Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-11-18

sieuated point The evidences Of human
uhabitancy were unmistakable. The groud
Immediately in front ofthe rocks was trodden
aud hard. Worn paths branched off in sew
eral directions from the spot. The entrance,
a narrow passage between the two projecting
rocks, ran inwardly, and the avenue, except
for few feet at the opening, was dark and
entirely impeuetrable to the eye. 1t led
evidently into cave or subterranean shelter
of some sort, which the company prepared
at once to explore.
Dry branchs of tree and dead underground
we're gathered, tied into bundles and lighted
with fire kindled by flint and tinder. With
these for torches, six of the more resolute
men entered the opening between the rocks,
with the view of exploring the interior to
which it led. The passage was so narrow
that only two could walk abreast. Two men
in front bore torches, as did the two in the
rear. The middle couple carried muskets
heavily charged.
As they advanced the passage rapidly wi
dened, and the roof sprang up to great
height overhead. They had gone about
twenty PAGES from the entrance whena blaze
of light, accompanied by the almost simulta-
neous report of firearms, flashed forth from
a distant, interior point of the cave. The
two men in front fell to the earth. Dis
charging their muskets in the direction ofthe
fash, the others retreated from the cave,
dragging their fallen companions after them,
one of whom was seriously wounded and the
other entirely dead.
Enraged at the spectacle of blood and
death, the besiegers began more resolutely
the work of assault upon the cave, for such
it WIS NOW ascertained to be, and of consid-
erable dimensions, too. An effort was made
to induce the dogs to enter. The more res
olute advanced few PAGES, and then ran
back in apparent alarm. The majority stood
at the entrance and barked, but could not
be enticed, by words or blows, to 60 further.
Another expedient was tried. A large
tree was cut down and riven into bolts Of
considerable length and thickness. A double
row of these timbers was placed upright
across the entrance passage, some twenty
feet from the opening, and securely wedged
and braced, so as to form powerful barri-
cade or wall The powder in all the horns
and TASKS, except few rounds reserved in
each, was poured in a pile on the ground
near to the the upright timbers. Another
barricade, similar to the inner one, was con-
structed in front and close TO the powder, a
train being first laid from the pile, through
a notch in the timbers, to the outer edge of
the barricadc. A line of dry leaves was
formed, extending from the powder several
feet ouside the entrance.
The crowd having retired to a safe distance,
or hid behind trees and rocks, the train of
leaves was fred by man who quickly gain
ed the shelter of large tree close by the
cave. Iu few moments a terrific explosion
fairly shook the mountain and filled the air
with sulphurous vapor. A stiff breeze, blow
ing directly into the mouth of the cave, soon
dissipated the smoke, when it was found that
both barricadcs had been thrown down by
the concusson, but the sides and roof of the
cave remained unharmed.
Night was now coming on. A detach-
ment of the men was sent back to the set
Element for provisions and such materials as
would be needed in the execution of the next
plan of assault which it was decided to pur-
sue. The rest remained as guard over
the now imprisoned robbers. Building a
large fire near the entrance of the cave,
the watched and slept by turns until morn
ing. :,
At daylight the recruiting party returned,
bringing more men, provisions for man and
horse, and materials for the further prosecu-
ton of the assault upon the cave.
After eating hasty meal and feeding their
horses, the assailants collected large quan-
tity of wood, green and dry, and then, be-
ginning as far iuwardly in the entrance to
the cave as they could venture to 60, they,
piled it up in successive layers, interspers-
ing dried tobacco stalks and leaves, and sui
phur in great abundance, among the wood,
until small space only was left between the
top of the pile and the roof of the passage
The outer end of the heap was then set on
fire. a strong wind, still blowing directly
into the mouth of the cave, spread the flames
rapidly through the pile. and drove the
smoke, in dense column, into the cave, the
narrow avenue between the wood and the
roof serving as a Aue to conduct it to the In
terror.
No voice or sound came from the cave or,
if any was uttered, it was lost in the roar OF
the fire, which blazed, and cracked, and
famed in the narrow passage until it glowed
and shot forth sparkles and smoke like the
crater of volcano during an eruption. For
several hours and the fire ragged with unaba,
ted violence, fresh fuel being constantle sup
piled from the adjacent wood. The smoke,
having filled the cave, streamed out in dense
masses and Aoated off in the direction oi
the wind to the upper heights of the noun
tain.
At length the fire was permitted to burn
down. \ stream Of water issuing close by,
from the side of the mountain, furnished the
ready means for cooling the rocks and extln
guished the smouldering embers. But ii
was not until late hour in the evening tina,
the smoke had escaped from the cave sufhc
iently to permit an entrance to be made.
With linhted torches. and armed with