branches of large
OAK Leading directly from the spring was
y steep ascent, mp which we helped
each other finding small hole at the junction of tho
ceiling. Through this We dragged ourselves and
found four medium siyad rooms Of tho usual char.
actcr and in one Of them another aperture too small
Ia gct through, but leading to one more larger
rooms az We could perceive by passing q candle
through. The rock surrounding this opening was 80
thick we conld not break 10. that route
viii have TO bc reserved for future OCCASION when
the explorers have their sletlgcs with them. The
marty came back 30 the lake room and passed into
another still larger whose floor of heavy
dark clay cracked In the form of bricks. n just
in propcr condition for brick kiln. In one corner
was spr1ng, snd sdiciping IL thxse ox four feet Of