Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-03-31
w 7 s G = L l. A ~ z !.
ANCIENT CAVERN.

On the banks OF the ONO, twenty
miles below the mouth Of the Wabash, IS
cavern, in which is found many hero
glyphics and representations oil such DELI
neations as would induce the belief, that
their authors were, indeed, comparatively
refined and civilized. +,
LISA cavern in rock. or ledge of the
mountain, which presents Itself 10 tue
view a little above the water OF the river,
when in flood, and is situated close TO the
bank. In the early settlement of Ohio.
this cave became possessed by party OF
Kentuckians, called Wilson's Gang
Wilson, in the first place, brought has Ia
mily to this cave. and fitted 1t up as spa
cious dwelling, erecting sign post on the
water side. on which were these words,
WILSON'S Liquor Vault and House Of En-.
tertainmeut,' The novelty ofsuch tav
ern induced almost all the boats descend.
ing the river 10 call for refreshments and
amusement Attracted by these cIrcum-
stances, several idle characters took up
their abode at the cave, after which II con
tinually resounded with the shouts of the
/ lcentious, the clamor Of the riotous, and
the blasphemy of the gamblers. OF such
customers, Wilson found no difficulty IN
forming band of robbers. with whom he
formed the plan Of numbering the crew Of
every boat that stopped at his tavern, and
OF sending the boats, manned by some OF
his party, to New Orleans, and there sell
their loading for cash. which was to be
conveyed to the cave by land. through
the states Of Tennessee and Kentucky;
the party returning with it being instruc
ted TO murder and rob on all good oeca-
sions, on the road.
After lapse Of time the merchants OF
the upper country began to be alarmed.
on finding their property make no returns
and their people never coming back, Be
veral families and respectable men who
had gone down the river were never heard
of; and the losses became SO frequnt, that
they raised at length, a cry Of individual
distress and general dismay, This natu-
rally led TO inquiry, and large rewards
were offered for the discovery Of the per
petrators of such unparalleled crimes. 1t
soon became known, that Wilson, with
an organized party Of forty Eve men. was
! the cause of such waste Of blood and trea-
sure, that he had a station at Hurricane
! Island, TO arrest every boat that passed by
/ The mouth Of the cavern. and that he had
agents at Natchez and New Orleans, Of
presumed respec liability, who converted his
assignments intocash. though they knew
: the goods to be stolen, or obtained by the
commission of murder.
! The publicity of Wilson'S transactions
soon broke up his party; some dispersed,
others were. taken prisoners. and he him
self was killed by one Of his associates,
who was tempted by the reward offered
for the head OF the captain of the gang
The cavern measures about twelve rods
in length, and five in width; its entrance
presents width Of eighty feet at its base.
and twenty five high. The interior walls
are smooth rocks. The floor is very re
markable, being level throughout the
whole length ofits centre. the sides rising
in stony grades, in the manner OF seats in
the pit OF theatre. On ditgent scruti
ny of its walls. il is plainly discerned that
! tic ancient inhabitants at a very remote
period. had made use Of the cave az
house of dehGeratlon and council, The
walls bear many hieroglyphics wellexecu'
ted; and some of,hem represent animals,
which have no resemblance TO any now
known in natural history.
This cavern is "a great natural curiosity
as it is connected with one still more gloo
my, which is situated exactly above, uni
ted by an aperture of about fourteen feet,
which. TO ascend, is like ascending chin.
ney. while the mountain is yet far above
Not long after the dispersion and arrest Of
the robbers, who had infested it in the up
per vault were found The skeletons of "a
bout sixty persons. who had been murder
ed by The gang of Wilson, as was suppo-
sed But the tokens Of antiquity are still
more curious and important. than the de-
scrption Of the mere cave. which are
found engraved on its sides within.
In this cave, it appears. that in addition
10 the numerous familiar animals and de
vices, there are sketched on the rock the
figure of several animals now extinct, a.
mong which are three, much resembling
the elephant, the tail and tusks excepted.
1t would be passing the bounds of credu-
lity TO suppose that the artists who define
ated those figures, would represent no
less than eight animals. differing in their
confguration, one from the other, which
had in II alty no being, and such as had
never been seen.
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