Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-08-14

GUNPowDER TOR THE SoUTH.-We were
yesterday OF board TIE steamboat Nsy Moon,
and seeing a large lot 4 kettles, between
twenty and thirty, some Of great size, and the
men at work getting steam engine on board,
We inquired what these articles were for, and
were informed By the captain Of the boat that
they were Intended for the manufacture Of
saltpeter at a spot ia the mountains some sixty
or seventy miles distant from Jacksonport,
Ark, to which town the boat would convey
them. We learned that Mr.. Brinkley, Of this
city, and Mr. Jones, whs resides down the
liver, opposite the town Of Commerce, have
bought from Capt. James Smith, who lives on
Black river, the s~altpeter cave about to be
worked, it is said at the price Of SIS, 600. The
purchasers, in the present contingency, have
determined, periodically, to spare no pains or
expense 10 supply the South with an article
she 50 much requires ss saltpstsr for the man
ufacture Of gunpowder. As soon as thirty or
forty hands can be obtained, they will be set
to work, and it is believed that a large amount
of saltFster will be procured. Jacksonport is
situated at the junction of Black with White
p river.
Black river divides the eastern border o. In
dependence county from tie neighboring county
of Jackson, in which Jscksonport is situated.
Ia Independence county Col. John Miller owns
a ssltpeter cave situated two hundred and 6fty
or three hundred feet up in a ridge Of sub car
bonifsrOus limestone. It has passages in it
pyfruAfwr Frrr, f-r E-rFraH - THro1 hr,L-xl
yards in length, and eight CT ten in width. We
are not aware Of the per ceatsge Of s~altpeter
the earth Of this carbon contains. Newton
county also contains saltpeter caves. It is one
Of the most mountainous counties il the State
Of Arkansas; the Buffalo fork Of White river
takes its rise in it. On Cave creek, in this
Gshty, are several saltpeter caves tue princi-
$Sal one is the property Of il S. Thompson, ESQ.
The dark brown inter earth which forms the
floor of the cave is rich in s~sltpeter owing no
doubt, &c the large Quantities Of organic mat
ter which is incorporated with the earth. This
nitro earth has been traced fifty or sixty yards
back into The cave, to the depth Of seven OF
eight feet; it is liked with broken rock. with
a very rough mode Of manufacture five pounds
Of s~altpeter to the bushsl Of earth have been
obtained in d hopper Of two hundred bushels,
netting a thousand pounds Of the salt. MANY
remains have been found in this cavern +: tbs
entire skeleton Of IN infant was exhumed on
one occasion. What is perhaps more curious,
a broken sea she'll was once dug up here. For
a hundred and fifty feet back from the mouth,
this cave probably contains a larger proportion
Of saltpeter than almost any in the State. II
has several branches, waich may probably
also contain saItpeter. The earth of themhas
not been examined.
In washington county, which borders on the
Indian Territory, north of VanBuren, there is
a saltpeter cave, near the Benton county line.
Immediately OF the west bank OF White river,
in Marion county, which borders the Missouri
line, among the cliffs and exchanging Lodges
OF limestone is a nit e cave known as "Bean'a
E.D It is said a man Of that name once
made s~sltpeter there along With another man,
whom be killed in a quarrel. The entrance is
thirty feet vide; it runs back over a hundred
feet, widening as it goes the hight is about
eight feet. The sides Of the cave are formed
Of tough earth or clay this is dug Down and
left for some time to dry at the bottom Of the
cave, wbers it loses its moisture and eruInbles
into a powder /; it has then acquired lf6cient
s~altpster to be worked with profit. The. earth