Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-10-19
Gelrct Gale.
nN OF Y EFT !"
A TALE FOUNDED on FACTS.

A TALE FOUNDED On FACTS.
"Not vet.l" WAS heard spoken in loud quick
tone Of voice, succeeded by Il report OF pistol,
cm:.ratinr from the bottom of Il dark subterrane-
Gus vault. hitherto undsturbed by sound from the
commencement of time, except by the deep
toned. majestic thunder, rs it pcaled its awful
ana,lcmas from the thick, heavy clouds. as they
covered the mountains top. This trighituI
abode of terror was situated on Cumberland
mountain. near the road passing through Sparta,
the Crab Orchard and to Knoxville, Tennessee.
Surprised AT what heard so unexpected il tiE't
Iidcous wilderness, checked my horse and lis
tened with mlcnse avidi:y. 10 hear once more
;ha, horrid dwelling place of mysteries, before !
could take NV leave of this strange affair; and
whilst thus suspended, as it were by hope, fear,
and agony, heard as thought, female voice
cycI:,inI, thank Heaven. ] am safe" My curl
osity was now excited beyond expression. Hear
iur first the voice Of Il man, then the loud voice
Of deaths instrument, and still more, the soul.
animaiing voice of Il female, all conspired to eX.
cite my most profound sympathy and greatest
astonishmcnt could nu longer refrain rom
di>moum,ing and rushing to the mouth of the
secluded aperture. After some minutes OF
brcaihcss surprise. looking through the dark
foagcs of thick pine leaves, | discovered tho
bleeding form of Il man lying PROSTATE in the
lowest part of the cave, with pistol i'll one
hand, and dirk, as if fallen from the other
close by his side. All WAS siill-deall and 81
lrnce rcignrd triumphant there. After many
attempts To discover The parties to this strange
affair, veriurcd still closer to the cictim OF de-
mon passion, mcditaing upon the scene now
demonstrating before me. Where were the ar.
tors of this blu, dy tragedy time seemed INSULT
cient for their escape. And could II be possible
I'll that had heard had resulted from an acl OF
suicide? From The rapid succession and incon,
uruiiies of sounds thought not.
The ball had passed through his head. Poor
man, thought |, you have fallen Il victim to dis.
appointment, disappointed ambition, or blasted
hopes of earthly felicity, and have retired faI
from the worlds vulgar scruliny-hiding in M.
turc's dark recess, alike his person and his
bloody deed. And if so, nm an intruder upon
! the purposes and des gns Of the dead. But up.
on an examination Of his pistol, found it to bc
loaded. found my conjectures were all wrong
and for the safety Of my own person, hurried
away from the scene of carnage and death
Many coneclures presented themselves during
nv evenings ride, yet all ended in doubt and
unc .ranty. A clue to the facts seemed cover.
ed in impcnetrabIe darkness. After travelling
twenty miles through wild wilderness, seeing
no human being, and hearing no human voice
except the constant reilera,ion of "not yet
:. thank heaven, am safe" which rang as il
spoken from the tops of the majestic pines cover
! ing the cloud-reachng hills in every direction
My feelings strangely accorded with the scene
now surrounding mc-the winds howed hide
ousy, as they passed me by-thc loud roaring
of the ca,aracl's awful fall, and the deep gather
ing clouds that shut out he light Of day, all, al
kept my heart awakened and my mind on ter
rors vision bent. After rapid ride of few
hours, fortunately reached the beautiful tow
of K before the mantle of night fell upon me
/ | had no sooner crossed the river and gained nd
millance into Il hotel, than commenced, by in
terrogalorirs, TO seek for some elucidation Il
the melancholy spectacle had that cvrnin!
witnessed. asked the landlord if there W.
any news about town. He replied there wa
great excitement pprvading all ranks of socici
by The sudden Disappearance of two young men
and also of a Young lady; all of whom hat
been raised in the place. lie said Alr. MrClou
and Miss Mary Lawson had crossed the river 10
the purpose of attending church, some four
five miles distant, and in the evening Col. VA