A Trip to the Caves
Dublin Core
Title
A Trip to the Caves
Creator
W.
Source
http://addison.vt.edu/record=b1775388~S1
Publisher
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Date
September, 1875
Contributor
Ashley Hughes, Lindsey Macdonald
Rights
Permission to publish images from The Gray Jacket must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Format
Text
Language
English
Type
Short Story
Identifier
LD5655.V8 L4, ser.1, v.1, no.3 (Sept. 1875), p.1-8
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Our little party consisting of eleven adventurous youths of this College, set out early one morning on a journey to the Caves. Having procured candles, we took the nearest path, which, after winding through dale and gorge, over mountains and through valleys, at last brought us to the entrance of the little cave.
Having taken the necessary rest, and appointed one of our number guide, we entered the cave, which we effected by sliding 1.5 feet down a huge log. We continued to descend lower and lower, until at last, it became so dark we were compelled to light our candles in order to find our way through the long and gloomy subterranean passage and spacious chambers, of which, in this cave, there were a goodly number. Passing through Entrance Chamber and Spring Hall and numerous intricate passages, our guide stated that it was impossible to advance farther, so after having remained long enough to admire the massiveness of the inside structure, and the beautiful stalactites which festooned the rocky ceiling all around, we commenced to retrace our steps, and having reached the entrance and climed up the log, found ourselves once more on terra firma.
We then proceeded to the Big Cave, where we safely arrived after two hours of swift walking. Entering, we explored the Ghouls Passage, Robber's Closet, Mud Entry and Bat Chamber, all of which were very imposing and impressive in appearance to the beholder. After many meanderings the end of the cave was at last reached, and then, with our guide taking the lead, and the largest man of our party bringing up the rear, we started again for day light, proceeding in a different direction from the one we came. After much climbing, crawling and scrambling over slippery rocks, we finally succeeded in making our exit. But on looking around and perceiving that one of our explorers was missing, after mature reflection we went insearch of him, and our guide had not advanced more than fifty yards before he came running back, trembling from head to foot, his teeth chattering so that he could scarcely state the cause of his alarm.
Finally he told us that there was a tremendous bear near Ghouls Closet, stating that he had heard him growl, and had seen him glear his eyes fiercely at him.
Of course we doubted the veracity of our guide this time but to gratify him we took our pistols in hand and several clubs, and went in search of the bear. Our guide conducted us to the place where he had seen the glearing eyes of his hug bear, which were not not visible, but groans seeming those of a human being, could be distinctly heard. We proceeded cautiously in the direction from which the groans seemed to come, and in a few seconds a cry for help came from, that direction. We quickened our pace, and what was our astonishment when on arriving at that spot where our guide's bear was supposed to perceived our large man in a terrible dilemma, stuck so fast in a little entrance to one of the chambers, that he could neither advance or go backward, nor use his body to any advantage whatever to extricate himself. By means of the combined strength of our party, he was pulled out of his dangerous confinement and placed upon his feet. We hastened out of the cave, took the nearest road to Blacksburg, where we arrived at 3 o'clock P. M., having travelled fifteen miles both on and below the surface of the earth, muddy from head to foot, and feeling very hungry and tired.
W.
Having taken the necessary rest, and appointed one of our number guide, we entered the cave, which we effected by sliding 1.5 feet down a huge log. We continued to descend lower and lower, until at last, it became so dark we were compelled to light our candles in order to find our way through the long and gloomy subterranean passage and spacious chambers, of which, in this cave, there were a goodly number. Passing through Entrance Chamber and Spring Hall and numerous intricate passages, our guide stated that it was impossible to advance farther, so after having remained long enough to admire the massiveness of the inside structure, and the beautiful stalactites which festooned the rocky ceiling all around, we commenced to retrace our steps, and having reached the entrance and climed up the log, found ourselves once more on terra firma.
We then proceeded to the Big Cave, where we safely arrived after two hours of swift walking. Entering, we explored the Ghouls Passage, Robber's Closet, Mud Entry and Bat Chamber, all of which were very imposing and impressive in appearance to the beholder. After many meanderings the end of the cave was at last reached, and then, with our guide taking the lead, and the largest man of our party bringing up the rear, we started again for day light, proceeding in a different direction from the one we came. After much climbing, crawling and scrambling over slippery rocks, we finally succeeded in making our exit. But on looking around and perceiving that one of our explorers was missing, after mature reflection we went insearch of him, and our guide had not advanced more than fifty yards before he came running back, trembling from head to foot, his teeth chattering so that he could scarcely state the cause of his alarm.
Finally he told us that there was a tremendous bear near Ghouls Closet, stating that he had heard him growl, and had seen him glear his eyes fiercely at him.
Of course we doubted the veracity of our guide this time but to gratify him we took our pistols in hand and several clubs, and went in search of the bear. Our guide conducted us to the place where he had seen the glearing eyes of his hug bear, which were not not visible, but groans seeming those of a human being, could be distinctly heard. We proceeded cautiously in the direction from which the groans seemed to come, and in a few seconds a cry for help came from, that direction. We quickened our pace, and what was our astonishment when on arriving at that spot where our guide's bear was supposed to perceived our large man in a terrible dilemma, stuck so fast in a little entrance to one of the chambers, that he could neither advance or go backward, nor use his body to any advantage whatever to extricate himself. By means of the combined strength of our party, he was pulled out of his dangerous confinement and placed upon his feet. We hastened out of the cave, took the nearest road to Blacksburg, where we arrived at 3 o'clock P. M., having travelled fifteen miles both on and below the surface of the earth, muddy from head to foot, and feeling very hungry and tired.
W.