USA > Virginia > A history of the valley of Virginia, 3rd ed > Part 35
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This is not unaptly styled Solomon's Throne. Every thing in this room, receives its name from the Wise Man, immediately to the left of the steps, as you descend, you will find his meat-house, and at the eastern extremity of the room, is a beautiful pillar of white stalactitic, somewhat defaced by the smoke of candles, called by lis name. With strange inconsistency, an incrustation resembling fall- ing water, at the right of the steps, has obtained the name of the Falls of Niagara.
Passing Solomon's Pillar here, you enter another room, more irregular than the first, but still more beautiful. It would be im- possible adequately to describe the magnificence of this room. I shall therefore merely observe, that it is thickly studded with beau- tiful stalactities, resembling, in form and color, the roots of radishes, which have given the appellation of Radish Room to this deliglit- ful place.
I cannot refrain from reprobating here, the vandal spirit of some visitors, who regardless of all prohibitions, will persist in
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breaking off and defacing, these splendid specimens of nature's workmanship, forgetting that a single blow may destroy the work of centuries.
The main passage to the rest of the Cavern is immediately oppo- site the entrance to Solomon's Temple, and you reach it by an ascent of twelve feet, to what is called the Porter's Lodge. From this place, pursuing the same course, you pass along a passage varying from ten to thirty feet in height, from ten to fifteen in breadth, and fifty-eight in length, until you reach Barney's Hall, which receives its name from the fancied resemblance of a prostrate stalactite, at the base of one that is upright, to old Com. Barney, and the cannon that he used at the "Bladensburgh races."
Near the center of the room, which is small and scarcely de- serves the name, an upright board points out to the visitor the main path of the Cave, which runs to the right. Two passages run off to the left, the first one to a large, irregular room, called the Lawyer's Office, in which is a fine spring, or rather reservoir where the drop- pings from the ceiling have collected ; the other, through a passage to what is called The Armory, from an incrustation that has received the name of Ajax's Shield. Between the lawyer's office and the armory, and communicating with both, is another large, irregular apartment, which is named Weyer's Hall, after the original dis- coverer of the Cave, who together with his dog, stands immortalized in one corner.
Before we get bewildered and lost in this part of the Cave, which is more intricate than any other, let us return to the guide board in Barney's Hall, and pursue the route usually taken by visi- tors. Following the right hand opening mentioned above, which is rather low, being not more than five feet high, you pass into the Twin Room, taking heed lest you fall into the Devil's Bake Oven, which yawns close by your feet. This room is small, and communi- cates directly with the Bannister Room, which is fifty-nine feet from the guide board. The arch here suddenly expands, and becomes elevated to the height of thirty feet, and by dint of hard climbing you may return to the Porter's Lodge, through a passage directly over the one which you have just passed.
A descent of thirty-nine feet due west from the twin room, brings you to the Tanyard, which contains many beauties. The floor is irregular ; in some places sinking into holes somewhat re- sembling tan vats, which together with several hanging stalactities resembling hides, have given a name to this immense apartment. On the southeast side of the room, immediatety to the left of the main path, is a large opening, which admits you at once into the armory.
It may be well to remark here, that a notice of many beautiful appearances in the different rooms has been omitted, because they are noted upon the map of the cave, lately published by the author of this sketch.
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Changing your course to the N. W., you leave the tanyard by a rough but not difficult ascent of twenty feet, at an angle of eigh- teen degrees, into what may be considered an elevated continuation of the same room, but which has been desevedly dignified with a distinct appellation.
To your riglit, as you step upon level ground you will observe a perpendicular wall of rock, rising with great regularity ; if you strike upon it with your hand, it sends forth a deep mellow sound, strongly resembling the tones of a bass drum, whence the room has received the name of the Drum Room. Upon a close examination, this apparent wall will be found to be only a thin stalactic partition, extending from the ceiling to the floor.
You leave the drum room by a flight of natural steps, seven feet in perpendicular height. A large opening now presents itself, which expands to an extensive apartment, to reach which it is necessary to make a nearly perpendicular descent of ten feet, by means of sub- stantial stone steps. This apartment is the far-famed Ball Room. It is one hundred feet long, thirty-six wide, and about twenty-five high, running at right angles to the path by which you entered it. The general course of this room is from N. to S., but the northern extremity, there is a gradual ascent, bearing round to the east, until you reach a precipice of twenty or thirty feet, from which you can look down into the tanyard.
Near the center of the ball room, is a large calcareous deposit, that has received the name of Paganini's Statue, from the circum- stance that it furnishes a good position for the music, whenever balls are given in these submundane regions. The floor is sufficient level to admit of dancing upon it, and it was formerly common to have balls here The ladies are accommodated with a convenient dress- ing room, the only opening to which communicates directly with the ball room.
You leave this room by a gradual ascent of forty-five feet at the southern extremity. This acclivity is called the Frenchman's Hill, from the following circumstances : Some years since, a French gen- tleman visited the cave, accompanied only by the guide ; they had safely gone through, and returning, had reached this hill, when by accident both their lights were extinguished, and they were left in Egyptian darkness without the means of relighting them. Fortun- ately, the guide, from his accurate knowledge of localities, con- ducted him safely to the entrance, a distance of more than five hun- dred feet.
Another gentleman by the name of Patterson, has immortalized his name by attempting the same feat, although it was a complete failure. Hearing of the Frenchman's adventure, he sent his com- pany ahead, and undertook to find his way back without a light, from the ball room to the entrance. He succeeded in ascending the steps, but had proceeded only a few paces further, when his feet slipped from under him, and he was laid prostrate in an aperature,
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where he lay unhurt until his companions, alarmed at his protracted absence, returned for him. His resting place is called Patterson's grave to this day.
From the French Hill, a long, irregular passage extends, in a N. W. direction, which is denominated the Narrow Passage. This passage is fifty-two feet long, from three to five feet wide, and from four to eight high. It leads . you to the brink of a precipice twelve feet high.
Natural indentations in the face of this precipice, afford a con- venient means of descent, and these natural steps have received the name of Jacob's Ladder. To correspond with this name, as in Solo- man's Temple, everything is named after the Patriarch ; a flat rock opposite to the end of the Narrow Passage, is Jacob's Tea Table ! and a deep, inaccessible perforation in the rock by its side, is Jacob's Ice House ! Descending the Ladder, you turn to the left, and pass through a narrow opening, still continuing to descend though less perpendicularly to the center of a small apartment called the Dungeon.
This room communicates immediately with the Senate Chamber, over nearly half of which stretches a thin flat rock, at the height of six or eight feet from the floor, forming a sort of gallery, which probably suggested the name which has been given to the room.
The senate chamber communicates with a high, broad opening, with a much larger apartment, called Congress Hall, an appellation bestowed rather on account of its proximity to the last mentioned room than from anything particularly appropriate in the room it- . self. It is long, and like the Ball Room runs at right angles to the main path, which winds to the left, as you enter. Its course is nearly north and south, and a wall, perforated in many places, runs through its whole length. Instead of pursuing the customary route, we will turn to the right and explore the dark recess that pre- sents itself.
The floor of Congress Hall is very uneven, and at the northern extremity rises somewhat abruptly. If you climb this ascent, and pass through one of the perforations in the wall above mention- ed, you can see through the whole extent of the other half of the room, but cannot traverse it, on account of two or three deep pits that occupy the whole space between the western side of the room and the wall.
Turning to the right of the opening through which you just passed, your eye vainly attempts to penetrate the deep, dark abyss that is presented to view, and you hesitate to descend. Its name, The Infernal Regions ! does not offer many inducements to enter it; in addition to this, the suspicion that it contained fixed air, for many years deterred the curious from visiting it, and consequently it has not until recently, been throughly explored.
In the spring of 1833, I determined at all hazards to explore this room, for I doubt the existence of any bad air, as I had never
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detected any in the course of extensive researches in almost every part of the cave. My brother and the guide accompanied me, each carrying two candles, and thus prepared we descended twenty feet before we reached a landing place. Here our candles burned dimly and great care was necessary to prevent them from going out entire- ly ; yet we experienced no difficulty of breathing, or any other ind- cation of the presence of this much dreaded gas. The floor is not horizontal, but inclined to an angle of fifteen or twenty degrees, and when we emerged from the pit into which we first entered, our can- dles shone brightly, and displayed to our view a room more exten- sive than any that I have as yet described. Its greatest length was from W. to E., and it seemed to run nearly parallel to the path over which have just traveled. From its length we are induced to be- lieve that it approached very near the ball room with which it might communicate by some yet undiscovered passage. So strongly were we impressed with this idea, that we determined, if practicable, to ascertain how far we were correct. For this purpose I set my watch exactly with my brother's, and requested him to go to the ball room and pursue, as far as possible, a low passage that leads to the right, from the foot of the Frenchman's hill, while I went to the eastern extremity of this immense apartment. At an appointed moment I fired a pistol, but the only answer was a deafening reverberations of the sound rolling like thunder along the lofty arches. I shouted, but no return met my ear save the hollow echo of my own voice, and I began to think we had been hasty in our opinion. At this mo- ment a beautiful stalactite sparkled in the light of the candle, and I forgot my desire to discover an unknown passage, in my anxiety to secure this prize. Taking the butt of the pistol, I hammered gently upon it to disengage it from the rock where it hung. I was sur- prised to hear the taps distinctly answered appearently from the center of the solid rock, and a repetition of the blow brought a repe- tition of the answer. After comparing our impressions, we were satisfied there could be but little space between the two rooms.
We have lingered so long in these Infernal Regions, * that we must hasten back to the spot whence we diverged in the center of Congress Hall. Our course now lies to S. W., up a perpendicular ascent of seventeen feet to what is called the Lobby. From this place, an expert climber may pass through secret passages and bye rooms to the end of the cave, without once entering the main path. You have ascended to the lobby only to descend again on the other side, when you reach the most magnificent apartment in the whole cave.
This is Washington's Hall, so-called, in token of respect for the memory of our Country's Father, and is worthy of bearing his name. Its length is two hundred and fifty-seven feet, its breadth
* For an account of some recent interesting discoveries in this room, see note on page 347.
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from ten to twenty, its height thirty-three, and it is remarkably level and straight through the whole length. Not far from the center of this room, is an immense deposit of calcareous matter ris- ing to the hight of six or seven feet, which strikingly resembles a statue clothed in drapery. This is Washington's Statue, and few can look upon it as seen by the dim light of two or three candles which rather stimulate than repress the imagination, without experiencing a sensation of solemnity and awe, as if they were actually in the presence of the mighty dead.
By ascending a bank, near the entrance, of five or six feet per- pendicular height, you enter another room called the Theatre, from the fact that different parts of it correspond to the stage, gallery and pit. I notice this room, which is otherwise uninteresting, for the purpose of mentioning a circumstance, related to me by Mr. Bryan, a former guide, which confirms an opinion that I have long enter- tained, that the whole cave is thoroughly ventilated by some un- known communication with the upper air. About six years since, during a heavy protracted rain which raised the waters of the South River that flows at the bottom of the cave-hill, to an unprese- dented height, Mr. Bryan conducted a company through the cave. As he ascended the stairs that led to the lobby, he heard the rush of water ; fearing that the cave was flooding, he directed the visitors to remain in Congress Hall, while he investigated the cause of the unusual and alarming noise. Cautiously descending into Washing- ton's Hall, he followed the sound until he arrived opposite to the entrance to the Theatre, in which he saw a column of water pouring from the ceiling in the pit, and losing itself in the numerous crevices that abound. When the rain ceased, the flood was stayed, and it has never been repeated ; but even at the present time, small pebbles and gravel, resembling that found on the top of the hill, may be seen in the theatre. No aperature is visible from within, neither has any perforation been discovered on the surface of the hill, yet beyond a doubt, some communication with the exterior does exist.
I have said that the breadth of Washington's Hall is from ten to twenty feet ; this must be understood as applying to the lower part of the room, for the arch stretches over a rock twenty feet high, which forms the left wall, and embraces another room called Lady Washington's room. The entrance to this apartment is opposite to the Statue, and is on a level with the hall. The wall that separates the two rooms is ten feet thick, and is named The Rock of Gibralter. One or two candles placed upon this rock, produce a fine effect, par- ticularly if every other light is extinguished ; for it shows you the arch, spreading out with beautiful regularity, until it is lost in the surrounding darkness, and imagination, supplying the deficiency of vision, peoples the dark recesses with hosts of matterless phantoms. You leave this splendid apartment at the S. W. extremity, by a rough and narrow, but high passage, running at the foot of the
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Pyramids of Egypt and Cleopatra's Needle ! At the end of this passage, in a recess to the right is another spring or reservoir, simi- lar to the one in the lawyer's office. A descent of eight or ten feet brings you into the Diamond Room, which may be considered as forming a part of The Church, a long, irregular room more lofty than any that we have yet entered. Its length is one hundred and fifty-two feet, its breadth from ten to fifteen, and its height fifty ! At the farthest extremity, a beautiful white spire shoot up to a con- siderable height, which is appropriately styled The Steeple, and has no doubt suggested the name of the room. Nearly opposite to the center of the church, is a recess of considerable extent and elevation, which forms a very good galley ; in the rear of the gallery and in full view from below, is a great number of pendant stalactities, sev- eral feet long and of various sizes, ranging like the pipes of an organ and bearing a striking resemblance to them. If these stalactities are struck by any hard substance, they send forth sounds of various pitches, according to their sizes, and a stick be rapidly run along sev- eral of them at once, a pleasing variety of notes is produced. This formation is called the organ.
Passing under the steeple, which rests on an arch elevated not more than ten feet, you enter the Dining Room. This room is named from a long natural table, that stands on the left, and is not quite so large as the church, though its height is sixty feet. But for the sort of wall which the steeple makes, it might be considered as a continuation of the church. A little to the left of the table, you will see a small uninviting opening ; if you are not deterred by its unpromising appearance, we will enter and see whether it will lead us. Proceeding only a few paces you will suddenly find yourself in an immense apartment, parallel to the dining room, extending to the gallery in the church, with which it communicates. This is Jack- son's Room, and is uninteresting on account of its irregularity, but leads to one that deserves notice. Directly opposite to the little pas- sage which conducted you thither, is a large opening ; passing this, the walls contract until only a narrow pass a few feet long, is left, which conduct you, if not to the most magnificent, at least to one of the most beautiful and interesting portions of the whole cavern. There is but one apartment, and that is small, but the Garden of Eden, for so it is called, derives its beauty from the singular ar- rangement of the immense stalactities, that hung from the roof, and unite with the stalactities which have ascended from the floor to meet them ; or in few words, it seems as if at some former period, a sheet of water had poured down from the roof and by some won- derful operation of nature had become suddenly petrified. This sheet is not continuous, but strongly resembles the fold of heavy drapery, and you may pass among its windings as through the inazes of a labyrinth, and the light of a candle shines distinctly through any part of it. A large portion of the floor of this room is com- posed of beautiful fine yellow sand ; the floor of most, if not all
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other portions of the cave, is a stiff clay, with very few indications of sand.
We must now retrace our steps to the dining room, for there is no other place of egress ; but as we return let us make a short di- gression to the left into a small passage, that does not appear to ex- tend very far. Be careful ! there is a deep hole just before you ! now hold your candle above your head and look through the opening, which is large enough to admit the body of a man ; you will see a deep unexplored abyss,
" Where the footstep of mortal had never trod."
No man as yet ever ventured into this forbidding place, for it can be entered only by means of a rope ladder, but it is my intention if my courage does not fail me, to attempt at no distant period, to explore the hidden mysteries of the apartment.
Once more in the dining room, let us hasten to the completion of our task. The main path pursues the same course from this room, that it has done ever since you entered Washington's Hall ; but your way now lies up a sort of a hill, in the side of which, is the opening through which you are to pass. If you are adventurous, you will follow me above the opening, up the nearly perpendicular face of the rock, to the height of fifty feet, where a ledge of rock ex- tends itself, forming the left side of the dining room. From this eminence, called the Giant's Causeway, you can look down into the dining room on one side, and Jackson's room on the other.
Great caution is necessary in climbing this height, lest too much confidence be reposed in the projecting stalagmites, that offer a con- venient and seemingly a secure footliold to the incautious adventur- er. It must be remembered that they are formed from droppings from the roof, and are generally based on the mud. By cautiously descending the ledge a few feet on the opposite side to that which we ascended, we shall be enabled to reach with ease, the room which has already been attained by the rest of the company, who have been less adventurous than ourselves and passed through the opening already pointed out, in ascending the Causeway.
This room, or perhaps it should be called passage, is denomin- ated The Wilderness, from the roughness of the pathway, and is only ten feet wide, but it rises to the immense height of ninety or one hundred feet ! As we come along the Causeway, we look down upon our right, we shall see our company forty or fifty feet below us, while our eyes can scarcely penetrate through the darkness, to the ceiling above our heads. Upon the very verge of the rock on which we are standing, are several beautiful white stalagmites, or rather columns, grouped together, among which one stands pre-emin- ent. This is Bonaparte with his body-guard, crossing the Alps ! The effect is peculiarly fine when viewed from below.
Without descending from our dangerous elevation, we will go on our way a little further. Proceeding only a few paces from the
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Emperor, you find yourself upon an arch under which your com- pany is passing, which is very appropriately called The Natural Bridge ; but it should be crossed with great caution, if at all, for foothold is insecure, and danger of being precipitated to the floor be- neath. Retracing our steps near to Bonaparte's statue, we will de- send an inclined plane on the left, and by a jump of six feet, rejoin our friends at the end of the Wilderness.
You are now upon the lowest level of the cave, and at the en- trance of the farthest room. This is Jefferson's Hall, an extensive and level but not a very elevated apartment. Before I describe this room, we must diverge a little and visit one or two rooms that branch off from the main path. Directly to your right, as you emerge from the Wilderness, there rises an immense mass, apparently of solid stalagmite, thirty-six feet long, thirty feet broad, and thirty feet high ; this mass is beautiful beyond description ; very much re- sembling successive stories, and is called the Tower of Babel ! The most magnificent portion of the Tower is on the back or northern part, but it is difficult of access, for it is necessary to climb up the surface of the rock to the height of fifteen or twenty feet ; the view however amply repays you for the labor. For a few moments, you can scarcely convince yourself that an immense body of water is not pouring over the precipice, in a foaming torrent-so white, so dazzling is the effulgence of the rock, and when this impression is effaced, the words of the pious Bard rush into the mind, where he describes the awful effects that will follow the consummation of all things :
" The Cataract, that like a Giant wroth, Rushed down impetuously, as seized at once By sudden frost, with all his hoary locks, Stood still ! "
One might almost imagine that Pollock had visited this wonder, and caught the idea so forcibly expressed above, from viewing this magnificent scene.
We have already so much exceeded our intended limits, that we can only look into the large apartment that occupies the space be- hind the Tower, which is called Sir Walter Scott's Room, and then hasten back to the main path.
Jefferson's room, that we left some time since, is very irregular in shape, and is two hundred and thirty-five feet long, following the various windings. What is commonly called the end of the cave, is distinguished by two singular, thin, lamellar rocks, five or six feet in diameter, united at their bases, but spreading out so that the outer edges are several feet apart, this is called the Fly Trap! To the left of the fly trap, is a large recess, where you will find a fine spring of water, at which the weary visitor is glad to slake his thirst, after the fatigues of his arduous undertaking.
Very many visitors have their curiosity satisfied long before
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