The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-03-28
AWFUL OCCURRENCF

On Sunday morning, the 10Th ult., about
Two hours before day, three or four men in
Eilzahelhlown, (Fenn.) having determined
to take fox chase, started fox. which
the hounds pursued into cave. Some of
the company descended into the cave, and
ouiit II bark tire, with the view of driving
the lox out with the smoke, and then went
10 neighbor's house and took breakfast.
Ihey then returned in company with two
others, SO that there were now six men. to
wlt:-Jesse, Alfred, and Blufnrd Hum
phreys, William Gwinn, Samuel McKechan,
and William Boyd. The latter went into
the cave, hut soon returned. telling The 9th.
crs that he was very sick, and advising
them not to venture in-but McKeehan OBJ
served that he had been in many times he
lore, and could go in again and stay till
sun down. He accordingly descended, but
was, IN short time, heard to excaim-my
light Is out and am dying Bluford Hum
phteys and Gwinn went in to his assistance
with another light, but were soon heard tc
utter the same cry. This would have de-
tered ordinary men from exposing them
selves to the same hazard, hut Alfred and
Jesse Humphreys, with the intrepdity
which characterizes men Of brave and fear
less spirits, rushed to the rescue of their
unfortunate companions. They picked up
Bluford and attempted to make their es-
cape /; but some twenty yards from the
mouth of the cave their progress was i'm
peded by perpendicular ascent of six or
eight feet, at which place they laid their
lights down in ortler to lift up their brother
Bnt these were in a moment extinguished
They now called npon Boyd who had re.
manned in the caves mouth, to bring them
another light, but the torches were all gone
and he ran to alarm the neigbborhsod.-
The greater portion of the neighhors re-
paired to the dismal tomb of their nnfortn.
nate friends. From the echo Of the rave il
was known that one of the persons who
had gone in, still remained alive-bu! nc
one seemed willing to undergo the risk Of
relieving him, as it was believed four oil
the individuals in the cave were dead, and
all were afraid that by going in similar fate
would he experienced. man Ivy the name
of Thomas Harvey was, at length, daring
enough to make the proposition, that if any
man wonld 90 and hold the lights for him.
he would attempt to save the person whose
groans were heard from the cave. Samuel
Tipion, jr.. and Young man named Vaun
had the bravery and hard;hood to accompa-
ny Harvey into the cave, and having pass,
cd the four men who were dead, guided by
the means of him who was still alive, thew
found the latter, and having fastened cord
around his body, he was pulled by the men
nj the mouth of the cave, by the assistance
of those in it, 10 the before mentioned
ascent. The three men becoming exhaust
ed now had to leave the cave. and Alfred
Humphreys, the gentleman whom they had
assisted, remained therein, suspended by
the cord, until three other gentlemen en-
tered it, when he was drawn out with some
difficulty. By the timely procurement Of
medical assistance he has since recovered
and says the deceased we're oil certain
that they must die, and took each other by
tho hand and said they would try and make
their peace with God and die together
that by some means he extricated himself
and thought he would make one more er.
fort to gain the entrance of the cave, bni
instead of passing in that direction, ne
went the contrary way, and. in few min.
utes he fell senseless. He remembered
nothing that took place, from that moment
until he was restored by the physician
Bluford Humphreys was taken out on Sun
day evening, but Gwinn, McKeehan and
Jesse Humphreys, remained in the cave I'M.
iii next day.