I

The Journal of Spelean History

OFFICIAL PUBUCATION of The AMERICAN SPELEAN HISTORY ASSOCIATION

The Grottoes

Of the Shenandoah,

Consisting of

The Weyer and the Fountains Caves,

The Two Most Wonderfnl Caverns in the World,

at

Grottoes Station of Shenandoah Valley Railway,

Angusta County, Virginia.

Lighted by a Grand System of Incandescent

'Electric Lights.

Now ready for visitors, having been recently opened to the pUblic.

For information about The Grottoes amI Excursions, address,

A. M. Ho-vvison, Secretary,

Staunton, Va.

The Valley Virginian Print.

Staunton, Va;

,889·

Vol. 1 No.2 Spriag Qatarter 1968

ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION

Spelean History Association is newly chartered as aThe American nonprofit corporation for the study, dissemination and interpretation of

" spelean history and related purposes. All persons of high ethical and moral character who are interested in these goals are cordially invited to become members.

ABOUT THE QUARTERLY

The Association anticipates the publication of the Journal of Spelean History on a quarterly basis. Pertinent articles or reprints will be welcomed. As a photo-offset process is in use, articles should be submitted in a form which can be photographed for direct use, i.e. sing1e spaced, on 8\ x 11 paper and with adequate margins. Submissions of rough drafts for preliminary editing is strongly recommended. Line drawings are no problem; photographs require special handling and the editor should be contacted. Dark clear xerox copies of books, etc." reproduce well.

ABOUT THE COVER IL4USTRATION

The three caves of Cave Hill near Grottoes, Virginia - Grand Caverns, Fountain Cave and Madison's Cave - are among the most historic of the United States. The 23 page 1889 pamphlet whose cover is reproduced here is a surprisingly historical document for a commercial publication of this type. Even its cover clarifies the confusing term llGrottoes of the Shenandoah" which many have assumed pertained only to Weyer's Cave (Grand Caverns).

34

Spelean History Spelean History Association

editor E.

official

Volume 1 #2

!'

,..,

37

38

29

39

40

41

Rear

The Journal of publication of the American

Dr. William R. Halliday, 1117 36th Ave.

Seattle, Wash.

' April-June 1968

TWO CENTURIES OF HISTORY AT THE GROTTOES OF THE SHENANDOAH: GRAND CAVERNS AND ITS NEIGHBORS

Table of contents

Front cover: Cover inscription of 1889 pamphlet

22 Introduction

22 Pre-l850 map of Grand and Madison's caverns

23 The Grottoes of the Shenandoah (extracts from

25 Extract from The Weyer Cave, by Porte Crayon

26 Madison's Cave, by Thomas

1889 pamphlet)

26 Jefferson's map of Madison's

27 1806 account of Grand Caverns

Jefferson

Cave

(anonymous)

28 1809 account of Grand Caverns (anonymous)

30 Accounts of Martin and Breckenridge

Grand Caverns in the Civil War, by Elmer J. Barker

36 Post-bellum regulations at Grand Caverns

1948 fact sheet on Grand Caverns and Fountain Cave

Extract from recent commercial brochure of Grand Caverns

Note on Fountain and Madison's Cave, by Burton Faust

A Betsy Bell legend relating to Grand Caverns, by C.M. Blackford

Association business, colloquy and book exchange

News release: Classics in speleology

cover: The Angel's Wing, or Bridal Veil, Grand Caverns (photo by Flournoy, courtesy Grand Caverns)

"History Valley Virsinia",

Virginia.

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daily

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wk idry cha �ls

every a."garment'

The Grottoes of t,he' Shenandoah.

At Grottoes station of the Shenandoah Vall y Railroad the traveler through the famous valley of the Shenandoah finds two of the mO$t remarkable and Wonderful caverns in the world, the Weyer Cave and the Cave of Founta ns that together are known as The. Grottoes of the Shen. andoah.

9'rottoes station is J6 hout's from New YOl'k, 13 from Philadelphia, 8 from Baltimore and 7 from Washington. Pullman Palace Sleeping and Parlor Cars aremn from New York andPhiladelphia, by way of Hamsburg and by daylight through the lovely Valley of the Shenandoah" to The Grottoes. A similar car service connects this charming resort with Little Rock, Memphis, Chattanooga and the Southwest by way of the Norfolk & Western at Roanoke, and' with the West and Northwest and the South by the Chesapeake & Ohio at Waynesboro Junction, bllt 4 miles from The Gro toes.

The Grottoes of the Shep,andoah are in a noble ridge, covered with forest ttees of many kinds in the mids of an estate of over two hundred acres, embracing not only the'wonderful Weyer and Fountains caves, but atso a hundred acres of groves, wid stretches of lawns .and meadows"a longreacb of the charming South River of the Shenandoah, where boating. bathing and fishing may be indulged in, and the new Grottoes Hotel, with its hundreds of feet of broad verandas commanding well nigh a thousand square miles of magnificent landscape, sweeping from the Blue Ridge 011 theEast across the thirty miles wide Shenandoah Valley, with the Massa.nutton chain in the middle"and range after range of the

.'

Great Apalachian mountains, there over four thousand feet above the sea level,stretching tar away to the West.

The new Grottoes Hotel is not only well furnished and well kept, but is lighted throughout with incandescent electiic lights, thus assuring cool rooms and pure air. A broad avenue and graded ano shaded walks lead. from the hotel directly west, but a short distance, to the wonderful caves,. the way lighted 8;t night by electric lamps.

At the entrance to Weyer Cav a pleasant furnished reception . invites to rest with. the lovely South river in prospect. .

,\·.:W�er Cave, which is so well And truthfully described in the follow

ing cle from Harper's Magazine, has been closed to the public for

. some tinie an,d easy passage have been cut between its grand

. halls and and wide· spaces leveled for the accommodation of

visitors,so that portion of its miles of wonders may be seen with

out the soiling of or the wetting of a sole; at the same time

. the WestingbouseElectric Company,of Pit sburg, Pa. ,put in, with great '-3

'-.

cl

, lAbor and expense, a magnificent system of incandescent electric Hghts, rendering it' not only pleasant to wander through the vast stalactitie halls and chambers of this grandest of caverns, but lighting up' their lofty and superbly ornamented ceilings and their sculptured and dazzling crystal covered walls,

. ..

Tl1e Cave of The Fountains has also been improved and made easy of access, so its gigantic features, unlike those of Weyer Cave, can be seen. to advantage with magnesium al;1d other lights.

Th.e Grottoes of the Shenandoah Comp::my, confident in the belief that its property contains two of the greatest natural curiosities in the world -curiosities so wonderfullhat the oftener they are visited the more they are admired-is sparing no expense in making the surroundings of their remarkable grottoes agreeable and attractive, and providing that the place shall become a great resort for the eeker:i after recreation and enjoyment, where endless objects of interest. varied enough to meet the demands of every taste, abound on every hand. It invites the great traveling public to avail itself of the liberality of the railways and buy the round-trip excursion tickets to The Grottoes that are on sale throughout the country, and visit not only the most curious and marvelous specimenA of Nature's handiwork, found in almost endless variety in the Weyer and Fountains Caves, but also to visit the famous battle fields near at hand, ride over the fine roads and enjoy the lovely scenery

Way,now'n'oided:; th-e great Ball Room 100 feet long, 36 feet wide and :25 feet high, with fretted ceiling, large sheets of folded stalactites used :as a bass drum, with numerous smaller side rooms and stalagmites, su.g gestive of statuary; the DU1lgeons with their titanic forms altd yawning chasms; the Senate and Congress Halls with galleries and'lobbies .' richly ornamented aDd with a Crystal SpHng; and the great Spar Room with its limpid lake.

The tldrdseries, the grandest of all, extends its vast halls aad chambers {or more than 500 feet to the west of south, from the Theatre to the huge 'Tower of Babel, with an extreme breadth of a hundred feet; it includes the Theatre with -all its appointments properly disposed; the Grand Cathedral 260 feet long, 50 feet wide and varying in height from 30 feet up.wards, and rich beyond compare in objects of wondrous interest, such as the herDic Statue of Washington midway of the length of the great nave, the shields, banners, tapestries and winged trophies orname",ting the lofty walls, Lady Washington·s Grotto and Mirror in the great Eastern Aisle, the georgeously rltamented ceiling (never seen before the re el1:t' introduction of electric lights of great power,) and the unspeakably grand display of Leauing Towers, lofty Pinnacles and other dreams of Wonderlau.d-the Enchanted l\1oors of "Porte Crayon"'-that fill ,the

. southern en.d of the Cathedral.' Th en succeed Jackson Hall; the Spring Grotto; the Glen with its Diamolld Bank, 'its Tower of Pisa and churchly suggestions of Organ and Choir, Stalls and Steeple,' all wonderful forms of stalagmitic strUcture.

The Entrance hall to the Garden of Eden and the Garden itself, a se eluded grotto that in the entrancing. beauty , and delicacy of its crystal covered formations challenges comparison with any grotto in the knowll world-to have.'seen it aktne,ieworth a journey of a thousand miles• .

The Bridal Chamber; near the eQtrance to the Garden of Men, contains a most singular and beautiful stalactite, the Great Bridal Comb and Veil; and itt the same room the Diamond Water-fall is as brilliant in the electric light as a shower' of sunlit jewels.

Then the Dining Room with its appropriate furniture; the Wilderness with its fretted roof 70 feet above the floor of the cave, with, the Natural Bridge and its fine Causeway approach lined with statuary; and at the eno of the series, in the midst of. Jeffer n Hall, the majestic Tower of Babel, a 'mighty stalagmite of oval form standing detached and rising in grace(ul collonades, tier upon tier, to a noble height and a corniced crown; -a more remarkable stalagmite in size and beauty, real architectural beauty, catt nowhere else be found. To the westward, behind the Tower of Babel, is a unique grotto thRt may well be called a Lady Chapel, so gracefully are its columns and capitals sculptured and so curious and

. finished are its adornments. '

r

Thefourth seri,es extends from the Tower of Babel for 200 feet to the southeast, in a space widening, in many ch'a.mbers, to. 150 feet. The no.

J.S

distiuguishe

The Cave of the FountaiDS while m1!lCh smaller than Weyer Cave·;s as large as mf>st of the celebrated f&rmati€>n-beAring caverns. It is il1 the form of two grand Halls, each over a hundred yards in length and each branching in great arms. Its stalactites and stalagmites are all on· a grand scale and the-titanic rock masses scattered aroulld give a ·wild and unearthly aspect to the giant halls f)f the cave. It has the fine t cataract forms of any known cavern. No one shO\\ld fail to see it as it is unlike any other cave.

These full page illustrations are from Ed. Beyer's great Album of Virginia, engraved from the sketches of that DDSSeldorf artist. These and the illustrations from Harper's Magazine truthful but imper(e,ct pictures of some of the thousands of objects interest to be seen in the Grottoes of the Shenandoah.

.

The famous Natural Bridge of Virginia is. but·· three hours distant to the Southeast by the Shenandoah Valley Railroad, and the justly c·elebrated Caverns of Lnray are but one anqa half hours to the Northeast by the same road. No one should fail to see both of these great and interesting curiosities where such ample provision has been made for the entertain'ment of visitors.

Madison Cave.-In Grottoes Ridge, northeast of Weyer Cave, is Madison Cave, made famous by jefferson's description of it in his Notes on Virginia.. When Jefferson visited that cave and made the following map of it, the Weyer and Fountains Caves had not been discovered. This eave is no longer visited; it was used for saltpetre making during three wars.

An E!le.:.d:J·auiJ

'!I

Madison Cave

By '..

1782

.so

i- '''' ''''''t'' '\+ 1--1::'' l . .'.: :d.,t.' H\I.. t..d, ....

b•d "4. .. ginia Illustrated;

.IYUlypOC1';,C t.t'H:.':rnlOUlel.er ..l.. ist:cr .. [dnL:l" U.'C .l U\.:; ..... \: l

be about 53;" deg -(;e::) l ahrell;le ":.) raul [;.lthot gh r in it frOUl eigilt to te l h0ur at a C ll\!, I l CY r felt the $lighte t discOB1- .

furt from the da:::;:pncss 01' allY ol1'.;:r c:ntse. Oill! mornill6! having rl,;Cil

befo::c chy1!ght, I \-i

Harper and Bros.,

doah, all the illustro.tiOlls of which they originally

"Porle Cmyon" ,t-us the nrth.tic wrote

for their illustrated articles.

"I'

Tht: .1Vcycr CalJe :--By Porte Crayol£. "II'! Harper's Kew i('llthly Magazine for December, x854, the 55th. nutn, '

her ofthat n ow widely read and almost VCllC1T,blc I,erifdical, appeared. the first ora'sc.ies of artic:es entitled, "Virginia I11t15tratcd.-Ad 'clltllres (1/ Port,: Cra;'/oIL Gild llis Cousins," in which was includeu tite fo]lowiug illustrated description of the '\"cycr Caye of the Grottoes of the Shenan

which arc reproduced from the magazine ill appeared, but photogra'phic:l.lly rcunced iu size.

flam de j>llll/lc of Gen. David H. Strother, all gClIt1cman resir1iug at Berkeley Springs, Va., at the time iie

II Virginia Illustrated" which entitles 111m to recognition asone of the first of the Aflll:ricans who have made its tllo,.thly magazines [amon:'>

Porte Crayon spellt l!1

Virginia)

r l ' Jcet. ti!CaScent

I' IOfln

Virginia.

Madison' Cave as described by

Thomas Jefferson

(text identical in all editions of

his Notes !h! state of

luthe lime-stone country, tliere are many caverns of very considerable extent. The. most noted is calkd Madison's Cave, and i on the northside of tht DIue ridge, ncar theinterseCtion of the Rocking·ham and Augusta lil1e , ... ith the sout1 fork of the

. NOTES ON VI?'GINIA 3'. southern iv rof Shenandolh. It is in a biH of about

,. 1 ' . , C' . • 1200 perpCllr.llCU a1' l1Clg.H, 01 \\'hlC,1, on one side, is so steep, that. YOll may pitch a bb;c !it from its summit into the riYer which washes its base. The entnmceof the cave is, in this side, about two t11irds of tbe way tip. It extends into the earth about 300 feet, branching into subordinate caverns, sometimes ascending a EttIe,. bu(morc generally descending, and at lcpgth tcrmin�lte!l, in two different

. places, at b

being which,

"j,ion;

they . which

nprincipally

which r

"err

whicbjhat$ the

YO'Jr. exhibit

ha"c

singular What

through that

.199

have ever beheld. . . .

The (orma:i:n o tllt'se hOl;ll,ful crystal i of easy e:xpl:m:lt1on. 1 he hule spars II' hleb are oC'.Mtonall" fonned

on . and .u der on: of dIe :lrches of the ',{ichmor;d Canal, most stnklngly pomt out the nl'lnnCr at ,heir composition. If a strcam of water has p:lssed ovcr·a hed of lime-stone ancllhcn f;ltcred through thl! mof of t!.i, c:we. what will foIlo:v Either he water 011. til e roof f! thickcst

The earliest recorded article on Grand Caverns, from:

Anon., 1806-07. A splendid cavern discovered in tbe limestone country of

Virginia. Medical Repository, Vol. 10, pp. 298-300, Nov.-Jan.

.A. splelldid Ca1Jcm di6C'(/�rl"l'd itt tlte llmc-strmc Country rj . Yirgitlia, in 1806.

A curiolls cave has been lately discovered near Madison's eave, in · Virginia, which has excited. considerable observation and curiosity. Its discovery was the effect of asingular accident. It is reported, that a tr:lp for raccoons was placed at the mouth of a $mall hole, which was ohserved at the aurface of the earth. On examining the SUCCI'S!! of his stratagem soon ntter, the' o" 'ncr observed that it had en. tangled a p olc-c:\t, which, in attempting to escape into the hole, drew the ll'llp after it. The owner on widening the hole disco\'errd that it led into a dark retreat. His curiosity

tbus exdled, he had lights immediately procu.recI, ' upon enterillg the cave, disco\'c rcd a new and mo&t .splendid scene to his astonished

1M height l IlSlh, width, direction :tnd contents of this .

' ..

JIetlical (/1/(1 PM/csol'lz:co/ Nnllt. lingular clwity has been ,·ariollsly represented by different r;bse1'Vt:rs. Some h:we estimated its length and breadth at several hundted yards, Others have nssigned it still more extraordinary dimensions. Some, whose imaginations are most ,'i\·id, h:l\'e attempted to resemble this cavity u!lder the ,earth to the splendid · palaces on its slItface I have divided it into extensive splendid apartments, theyhave fanciflllh' adorned with curtains; festoons, soph:!,. and &tatues. But all agree tllat it is one of the most e>.1raordi; flar\' Clwe!! which hIlS ever been disc(wered in America. and \\'h n iUuminattd by the light of candles, one of the mOJt

soe Jkdical atul Phi! s()phii:aI Nml. part it 'W:\s perhaps :lbollt four inches in ruameter. Upon inapl'cti ng its hottom, it presented the same consistency. hardticS!!. "..-illS, lind sfreaks. ",hich are perceptible in ma ble. This single fact stems to us to lay open the whole tI ();'y of tilt'forn:,,'i 1I rf marhles. From the !>hells ond otber fossil . proClu('tions. whi('h have been ftequ ntlr found t1lcrable.l in blocks of marhlt's. it 'vas easr to lnf".r that it was a

Ja.:titi(J1J.Y and formed substance I but here is a fact, which points Out the manner of its formation. is it but II calcareous crystal, formed in the 'manner which has been alread,' mt:ntiClllcd, b ' watt:r passing OVer lime-Stone beds. and d rh1ng the coloUrs of it!; veins from the dilTerent

. colours of the earths lind minerals which it filtrates t

magnificent specimens ot nature's productions which they

The roof, thc sides, and many paris of the floor are strewed with the most beautiful petrif:lctions. These are almost of .

colour and consistence.

..

lias it not been a 10ng $t.l\blishcd fact, lime is the basisSante areevery species of form, as transp:m n of all thl! matblt"i t ,

Several (Jf the beautiful crYstals or this to be ('om'crted into ornament!, as watch-seals. candlesticks

anti othrf8 are:IS gIIISS: "ome nre ,tinged with the deepest hues: some are conlca and others

or the most im'su1ar form :

&treaked. abouteave are

some are as hard lin adamant, .and others al'e extr"mel" porous, friable a d brittle. The and othtr domestic decorations. basis.oC these- cryst:!l! is ca:care !I$ tarth 0; lim The owner has already confined his trt>asure under II l'ad

.There u not one of them WIlt $trlke fire WIth W lock, and admits no one to enter it without a douceur of flint; and oC coa se there is roo 8ilido!u earth. ill their com so cents. He has sent II specimen of its '"anous ct)'Stalapositioa. to the l\1u£eutn ot Philadelphia.

29

http:basis.oC

The following is from page 32-35 of:

Anon., 1809. A tour through part of Virginia, in the summer of 1808.

In a series of letters, including an account of Harper's Ferry, the

Natural Bridge, the new discovery called Weirs Cave, etc. New York, n.p.

This place ier's Cave} is 16 miles from Staunton. Madison'. Cave, mentioned in Mr. Jefferson's Notes is now abandoned as an object of curiosity, and is about a quarter of a mile from Wier's Cave, which was discovered in February 1806, by a pole cat's being caught in a trap, and retreating for shelter to the Cave, to which a dog pursued her. The owner of the dog enlarged the hole by which the animal entered, and discovered the place from whence I now write to you. It is certainly the most remarkable subterranean curiosity on this Continent, or perhaps in the world, and is well worth the attention of an observing traveller. The entrance, and even after you proceed some paces, is by no means calculated to increase the ardour for research, but advancing further, and getting into the midst of a variety of cones and cylindrical pillars, gives fresh hopes and vigor for further discovery. In order to designate the different objects of this Cave, I shall give to each the name affixed to it by our conductor. The drawing room is the irst large opening. after creeping and going through a number a number of narrow passages, in which we were frequently obliged to get forward on our hands and knees, to guard our heads from being broke by the crystallizations which hung over them, and to ascend and descend by artificial, and oftentimes crazy ladders. The dining room is the next large apartment, here are a great number of pillars and busts, which, on t.he first approach, appear to be indebted for their shape to the art of the chisel., and a variety of chairs, decorated like Bishop's stalls, give it the appearance of a cathedrsl;this room is 39 yards long; adjoining is a collection of tamboreens, or natural drums, formed by sheets or curtains of petrifaction, and sounding, when struck, like the martial instrument from which they are named. The ball room is 42 yards long, 15 wide, and about 30 feet high, the appearance of a muSic gallery at one end, adds to the deception which the mind encourages in this romantic grotto; here is a very curious pillar and also a number of columns, extending from top to bottom; near this is the resemblance of a grand chair of state, called the President's chair; a representation of a bank of ice, as white and transparent as the native original, and seemingly underneath, a beautiful cascade of falling water. Washington room is 90 yards long, and of an tmmense height; a bust stands nearly in the centre, and at a distance. so like the great man whose name it bears, that nature, though only showing her skill in its formation by drops of water, falling for ages, from the lofty ceiling above, could not be excelled by the most skilful statuary. An admirer of the virtues of this best of men, while gazing on his likeness in this spell-bound cavern, can only be prevented by respect for the second commandment, from falling down and worshipping. Lady Washington's room opens out of the last mentioned. The diamond room takes its name from the variety of crystallizations and transparencies it exhibits; our lights were not sufficiently splendid, but had they done justice to the scene before us, I question if the eye could be presented with a more glittering or magnificent object. The enchanted room contains the image of "Lot's wife" in the very act of tripping away, and turning her head

30

half around, when she was caught in the act, and paid the dear forfeit of her curiosity. She has now as much the appearance of a pillar of salt as of petrifaction. How happy for mankind, if the evils brought on families and on society, by their foibles, which Mrs. Lot undoubtedly inherited from her mother Bve, were to be done away, by a feW such examples of terrific justice! I denominated a very rough passage the wilderness of sin, and Jobn Bunyan btmself could not bave painted a more terrific road into the garden of Eden, wbere the perspective presented a pleasing assemblage of trees, shrubs, variegated walks, and ornamental flowering plants'. 'the ensemble appearing like a petrified flower garden, formed by nature in her playful moments, 8S if for her own amusement. In thebar room there is a spring of cool water, and as the conductor is generally provided with a bottle of brandy, the almost exhausted strength of the explorator may here be recruited. The mountain of salt, better described by the name it bears tban any idea I can give of it, is not the least wonderful of the works of nature in tbis cavern. On the Whole, it is highly worth the attention of the curious, the notice of the naturalist, and the observation of the pbilosopbic traveller; and where is the contemplative being thet visits it, and views the sublime and grand scenery I witnessed in the close of the day, in the ascent, on the top, and in the descent of tbe majestic blue mountains that is not prepared to cry out in extacy, with the poet: "These are thy glorious works, Parent of Good!"

Note on Fountain and Madison's Caves by Burton Faust

The Cave of the Fountains which is in the same hill as Madison and Weyer's Caves, was the first show cave in this country. A great deal of work was done to prepare the cave for visitors. It was quite a beautiful cave, with stone arched entrance and stairs nearly 100 feet long to the bottom. Some of the nicest cave pictures I have I took in this cave.

Madison's Cave was a show cave circa 1926. ******

(Editor's note: The above was a brief note sent to me about 1965. Due to Burton'. untimely death, his documentation remains unchecked.)

31

j\(:ldi!!ll)II'fUll d 9.QO

Weytl' worthy

peIlOO.US CQubi. .. d

high, whilt:,i' with lJeO.uhful

. . .

lUI, !;i,:e

c()M',h-i l d position. (:UfIOSltr,-the 'nt!Chel.-!OOO

IIrou"'l.t tbe"'bll.llk

by been explored! the fllrtncst

tW'c"er's Augusta count)',Y'>' In .... neady N. S.

approndf. emlA'wels

oil'lg only

long unworthy eom[llll'cd

pen Jefierson de'le rilie the

deh ....

tray-! ol'fsitln\ly

pruprielof, these ha\'ing aoor first

"'!ry

)'OUl!IC-If 30 l'\Uuling .. ,:!

a.nt'f

I!IUlplir B"cry Wise

,

i 5" 1!t uf ascent

Where he found his safely deposited,

, lllelJcl:ltor undoubtedly

The following is from pages 310-316 of: Martin, Joteph and Brockenbrough, W.B. n.d. (ca. 1850). A comprehensive description of Virginia and the District of Columbia, etc. J.V. laDdolph, Ilclaond.

I The \ hole of ..lngllsla county is based upon lime rock.-ulid frb!1l the

11:,luTe (j! that rock. nect's arily c.1il1ains llHIflV eul'iolls fiSSlIffll; exc:HutiollS

r!W" :'. H.;:rr s. ,Onl\,. two of Ib('l'." ,llilwpn:t. d;:' ('iYl' a 1;1(,tirt', j. }.\ " tnr;; s \\, l) ld. n, l,!'>[h 1:'!Inl("d m \1:.' '1mf' !'h!efl, ::md 1fl' l..ul

)·atds aparI. l\fadison'sca.e ha been described by Jeffersoll,· in hisllotes ! on Vir ini3, but s has been desl'ribcd and eXlllored since that time,

. : and is 'ar more of being immQrtalized. The length of this this $:11. i Cavern ina straight eoui'Sp. is IG50 ft., but the distQ.nce is-more thaI! i hI fallowing the various windin:;::'!. There are numerCU8 apart-/: P1Cllt"I'OlnO ofwbicn nrc magnificent. One measures 2571\.in length. from

HI to 20 in breadtbt and 33 in hei;::-bt,-tnwther is 153 It,loug. 15 wid(', and 60 third re ches tht.' height of 100 feet! Every part is stud

I dt.-d st.alactltes, that lead VOlt almost to) bcUtwe that you rune · ! desc(mdod into the jewelled fruit gardcll, v;hecll hung Alhldin's lamp.t . '

. - ·'VI! extract a portion olMc. Jefferson's de$cril'lion wllich 15 reft:I'lcd tiJ iA l!tl! i Ilnd ,al o sOl1le la!er fQrm:ttio e2ncel1ljng Jlad ;!/),,', Ct't 1"('. I l\bdi:>oo'$ Cave acrives its name from the father of the Ia.te Bishop ltn(lilffln, "'110 ! mid d near it, :tnd who WliS equally famed lor his JIOSI'it!llhy', hi prQr:tico.1 ,,'Jt, 1111(( 1M" ,It. has been knowll 70.01' 60 yea":,,, but j.i 1lO ' 1i 11I!. "idled i 8" 1.1. C!l.f!h In lit affords salt petre 1Il proportion of from :.ito,' I'UUIIll:s ito the ·..·eight w..s mnnufacn,l'c , m.,re un(lO"ln;l' f1t"ol.altbuu,h it has bad tbe 1)(a tu 1101 b(,�.hllle!. : 'l'b'!' ft e!,r. fr m tile botto'f!l ot" the hil! to m(.11til of clle

ssage'to Temple,

Lodgl"'. pas,-from anr]

fight. I!;'tl

df(lpping, Tlli:

any pursue the UOOed

;"

illJ! {l :!>'; I:r

:::,:ain m r.::caed.

rough, considered

d, t'l1, hu,

portions Drum

arart. or

np,.rlf.lent high,

extremity 20

suf!idc:l!ly ladies

directly W:dual 42

de,('rit'cd

only gOM Ll>is both

extinguished, their

pcE;S1g , hei€h!.

of a r:rc:r,ke, I:! it. in h-:i;::i:t.

PasSing Solomon's Pillar, you enter another room, more irregular than the first, bu: still more beautiful; it "ouId be impossible adequately to describe the !llt.;:-nificcnce of the roof. I shall therefore merely ob en-e that 11 is thickly ,,:uc(lctl with beautifnl stalactites, resembling in form and color, the roots of ratij:shcs, which lUI)"egiven the appellation of R.\DI!>H Room to this delightful place.

The main t:H r st of!he cal-ern, is immcdiately opposite to the cn!l'nnCIl to Solomon's and you reach it by all ascent of a ft. 10 what is called tho Porter's From this place, pursuing the saIllC cour c, yon along a pas.sage varying 10 to 30 ft. in height, from 10 to 15 in brcad:h, 50 in ICU;!lh, until you rcadl BAR &Y'II' H,\LI, which receive,; its mUll!' trOlll the fr>.fH:i,!.j re (,1!:lblaH('cQf Ill'r,l$tra!c stalactite, at the base of onc that is upright, tmc, an 'upright board poilUS out 10 lhc\'iiitcr the main palh of th -

\'0\\ lea;'c the Room by a 11ight of na.tural stairs,7 ft. in perpel;di ular I; igh!. A large openin no',,, presents itself, whi h e:tpands to I,m extensive m:nt, 10 reach hich It IS naeessary to ma.ke a ne"u'ly pe:peatlict11t.r descent 10 (t., b)' m·!3.ns of a substantial pair of stairs, This is the far famed BA.Lt.. RO');I, Il h 10:) ft. 10!lg, 35 wlde, and nbout 2fl running al riah angles to the .p:t't. by .....hkh you chtercd it. .

Tn!! I: 't!ral COUf$C of the rocm is from. N. to S. but at the northern there i'I a s;rd..!mt! ascent, beurino- round to the E, tUltil you reach a precioic:c of '::Ir 30 i::, f:':>:n which you e:m lo. do,;'n into the Tan Yerd, ha\'in;:; perIc�ind a complete cir,'lIiI.

Ncar the centre of the B:tli Ro",m, is a large, calcanous dCro';it'!!, tbt has rec€inJ the na:ne of P".ganini·s S,atucbfroll1 the circumstance th t It fmr.is;Ns a good r..)si.li')ll f. r tbe rmdc, whcnc 'er aIls arc gi\-cn in these subm ndane fc:::ions, Tb:: Ih,:>. i> len i tv admit of dancing upon it, and it is not ul1cmnmcn, to have to"!,,, h.-re. The are accommodated Wlth a vety convenientDr(! sing RvoTn, Ih«' ,)nly ol'cninl[ 10 dlich. communicates with the B:!,ll R::.:nu.

\\111 ka"l"c t11i roo)m, by a ascent or fl. at tbe s_ll,ahem extremity, simihr 10 Ihe "ne plrc::\d\' at the other. This acc!i'dty is calico the French· "'311', Hill, fror.l the fO\!0'I'i!l6 cii·CUll1St:J..'C.

fortu.n:ltc1y the G',!idc, from hi a cura.te knowledge of bea1ir,;es, ""as enabl d to (. .',. h:: hiln S'ltc\y to the cnt:'an

!':c'::::I the Fr·::!ch lm , t!. \:)1:.5> i:rc"u!a" ps.!!.¥p. :\tends, b a X, W'. directk:t "h: '!l!'\ f :\ :-!nll1:l!cd t:l': S_ g:\!,) t PAS: '._l !. Thi3: is 52 ff. n l , gt t- a!".:r

in;:: irf,'!!l 3 to;:' n. in wi1tllt- ::·.! 1';

th:.j tlame, iock enl'emi!y

per foTll\lun you f.n

ill, diough perpendicularly, ap rtment,. "f ,lace ;

alrli'o.dy by

particularl)' right

thlO\1Jh ',"IlIlI!J, ,nil

explore Congress

(ep space Turning of

pIS Its m nny

it. fixed .-roid

Lobby, through

tew stepS pel1>endiculo.r. Jliagnllicem whole ·,:Thts

G::.U l"", - '

p

l'!l;s'::\?,i2, t exlremirr,l1 bcautit"ll ,,-hite shools to It cOllsiJerrihle heigh I

' .

If th ;e stalactite:! !1l'C &lrIlC by ,:tuy hard s-:h hn.!e, send rortl. sQunds of \'ariQUs pitches, according to thc r Size, !lnct It tO(:k run tll')Ilg se\-era1 of rh"ill at a ,"ery pleasmg varlety oi !!re!l,tptojlriety this r called 01'g811. . Paning under IhlC Stcerl/', \\ bieh r,'sls on 11.11 Ilreh elevQ ('.ri not· more than 10 fect, you ellter tbe DI!(I IJ Roo t. This room is nU1nugh the whole length. . ,; Nonar -fr,'ffi the .ceDtre or thisJ"OOm; is an immen depc,site of cakl\rk,tI hHt:,:,:"

rbing 19 tbe hejgb of G

. ' . . , "'A'bi.:h b stYled 'fhe Stecp!e, hilS, ntJ stiggl'Sled tbe name of'h '''0111, opp,,,ite to. the centre ot the Church, b a l'eeess. j'aiscd sevelal ft.. of cOllsid':fablc eXIClll,

, This (nrmi a rerr go.)J G.lllcf)" - to thc Chtlrch. Immediate!v in the rear of tlte ". Glller}, allJ in t'ttU \"i 'r from belo \', i-.l a great, nmuher, of p.Sndft!lt stalactites, elf , sc\'erll! fl, in alnt o( VanOIU alz,"!! ranged like the plpC'S ot'un orgt\l1", '!\ndbl'ar-a striking to them, ' -

' ., , , _

'Cham'}>!f, Sll'.!!d i,!; th'! O:tl[.>l'5" 111 the with \:'hi< h it cOlHlll'mk tes, JS called J.\CK ()!o"·;t the th;l" IS WIT,lfr";;lllo T:

34

mailto:lntil.rec@tly

passing large 0Ecmngj

rQ;;t beauttfltl anti interestiu ortil)ll of tIl'! 'lVh'lle .)twern. 'I'herc is but one apartmellt nnd that I,r.'sma.II, but 1 nil G,\!tDE OF Eo£s, tiJf so it is called, derin s its beauty th'nn the

. ,l:u arralllclllcnt ot' the immen estal3.ctite". hanging from the ro:>f, and :stalagmites, wllieb luwe a,>ccndcd from the floor to meet them; or" ill few it 'seem. as it' at 1i011le former peri.)d a heet of water had poured dowll from the roof. 'and br some wOl dtll'ful operation of . Nature, had be.c()me suddenly petl"ilied.. This 'sheet lli not coutmuou" but strongly resembles the tolds of drape!'y, and rOll may alDon\\, the windings a'l through the mazes of.a and the light !)f II.. . shines distinctly through ally part of it. .

. A portion of the floor of thi!;. room, 15 cOIUp0s'.'d of a beautiful, fine sand, wb"re:l'i l!l)St of the cave is a !Still' day. 't'ith wry J('., indications of . - . , Retunung to the Dining Room, the next rQ")m, or pCI'haps it shoullt be called pasMgt', is denominate" Tiff:) 'VILt>£n:if':s , from tnc rOllghnes.'I of the path-way, and is ooly 11) ft. wide, but it rises to the iUllnense hl j U of 90 or 100 feet! As we come

,al,Jog the Cllllsewav, and look d,)wn tlpOn our ri:;ht, we shall see Ollr cotnpany -10 tv 6'l ft. below Bi, while o:.tr cv s ("nil !j.:itr.:ely penetrate thrvugb the dn'rkness, to,thi .e-:iJin; al);)\'c th.:ir hed". Up')ll tb.! \"

is not pouring over the precipice in 8. foam!ng cat arnctl so white, so i Lbe eR:ulgenee of the ro k; Ilnd when tbis impression is 'eflacctl the v,'onb, of Ill!! JllOU$ Bard rush into the mil1ii, where he dcecribes the awful effects th't v:ili folic"" . . couswnm tion of all things i ,

tiThe Cc.tar:lct, that like eo Giantwl'oth, Rushed down inlfctuous!y. as Eeitcd rtt ence By sudden frou, with lIll his hoary lo.:];:s, Stood still !! ' .

One might o.lmost that Pollok ho.d visited tbis ,,'onder, e:nd caught theidea so forcibly express al::onl, fi:om viewir:g this roagnificcm 'Scene,

'Ve h:l.ve already so much exceeded om intended limits, thtlt we etln only look into the large apartment, that occupies the space behind the Towel', whicb is t'::!led S!R \VALTtR SCOT')"I!. ROOM, and then hastenbaek to the main rath.

Jellerson's Room, tha.t we left some time since, is very inegular in stare, !md is 225 1\. 1

\ I

eyer: .iD:. ;';he: ::::nd a.lJ. V!'ll1 CO""' T 1:'''''''''

Ji:' th "" l":':':'I-::-;r ' ...... . 101.;-. 'V" 0.1, ;,.I ",1e\1 lor.::: v o.unvee:: r

rnT'e

h«J

ch .... wbar_

" ,.-'.

s Gave the -=:y , V irf.;i.nia.

From the Reoollections of Elmer J .i3",rk rldro m Point J!issex Yo"' " . aveJ.ry in the Civil War.

Weyer's Cave during the Civil War

\

Introduction by E. Eugene Barker, 447 Manning Blvd." Albany, N.Y., from a letter to Clay Perr.r dated May 26, 1948. From the Clay Perry Collection courtesy Paul Perr.r.

I r.emember hearing my father, who was a veteran of the Oivil War, •tell ma.n;y times about visiting one' of the caves in the Shenandoah Valley,where his regiment had done much campaigning,off and. on, during the four years of the WBr. This incident occurred shortly after the cessation of hostilities,! believe. My father enlisted in a cavalr, company tha.t was raised at Orown Point,at the early start of the war. He was at that tLil8 a raw count...7 boy only 19 years 'oldo At the time he writes about he was a seasoned veteran €axl had comnande the regiment a year or longer.

I Fort tely . 1 prevailed upon him to write his recollections, and. theyI are v.ery readable. He bad. alw8Vs a gallant heart f or the ladies, especially

if they were yOUIlg and pretty \ So after your lecture, I came home and. , efreshed. lIfI memory by turning to his description about that v:islt to the cave.

You m:tJ¥ be able to identify the particular cavern by the name it was then caUed.a.nd by the location somewhere near Staunton and. Lexington. Just in order to eiva the story its setting I havecopied for you. the paragraphs before and

, after those about the .cave,eve.."l tho they have nothing to do with the Cive. Thought you might like to put this into your files.

.chil from top to bottol':t of the and others ban,ging part Way' dOtlrl)or reachlr.,g f:;.·o:u the botton 'q)W.91'oS. a wayso

36

.' I

http:I.ia.e�m.thhttp:anyth:i.nehttp:caUed.a.nd

.j ! !

floor,while

. i

i

I

Our lig..'hts shinin;g on the cryst31 suriaa'3s rr..2de a ver:r

"l:lilor

cotlscc"tive

Post-bellum regulation at Grand Caverns (from the anonymous 1889 pamPhlet

The Grottoes of the Shenandoah.

Nolice to llsilors,-t'({tt1culdr attention is called to the [t')1iowil1;,!:

regulations which have been adopted hy tlli!; company'

Ra/(;s of admis. £lJ1I. ttl IVryer GWt! .' For e (:h hetween the au": .. of 7 n, m. and 6 p. Ill., iucluding eJectric Jights, :Sl.oe>; after I) p. m ..

without electric light,;;, $I..')fJ, If eie('t'ric an extra chrlrge \\"1]1 he UHlde -fiyr th· rn. in add;J k)"!l to til\.:' regrJnr ehargC' of $1.50, as fo1l0ws : If rot' one 1)\ r;:'0l1, $2.00; if fN '.WO. cach $l.S(J; if f,)r three, each 7S cis.: if for [om'. e(J("h S" ('ts.: m:t' :ffiJ;' u';e, 2, ,'ts. ea('i•.

J.'or pf!rtieS' of six or lP(lr(' no t:X "i·!1. churg(" 'v in b1': 111:1th! {"fE' th5iol1 ftou: the !)'.lpedlltCll'Jen1. t{l use our grounds.

38

i' !

-I 1

< --,

National Speleological Society

ANNUAL FIELD TRIP -- APRIL 4, 1948

-, -.

GRAND CAVERNS

Grand Caverns is located one mile south of the town of Grottoes, Virginia, in a smaH ridge called. Cave Hill. The hill is 250 feet high and is located just west of the South Fork, ,Shenandoah River. The entrance to Grand Caverns, on the east face of Cave Hill. is 85 feet above the river at an elevation of 1210 feet.

The caverns are probably the oldest commercial eave now open in the, United States, as records indicate that visitors were regularly escorted through the cave as early as 1809. Mr. Bernard Weyer is credited with discovering the eave in 1804 while hunting, and for many years it bore his name. The eave was surveyed in 1806 and 1816 by local residents. The most authentic map produced to date was that published by Robert I. Cooke in 1835.

Of historical interest, are the many names and initials inscribed on the walls and formations, manyof which date back as far as 1808. For those ,who wish to examine this phase of the cave's history it is recommended that a flashlight be taken as the normal cave lighting does not show them well.

,

Grand Caverns consists of two distinct sets of enechelon passages, offset and connected by a subordinate sets of passages at approximately right angles to the main ones. The primary passages are developed along the strike of the rock which is N80E and the subordinates along a series of joints which trend N60W and slope 800 to the southwest. The limestone is flne grained, dark grey and banded by grey-green streaks. In weathering it turns light grey. It is Conoeoeheague (Late Cambrian) in age.

-

The large number of shields that occur throughout the eave are of considerable interest. Of all cave formations these are among the most difficult

FOUNTAIN SCALE

to explain as to their origin. The most spectacular ones are Ajax Shield in the Armory' and the Bridal Veil in the Bridal Chamber. In the Cathedral Room the strata is well shown and the intermingling of shaly seams is well brought out. In Jackson's Hall the ceiling is 90 feet high with distinct passages at 45 and 80 feet. At the end of the cavern, which is 25 feet below the entrance, the strike of the rock is N20E; dip 60oW.

The exit to the caverns was made by removal of . two feet of limestone that closed off the end of a natural passage. On the west wall of the exit passage are to be found the oldest dates in the cave.

Bibliography: Crayon, Porte (David Strothers), A Visit to

Weyer's Cave, Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. 10, No. 55, pp 10-25, 1854.

Jones, Calvin, Description of Wier's Cave, 8 pp, 1815.

McGill, W. M., Caverns of Virginia, Va. Geologie Survey, Bulletin 35, pp 56-57. 1938.

Mohler, J. L:, A Description of the Famed 'Weyer's Cave, 15 pp. 1881.

FOUNTAIN CAVE

The entrance to Fountain Cave is about 300 yards south of Grand Caverns, on the east face of Cave HilI. It is close to the summit and lies 235 feet above the river at an elevation of 1360 feet.

Fountain Cave was discovered on January 21, 1835, by a Mr. Weast, who is buried in the cemetery at the entrance to Grand Caverns, and '''as known for some time as W.east's Cave. It was open for a short time after its discovery as a Cf'mmercial cave. Stairs and paths were constructed and candles installed for lighting.

39

Cave to the

During the dark able cavern was the neighborhood, eaternal memorial. ducted reUgious

The en rance of arched stone is man-made and $..s partially blocked by mud. This leads to a large room with a flat ceiling and a steeply sloping floor. The room abounds in terraced stalagmites and flowstone and offers the photographer some excellent shots. A roomy, welldecorated passage connects this room with a larger room 130 feet beyond. This second room contains numerous columns and curtains of flowstone and has a series of platforms at its south end which gives the appearance of a stage. A small tunnel leads south from this room, which permits easy passage, except for a short rise caused by debris from a sinkhole. At the far end of. this passage are a series of three small rimstone pools, which should attract the attention of many photographers. Passage beyond this point requires crawling through damp clay and water.

The cave is in the same limestone as Grand Caverns, but here it has a dip of 34 degrees NW an4 strikes N30E. The cave is developed along the strike with subordinate control by joints at an angle of 45 degrees with the strike.

Persons visiting this cave will need lights and should plan on encountering muddy paths and a somewhat muddy entrance.

*****

Prom a Grand brochure of the 1950's:

Por nearly a

Cavern

century and a half these magnificent Caverns, universally recognized as one of the few very Great Caves of the World, have excited the wonder and amazement of succeeding generations of visitors • Their dis. covery, authenticated by many contemporary records, dates from Pebruary 1804, when young Bernard Weyer, digging out a hole in the hillside to recover a trsp dragged off by a groundhog, found not his lost trap, but this incredible subterranean labyrinth.

Weyer's Cave as it was known for more than one hundred years, was the first cavern in America to be shown to visitors with regular guide service. Its fascinating history has been closely associated with the history and romance of the surrounding area, and its paths have echoed to the tread of men great in the history and literature of Virginia and America.

Jefferson was familiar with these caverea. Porte Crayon's "A Visit to Weyer's Cavett has become a rare collectors item. Kercheval and Howe, early historians of the Shenandoah

their Valley, brough descriptions of Weyer's

scientific textbooks of time.

days of The War Between the States, the great invulnerused as a refuge by soldiers from the many battlefields of

and their names inscribed upon the aient walls form an Stonewall Jackson quartered his troops here, and con

services in the great underground Cathedral.

40

I I

..

(Undated From the Courtesy

Mr. Clay Perry, c/o Stephen Daye 105 E. 24th New York

Dear Mr.

Saw the ·announcement in "OUTDOORS

I presume ing whether "Wonder no place sent owners that section.

At the time the Valley they Valley

\

him she was the but managed to.escape soldiers following name for so long.

There are many checked up. I it is nearer fr the Blue Ridge. Lewises and Wheats (houses) about

. about 35 years

- about 1946)

Clay Perry Collection. Paul Perry

C.M. Blackford, Mangrove Coast Yacht and Boating News 2735 Oakdale Street S. St. Petersburg,

Editor Club

Florida

Press

Street

City

Perry:

of your UNLIMITED".

Second Volume of your "American Cave Series"

you intend to progress into Virginia eventually and I was wonderyou had the legend of Wier's Cave, (now called, I believe

Cavern") at Grottos, Va? It is a Lewis family tradition and I know of where it is written. I remember seeing a blurb put out by the pre

of the avern which was based on no tradition of which I know in I heard the legend as a child and it is briefly this:

before Staunton was settled, when the Lewis's first went into settled somewhere near the present town of Basic. The

was still Indian Country. Each Fall they went hunting in the Blue Ridge for bear before they hibernated leaving women and children at home. As they hunted the Western slopes they were frequently within sight of the homestead. One day they saw the predetermined smoke signal and rushed home just as the Indians

before were forcing their way into the house. They were re

pulsed but not they captured one of the girls.

Twenty years later a sentry, one night at Ft. Staunton, saw a figure in a man's coat walking and creeping towards the fort. He challenged, the figure continued to approach so he shot. The wounded person turned out to be a woman, a white woman who could speak no English. When an interpreter was found she told

misSing Lewis child that she had been held prisoner in a cave a few days before. She died. Lieut. Wier was sent with

her directions and found the cave which rightfully bore his

things that do not sound consistent to me but could be think the old Lewis house is still standing but I think

Staunton. If so they could not have seen a smoke signal If you go down that way you might check up the

living in the viCinity of Lynnwood and Lewiston, 3 mi. N of Port Republic. That is where I heard the tale ago.

41

Regions RillS, History Description

Luray Tragedy

Switzerland,

Stone

COLLOQUY AND BUSINESS

DON'T J!ORGET THE UNPRECEDENTED MEETING IN AUGUST AT THE NSS CONVENTION! Preciae date not yet available, t aometime late in the week of Aug. 20 • .

ASBA board member Harold Meloy (P.O. Box 454, Shelbyville, Indiana) has publi8hed a splendid 40 page booklet: ''Mummies of Mammoth Cave", the result of much research. No price stated; send $1.00 and see what happens.

Ye editor (1117 36th Ave. E., Seattle, Wash ) wonders about the "saltpeter cave" just north of the corif1u nce of the "north fork" of "River La Moine" (Des Moines River), Iowa shown on map 13, Vol. 8 (atlas) of the 1959 American Antiquarian Society's edition of the Lewis and Clark journals. Apparently this map is in the handwriting of Meriwether Lewis but is traced from an. earlier French or Spanish map. James Hedges (written cOlllDUnication, April, 1968) say. that this should be at the foot of Capitol Rill in Des Moines but when he .ent looking for a rumored cave there, all he could find was a tiny adit.· Anybody have any lnformation?

Also has anyone published a bibliography of H.C. Hovey? Or any biography other than obituearies?

John Bridges (206 W. 18th Ave., Columbus, Ohio) is working on the remarkably wide variety of printings of Hovey's Mammoth Cave guide books. If you have any such, or any such information, drop him a note.

Red and Patty Jo Watson will be in Turkey Aug. 68 through Jan. 1969; mail should be addressed to: Philosophy Dept., Washington Unlv., St. Louis, Mo.

BOOK EXCHANGE

Ross Eckler (Route 18, Spring Valley Rd., Morristown, N.J. has a Hovey Celebrated American Caverns to trade; wants Owen Cave 2! the Ozarks Black Bailey Great Caves of , Amann and

g! the Cave 1882, Binkerd The Mammoth Cave and its denizens, and his Pictorial Guide !2 Mammoth Q!!!, and Hartley The of Sand Cave.

Your editor recently picked up a spare of Browna 1865 Ice Caves of France and and Kunsky's Homes of Primeval ; still most of the previous list

ing avaUable including Hovey Mammoth Cave guide and Nicholson-White l!!! White's Want many scarce, some common books. What have you?

Both John Bridge and Chuck Pease have been accumulating and trading extensively; no current list for either as we go to press.

EDITOR'S BIBLOGRAPHIC NOTE

Browmls 1865 Ice caves of France and Switzerland is now known to come in two form.: the standard red-brown binding with preface, and a fancy binding with marbled paper without preface. Anyone know of any other.?

Spe1eo108Y

Speleology,

Speleology

Speleology

19 April 1968

- news release for speleological publications

Classics in

Dr, Richard A. [add "(Red)" here if appropriate to the

pub1ication) Watson; NSS 1665 and Director of t he Cave Research

Foundation, has been appointed Editor of a new Johnson Reprint

Corporation series entitled: Classics!U cave adventure

and karst science. Initially the series will include much-sought

after books in English which have long been out of print. However,

plans are projected to include works in several modern European

languages (Johnson Reprint Corporation is the largest international

reprint publishing house 1n the Western Hemisphere), and perhaps

later original works in spe1eology. The books will be hard bound,

facsimile "editions. Their price will be substantially less than the

originals which are almost unavailable today,

Classies!U will begin with four volumes, two of

which have already been chosen: H.C. Hovey (1882) Celebrated American

Caverns, and R.S. Tho son (1879) The Suckers' !!.!.!!.!.£ Milnlnoth Cave.

tt is expected that the other two. selections will consist of a book on

caves of some other r gion of the United States, and a book on cave

zoology or biology.

Negotiations have been going on with various publishers for

several years concerning this series, and it is a pleasure to

announce that it is now a reality. The appearance of Classics !2

is a good sign for caving. Dr. Watson Watson Red

[use whichever form of the name seems appropriate to the publication]

writes that he would appreciate consultation in the making of selections,

So if you have any favorites you would like to see reprinted, please

send your suggestions to him at the Department of Philosophy,

Washington University, St. LouiS, Mtssouri 63130.