Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Wayne County, Ind.) 1831-1837, 1836-07-09
ANCIENT CAVERN.

On The Ohio, twenty mules beI0W sne
nouah Of tls Wabash, u . cavern, in which
mo eDand many hieroglyphics, sod repre-
psnfations Of such delincations as would
indocs the belief, that their authors were,
indeed, comparatively refined and eiviI-
izsd.
il is 4 cave in a rock, or ledge Of theI
which presents itself 10 view q
little above the water Of the river when in
food, and is situated close to the bank
10 the early settlement Of Ohio. this cave|
became possessed by a party of Kentuck
ians, called "Wilson's Gang" W'lson IN
the first place, brought biz family TO thlsI
cave, and fitted !, up, as . spacious d~ei-l
ling, erecting sign post on the water s'de1
on which were these words: "Nllson' 4
Liquor Vault, and House Of Entertain
ment." Tho novelty Of such tavern,
induced almost all the boats descending
the river TO call for refreshments andamuse-
ment. Attracted by these circumstances,
idle characters took up their abode at theI
cave, after which it continually resoundet
with tine shouts Of the hcentious, the|
clamor Of the riotous, and the blasphemy]
Of gamblers. Out IF such customers,
Wilson found no difficulty in Turning a
band Of robbers with whom he formed the|
plan Of numbering the crews of every boat
that stopped ut his tavern, and Offending
the boats manned by some of hrs party. toI
New Orleans, and there cell their loading
for cash, which was to be conveyed to the
cave by land, Though the states Of Ten
oessee and Kentucky; the party returning
with it being instructed to murder and rob-
on all good occasions, on the road.
After lapse Of time, the merchants Of
the upper country began to he alarmed, on
finding their property make no returns 4
their people never coming back. Several
families and respectable men, who had
gone down the river were never heard Of;
and the losses became 20 frequent, that il
raised, at length a cry Of individual dis
,ress and general dismay. This naturally
led to inquiry, and large rewards were Of
fered for the discovery Of such unpArallel
ed crimes. II soon came out, that Wilson,
with an organized party Of As men was
the cause Of such waste Of blood and trca-
cure; that he had 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 respectability, who converted
his assignments into cash 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 we're taken prisoners, and he him.
self was killed by one ofhis associates who
was tempted by the reward offered for the
head Of the captain Of the gang.
This cavern measures about twelve rod:
lin length, and FIVE in width Of eighty feet
at ito base, and twenty five feet high. The
interior walls are smooth rock. The floor
lis very remarkable, being level thro' the
whole length Of it, centre, the sides rising
lin stony 9radss in the manner Of seats in
1.-THE pits of theatre. On . dilieent scu1-
Tiny of the walls, it is plainly discemed
that the ancient inhabitants at q very re-
(,note period, had made use Of the cave as
10 house Of elaboration and council. The
walls bear many hieroglyPhics well execu-
tied, and some Of them represent animals,
which have no resemblance to any known
TO natural history.
This cavern il q great natural curiosity,
as it 10 connected with another still more
gloomy, which is situated exactly above
united BY an aperture Of about fourteen
feet; which to ascend is like passing up a
chimney, while the mountain is yet faI
above. Not long after this dispersion and
arrest Of the robbers, who had infested it,
in the upper vault were foucd the skele-
tons Of about sixty persons. who had been
murdered by the gang Of Wilson, as was
supposed. But the tokens Of antiquity arc
still more curious and important than a
description Of the mere cave, which are
found engraved on its sides within.
Ia this cave, it appears, that in ad6i.ion
10 numerous familiar devices, there are
sketcbed on the rock the figures Of several
animals now extinct: among which are
three resembling the elephant, tail and
tnsk excepted. il would be passing the
bounds ofcredulisy to suppose the artists
Who delineated these figures, would repre-
sent no les than eight animals, differen,
in their confguration, one from the other
which had in reality no beginning, and
such q these had never been seen.
CINCINNATI MARKET.
WIG OFFICE,
July 4th, 1896.
FLOUR, remains stationary at last
weeks quotations, 14,621, price which
lis freely offered Cor choice brands Of fresh
ground.
WlllSKEY. We have to notice an I'D.
vance il mis- staple the past week. The