Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1833-01-17

THE MURDER HOLE.

In remote district Of country be.
Iong'ngto Lord Csssillis, between AYR
shire and Galway, about three hun
dred years ago, q moor Of apparently
ooundiess extent stretched several
miles along the road, and wearied the
eye OF the traveller by the samen.ss
and desolation of its appearance not
tree varied the prospect-not q shrub
eniivened the eye by it's freshness
nor native flower bioomed to sdorp
this sngenisl soil. One lonesome de.
sert" reached the horizon on eyery
side, with nothing to mark that any
mortal had ever visited the scene be.
fore, except few rude huts that were
scattered near its centre, and a road.
or rather pathway, for those whom bu.
siness or necessity obliged to pass in
that direction. At length, deserted as
this Wild region had always been, il
became stiii more gloomy. Strange
rumoars arose, that the path Of unws =.
~ travellers had been beset on this
blasted heath" and that treachery
and murder had intercepted the .olita-
~ stranger as he traversed It's drrary
extent. When several persons, Who
were known TO have passed that way.
mysteriously disappeared, the inquiries
OF their relatives led 10 a strict and
anxious investigation; but though the
ofhcers OF justice were sent TO scour
the country, and examine the inbabi
tants, not trace could be obtained of
the persons in question, nor Of any
place OF c0ncealment which could be a
refuge for the lawless or desperate to
horde in. Yet, as inquiries became
etrleter, and the disappearance Of in.
dividuals more frequent, the simple
inhabitants Of the neighborine ham
Tets were sgitsted by the most fearful
approximations. Some declared that
the death like stiffness of the NIGHT
vas often interrupted by sudden and
preternatural cries Of more than NOR
cal anguish, which seemed TO arise in
the distance; and q shepherd one
evening. who had lost his way on the
moor, declared he had approached three
mysterious figures, who seemed strug.
Cling against each other with superns
iural energy, till at length one Of them.
With frightlul scream, suddenly sunk
into the earth.
Gradually the inhsbitsnts deserted
their dwellings on the heath, and set
tied IN distant quarters, Gil at length
but one Of the cottages continued ~ be
inhabited by IN old woman and her
two sons, who loudly Iamented that
poverty chained them TO this solitary
aHd mysterious spot. Travellers who
fregsenied this road nov generally
did 80 ~ grOops 10 protect each other;
and II night overlook them, they usu.
ally stopped sttbe hambIe cottage &c the
cid woman and her s6ns, where clean.
illness compensated Tor the want Of lax.
uFy, and where. over q blazing FIRE Of
peat. the bolder spirits smiled % the
imaginary teTrors Of the road, and the
more timid trembled ss they listened
90 the tales of terror and alright with
which their hosts entertained them.
One gloomy snd iempestuous night
IN November, pedIsr boy hastily ira
versed the moor. Terrified IN and
himself IN darkness amidst iis bound.
less wastes. . thousand frigh'ful trsdi
tiOns, connected with this dreafy scene.
dsFted across his mind--eyery blast,
- il swept in hollow gusts over the
heath, semed 10 teen with the sighs
Of departed spirits-and the birds, -