The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-04-02
Gri0illol Artitlcs.
HARE'S CAVE.
Tor TIE Grill IEAig

For The CecH Whig.
HARE'S CAVE.
Where the ]impid waters Of the laurel
bordered Rock Run leap and tumble among
the rugged rocks, hills and trees; away
from human habitations, and the paths fire.
qncntcd by human feet; where naught is heard
save the singing OF birds, the clmttering of
squirrels, and the music made by the water
as it .rushes from bend to bend, and falls
from rock to rock, is the rcputcd cave of
JOHN HARE: the place once inhabited by the
man who, in his day, was terror to those
possessed OF an ovcr-abundance Of this worlds
goods, and whose name is now, BY many
associated with crime and horror.
1t is situated about two miles west Of
Macka!ls Mill, on a small stream known as
Rock Kun, in the east side of very rocky
hill, and about dozen yards from the stream.
1t has fallen IN at the mouth, and around and
near it large rocks are lying. Some curious
or cntcrprIsing persons have succeeded in re-
moving few of the smaller stones from the
moHth OF the cave. in the hope, suppose, Of
finding few Of those mrch-sought after
articlcs-t the " almighty dollars - but none.
II is presumed, have been successful; or, if
they were, they had the welfare Of the owner
OF the surrounding woods enough at heart to
keep the finding to themselves as had it
become known that five dollars were found
there, it is more than probable that the whole
place. for miles around, would have been
cleared off and dug in holes. On each side.
and about ten feet from the cave, stand fine
dccaying stumps Of two trees, which, when
standing, must have looked like two lone
sentncls on guard, and afforded fine shade
to the front of the cave
Hare had &c lifts of the valleys, caves Of
the earth, and the rocks,'' at intervals along
his ronte; places situated where they were
not likely to be discovered, and this is sun
posed to be one Of them. In his biography
it is said he had place of the kind in the
neighborhood where this one is located. and
this certainly has the appearance of having
Dech cave, used for some purpose, in the
past. Here, it is supposed, in their predatory
excursions across the country, Hare and his
companions lodged, sccreicd their booty.
and recruited themselves for their further
travels.
1t is curious and romantic place and as
| stood there, pushing aside, with my foot.
the small stones lying round, looking at those
two old stumps, and at the great moss covered
rocks, and listening to the sweet and lively
,f
early in the Spring for thcm-waters of the
rivulet, as they rushed on, on, to satisfy the
thirsty beasts, or to minglc with the river, and
in turn, be brought back in the cloud, and de-
posted upon the dry and parchcd earth, Civ
ing life and beauty to the flowers, the fields
and the woods. AS | stood thus, curious
thoughts came to my mind. ! thought Of the
strange life led by those whose habitation this
had been; life traught with thrilling advcn-
tnre and imminent peril. Iswondcrcd wheth-
er the spot had been as lovely and romantic
to them as it was to me2 Whether their eyes
were blind to the beauty ond lovelincss of the
scene, and their ears deaf to the soul soothing
music around thcm2 Whether they knew, or
all that beauty and music And whether
they looked forward with Hope, (whcn the
tolls and privations, trials and temptations, of
this life were at an end to that better world
where the rich and the poor, the king and the
peasant, are brothers and equals, and whose
sovereign is God l thought of the tales
that had been told there, as they sat in the
evening beneath the shade of the tall trees, or
around the warm fire, within the caves how
they had rccounted, one TO the others, their
thrilling adventures and hair breadth Escapes,
how they had in fair fight, overc ONE twice
their number; how they had arrested the rich
man and taken his money from him and given
it to the poor traveller with whom they had
met; how they had relieved and protected the
widow and orphan. 1 thought of the
large sums of money which must have been
deposited there from time to time how glad
they must have boon when, after long and
tiresome journey, they neared this place of
rest how securely they must have felt, and
how sound and refreshing must have been
their sleep in this romantic spot.
JOHN HARE the Robber! / think can
almost see the reader shudder at the sight of
that name. Robber, did say? John Hare,
the Equalizer! l rather should say. For
whom did he rob- whom Cypress whom did
he maltreat7 Was it the poor man No!
Was it the widow Mol Was it the orphan
and friendess No! None of these ever
suffered at his hands. In him the poor man