The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-03-27


joined statement from the Knoxville (ren-
nessee) Republican,, of the Doth ult. 1t was
extracted from letter written bya gentle
man in Elizabethtown, TEN to citizen of
Knoxville:
'"On Sunday morning, the 18th instant,
about two hours before day. three or four
men having determined to take a fox chase,
started fox which the hounds pursued into
u cave, three or -four miles from this place.
Some Of tho company descended into the (.
cave, and built a bark fire, with the view Of
driving the fox out with the smoke, and then
went to a neighbor's house and took break
fast. They then returned in company with
two others, so that there were now six men
to wit: Jesse, Alfred, and Bluford Humphreys,
William Quinn, Samuel McKcehan and Will
liam Boyd. The latter went into the cave,
but soon returned, telling the others that he
was very sick, and advising them not to ven-
ture in--but McKeehan observed that he had
been IN many times before, and could 90 in
again and stay till sun down. tie accordingly
descended, but was, in u short time heard to
exclaim-my light is out and am dying!
Bluford Humphreys and Quinn went in to his
assistance with another light, but were soon
heard to utter tho same cry. This would
have deferred ordinary men from exposing
themselves to the same hazard, but Alfred
and Jesse Humphreys, with the iDtrepidity
which characterizes men of brave and fear
less spirits, rushed to tho rescue Of their un-
fortunate mpanions.-They picked up Blu
ford and attempted TO make their escape; but
some twenty yards from the mouth OF the
cave their progress was impeded by a per-
pendicular ascent of six or eight feet, ct
which place they laid their lights down in
order to lft up their brother. But these
we're in moment extingushed. They now
calleaupon Boyd who had remained in tho
caves mouth, to bring them another light.
but the torches were all gone, and he ran TO
alarm the neighborhood. II was not long be-
fore it was known here, and the greater por.
ton Of the neighbors repaired to the dismal
tomb Of their unfortunate friends. From
the echo of the cave it was known that one
Of the persons who had gone IN, still remain
cd alive--but no one seemed willing to un-
dergo the risk Of relieving him as it was be-
licved four Of the individuals in the cave
were dead, and all were afraid that by going
in similar fate would be experienced A
man by the name Of Thomas Harvey was, at
length, daring enough, TO mako The proposit-
ion, that ifany man would 90 in and hold the
lights for him-he would attempt to save tho
person whose groans swere heard from tho
cave. Samuel Upton, Jr. and young man
named Vaun, had the bravery and hsrdihood
to accompany Harvey into the cave, and hav.
ing passed the four men who were dead,
guided by the means Of him who was still a.
live, they found the latter, and having fast
encd cord around his body, be was pulled
by the men al the mouth Of the cave, by the
assistance Of those in il, 10 the before men,
toned ascent. The three men coming ex-
hausted now had to leave the cave, and AL.
fred Humphreys, the gentleman whom they
had assisted, remained theron, suspended by
the cord, until three other gentlemen entered
it, when he was drawn out with some diff
Guilty. by tho timely procurement Of medi.
cal assistance he has since recovered-and
says the deceased were oil certain that they
must die, and took each other by the hand
and said they would try and make thcir
peace with God and die together-that by
some means he extricated himself and
thought no would make one more effort To
gain the entrance Of the cave, but instead OF
passing in that direction. he went the con-
trary way, and, in a few minutes, he fell
senseess. lilo remembered nothing that
took place, from that moment until he was
restored by tho physician. Bluford Hum
phreys was taken out on Sunday evening,
but Quinn. McKeehan and Jesse Humphreys,
remained in the cave until next day"