The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-10-06

line of dry leaves was formed, extending
from the powder several feet outside the
entrance.
The crowd having retired to safe dis.
tance, or hid behind trees and rocks, the
train of leaves was fred by man who
quickly gained the shelter Of large tree
close by tho cave. In few moments
terrific explosion fairly shook the noun
tain and filled the air with sulphurous va
por. A stiff breeze, blowing directly into
the mouth of the cave, soon dissipated the
smoke, when it was found that both barri.
cades had been thrown down by the con.
cussion 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.
tlement for provisions and such materials
us would be needed in the execution of
the next plan of assault which it was de-
cided to pursue. Toe rest remained as q
guard ovor the now imprisoned robbers.
Building large fire near the entrance of
the cave they, watched and slept by turns
until morning. ieraau 4eo 0JJ J... 5s
At daylight the recruiting party re.
turned, bringing more men, provisions for
man and horse, and materials for the fur.
ther prosecution Of the assault upon the
cave.
After eating hasty meal and feeding
their horses, the assailants collected a
large quantity Of wood, green and dry.
and then, beginning as far inwsrdly in the
entrance to the cave as they could venture
to 60, they piled it up in successive lay.
ers interspersing dried tobacco stalks and
leaves, aud sulphur in great abundance,
among tho 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 eet 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 tho wood and tho roof
serving as 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 ofthe FIRE, which blazel, 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 the fire ragged
with unabated violence, fresh fuel being
constantly supplied from the adjacent
wood. The smoke having filled the cave,
streamed out in dense masses and Aoated
of in the direction Of the wind to the up
per heights of the mountain. ........
At length the fire was permitted to burn
down. A stream Of water issuing close
by, from the side Of the mountain, furnish.
I'd the ready means for cooling the rocks
e1tinguishing the smouldering embcrs.
But it was not until fate hour in the
evening that the smoke had escaped fiom
the cave sufficiently to permit an entrance
to be made.
With lighted torches, and armed with
guns and pistols, the crowd cropt cautious.
ly into the gloomy cavern. The passage
which led to it, widening rapidly as they
| advanced, spread out into spacious room.
Into this snte.chsmber several small lat.
ersl assures or apartments opened. The
cave though produced by some convulsion
! of nature, possessed the regularity and the
/ proportion almost Of work of art. The
: Aoor, the sides and the roof were oil of
solid rock. The torch.light reddening in
the smoke. and reflected fsebly from the
rocky surface lit up the gloom with an OBJ
| scure radienee, which increased the horror
Of the place. The crowd, advancing and
dispensing with apprshensive looks. and
cautious steps, looked, amid the smoke and
j tie sullen light, like phantom host re-
turning to their covert in the mountain
from the glare Of the outer day.
90 In the large room casks, boxes and bar.
rels were found, filled with meat, -four and
estables Of various kinds. In the lateral
assures. beds, guns, ammunition. cooking
utensils, table furniture, and. in short, al.
most everything necessary to the rude
eomfort.and convenience Of a subterranear
dwelling. were arranged In something like
household order. The dead bodies of 6v,
men, Of an old women, and of boy, up
parently fifteen or sixteen years old, lay
scattered through the several apartments
livid aud discolored in the face, and mos
hideous to look upon.