Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1840-11-17

From Priests American Antiquities.
A VERN IN TIL E W h s I
IN WHICH ARE FOUND MANY INTEREST
ING HIEROGLYPHICs, SUPPOSED TO HAVE
BEEN MADE BY THE ANCIENT INHAB'
ITANTs.
On the Ohio, twenty miles below the
mouth of the Wabash, is cavern, in
which are found many hieroglyphics, and
representations of such delineations as
would induce the belief that thsia,Rgihors
were, indeed, comparatively refined and
civilized. 1t is cave in a rock, or
ledge of the mountain, which presents it.
selfto view, little above the water of
the river, when in food, and is situated
close TO The bank. In the early settle
ment of Ohio, this cave became possessed
by party Of Kentuckians, called "Wil-
sons Gang" Wilson, in the first place,
brought his family to this cave, and fit
ted il up as a spacious dwelling, erected
sign post on the water side, on which
were these words: "Wison's Liquor
Vault and House Of Entertainment."--
The novelty of such tavern induced al
most all the boats descending the river to
call for refreshments and amusement
Attracted by these circumstances, several
idle characters took up their abode at
the cave, after which it continually re-
sounded with the shouts of the licentious,
the Glamour Of the riotons, and the bias
phemy of ofgamblers. Out of such custO-
mers, Wilson found no difficulty in form
ing band of robbers, with whom he
formed plan of numbering the crews of
every boat that stopped at his tavern, and
of sending the boats, manned by some
ofhis 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-
led to murder and rob on all good occa.
sons, 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
Several families and respectable men,
who had gone down the river were never
heard of, and the losses became so fre'
quent, that it raised at length, cry oI
individual distress and general dismay
This naturally led to inquiry, ana large
rewards were offered for the discovery
of the perpetrators of such unparalleled
crimes. 1t soon came out that Wilson
with an organized party Of Eorty-fve men
was the cause of such waste of bloOC
and treasure; that he had n station a.
| Hurricane Island, to arrest every boa
: that passed the mouth Of tho cavern, anC
f that he had agents at Natchez and New
= Orleans, ofpresumed responsibility, who
converted his assignments into cash
r though they knew the goods to be stolen
8 or obtained by the commission of oEmurder
: The publicity of Wilson's transaction
!. soon broke up his party; some dispersed
+. others were taken prisoners and he him
f self was killed by one of his associates
who was tempted by the reward for tn
: head ofthe captain of the gang.
+ This cavern measures about twelv
a rods in length, and five in width; its en-
: trance presents a width ofeghty feet {
{ its base, and twenty-five feet high. Th
g interior walls are smooth iock. Th
floor is very remarkable, being lev,
!. through the whole length of its centr,
s the sides rising in stony grades, in til
o manner of seats in the pit ofa theatr
!. On diligent scrutiny Of the walls, it
plainly discerned that the ancient inhaI
r itants at very remote period, had mad
: use Of the cave as house of delber
2 ton and council. The walls bear mi
] ny hierogyphics, we'll executed, and som
!. of them represent animals, which have n
= resemblance TO any now known 10 natu
: al history.
This cavern is great natural cnriosit,
, az II is connected with another still NOR
gloomy, which is situated exactly abov
united by an aperture of about fourtee
, feet; which to ascend is like passing up
chimney, while the mountain is yet f
above. Not long after the dispersC
: and arrest of the robbers, who had il
tested it, in the upper vault were foun
the skeletons of about 60 persons, WI
had been murdered by the gang of Wi
son as was supposed.
i But the tokens of antiquity are sti
more curious aud important than a de
scription Of the mere cave, which ar
found engraved on the sides within, Al
account Of which we proceed to give.