The Wilmingtonian., 1823-11-20
.ancient Fort in Tennessee.


The celebrated stone Fort in BediordI
|county, Tennessee, which has long excited
1.-THE attention of the tourist, and the admi-
ration of the scientific as well as the an
ltiouarian, and which has for ages BEEN
Imantled by obscurity, is about to be DIS
lrobed of its mystery. At the destruc /
ltion of an old building in Seville, which to-
1.-The last century has been occupied oy al
family. remarkable for their adventures
land achievements, with the buccaneers,
|who infested the coasts of Mexico, Florl-
Ida. &c. early in the sixteenth century, a
package of papers consisting OF charts and
Journals, in which was contained traces OF
1.-THE path pursued by the buccaneers whilst
lin America, has been lately discovered.
lone of the papers contained minute de-
!scription of the stone fort and the ada
cent country, including the three forks of
1.-THE Duck river. From these papers it ap-
lOears that the Gleta buccanier vessel, was
ldriven by stress of weather into small
harbour on the coast of Florida, where the
lpirates found it necessary to dlsmante
their vessel, and repair: that while re-
lpairs were going on, general mutIny
broke out; the principal officers were put
Ito death, in the most cruel manner, and
1.-The vessel destroyed. The party consist
ling of about two hundred persons, being
determined to erect colony in the new
world, wandered along the coast OF FLO
lrida, until they fell into Mobile bay which
Ithey followed up until they met the Ala
|bama River, there crossing the country IN
a north-westeriy direction, met the three
forks of Duck river, where they located
themselves, and built the stone Tort, which
afforded an asylum and retreat secure
,from the incursions Of their then power
lful neighbours the Indians.
Here they remained some twenty years
but at length having expended their ain
munition, and having lost many OF thel
party by disease, many of the survivors
determined to trace their steps towards
THE border of the Atlantic. This beln:
lopposed, an internal feud commenced
which was kept up by both parties witt
the most unrelenting fury until but fou
or five remained Of the colony. The sur
vivors finding themselves destitute in
wild and desoIate country, determined
possible to reach again the sea coast; AM
having obtained some information iron
the Indians, they took westerly cours
till they met the waters Of Tennessee X
yer, where they embarked in rude'y cor
structed canoes, descending into the ON
from thence into the Mississippi, and lal
NC. ded at La Fourch, where they met We
sci belonging to the Father HennIpen
fleet, on board of which they took passag
representing themselves to be shIpwrec
ed mariners, and at length landed
France, being the last of powerful ho
lof buccaneers. The stone fort contai
several acres of land, is regularly co
structed, and appears to have been plann
and designed by skilful engineer. wit
lin the walls are now growing trees WIN
bear marks of antiquity, and appear
have been standing two or three centurl
= The country adjacent to the fort aboun
with natural curiosities, such as mount
caverns, &c.
;we- Remarkable Care at Kuhloc IN Francon
has Professor Bnckland in his late work
'p to Antedelnvian Remains. gives partlcu
sus- description of cavern in Franconla, VII
de- he thinks bears as satisfactory appearal
wa of having been undisturbed since the gr
halfdcluge as the famous caye at hirhdalo
rson Yorkshire. 1t is situated on the ste
lack rocky bank of narrow valley thro'
omylwhich flow the waters of the Esbach, ne
boutIly thirty feet below. Its entrance is ab
and twenty feet high, and thirty feet wide,
des. is opposite the castle of Rabenstern.
ror is floor rises hastily at first, but afterwa
but, becomes nearly level, when the cave
sub larges and divides itselfinto two spac'
ter a apartments, which terminate abruptly
two the distance of 100 feet from the entral
s gal A great quantity Of brown and black ei
Which is spread upon the ground, to the dept
e sill six feet, which is perfectly dry; and Fl
thro' with the half decayed bones and teatt
Sc IN 4nbrars.-There is no access to this cav
carts from the exterior, indeed no crack or
ploy- vice whatever, except the great door "
e are and it is probable from appearances
hat is it was formerly the last of successio
by a caves, the first of which are suppose,
which have been torn away by the current OF
ers. Esbach. The earth upon the floor IS
which dently the mouldered remains OF BOZ
,e mi and the vast quantities in which
which found shows that the skeletons of tw
Ike the three thousand bears must have been
\ re OBJ. there tO decay.