The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-11-14
ordinary Explanation OF n Sup.
posed Murdcr-A Man Drowned i'm n
mediterranean Lake OF Petroleum.

Temple, a citizen Of New York, mysteri-
ously disappeared at Burning Springs.
Within the last fewdays suspicion fastened
on person named Robert S. Stcinway as
his murderer, and accordingly he was ar
rested. Since his arrest he has written
and published the following extraordinary
statement in the Parkcrsburg Times of
Monday last
Editors 71mes,-My object in writing
this communication is to lay before the
public the facts attending the distressing
death of the late Alvin G. Temple, of the
city Of New York, as have Just been ar
rested here on a charge Of being accessory
10 and the cause Of il. am here without
friends or acquaintance, and must go to
prison for want of ball. / hope, however,
in the course of few days, to exonerate
myself of all suspicion of any completely in
the death of my friend.
The deceased and myself were both resi-
dents of New York, and had been &C
quainted nearly ten years; about the Md
die of September last we left home to-
rcther on tour to the oil regions of south
ern Ohio and West Virginia. We came
first to Marietta, Ohio, and visited the OIL
wells of Duck creek. We then visited
successfully IIorsencck, Sand Hill, White
Oak. and Burning Springs. We arrived at
the latter place on the afternoon OF Friday,
October %. We spent Saturday in visit
inc the various oil wells. Sunday morn
ing we started on ramble to make some
observations as to the nature of the cotln-
trv. From this ramble Mr.. Temple never
returned, and upon this circumstance l
have been arrested. ] hope the public, al
for hearing nv statement, will suspend its
Indictment until | can offer more PROOF OF
nv entire innocence. Mr.. Temple, being
something of geologist, carried leather
sack, suspended by a strap over the Shout
der. to contain the specimens collected,
and in his hand hammer with handle
three feet long, such as is commonly useu
by biologists. We crossed the burning
Springs run at the mouth, and climbed
up the hill on the. upper side. About
three fourths of the way mp we dis
covered an opening in the rocks,
caused probably by some CONFUSION
of the earth. Into this we found that
we could crawl some fifteen feet, when
further progress was stopped by the assure
becoming narrower. Temple, by thrust
ing in his hammer, asccrtaincd that the
passage soon widcned again, and that by
removing some of the pieces OF rock we
could 90 on. We procured sapling, which
we found on the ground above, which we
used as battering ram. We could hear
the pieces fall as they were pushed inward,
and from the sound knew the descent
could be but a few feet. went first, when
we had opened the way, and descended by
letting myself down by the hands. Temple
followed. Lighting match and piece OF
paper, we found ourselves in cavern
about twelve feet square, i'll which we
could stand upright. Pieces Of broken
rock, varying in size from an cggto barrel,
covered the ground. Temple collected
some specimens, principally sand-rock and
fcldspar, which he put into sack, to he
examined at leisure. Our progress was
very difficult on account OF the loose
and Jagged stones. Partly feeling our
way. and now and then lighting
match, we managed to ascertain what l
have related, and also. to discover assure
nearly opposite where we entered, some
three feet at the bottom and gradually
narrowing toward the top. Crawling into
This. we found it made considerable de-
scent until it opened into Il spacious cave,
the dimensions of which | cannot state, as
il was not thoroughly explored. Wei0und
here the same chaos of broken rocks, and
were continually bru;>ing ourselves in
climbing over and through them. Pro-
cecding some thirty yards, VIC saw light
on our right, which proved to be caused by
split in the rock. Looking through il, we
could see tie hills on the opposite side of
the kanawha, but could not open our way
out. Leaving this on our right, we pro-
cccdcd to make what explorations our
limited means would allow. After going,
perhaps, fifty yards, we were surprised at
finding a small lake or pool, as near
as | can Judge some sixty feet in length
BY twenty feet wide. Its level was
some three feet below the ground on
which We stood. Temple inserted his
hammer into this pool, and found that in
stead of water il was oil-pctroIcum. |
have not time TO describe our scnSa-
tons on this discovery, which promised
untold wealth. After discussing the mat
ter for few minutes, he attempted to try
the depth with the handle OF his hammer.
He got as near the brink as he could, and
was about executing his design, when the
loose stones on which he stood suddenly
cavcd in with him. He sunk, rose again,
struggled a moment, and | saw him no
more. | was powcrlesS to assist him, even
if had not been completely bcwidcred.
The weight Of the specimens i'll his sack
no doubt prevented him from saving him
self, as he was a capital swimmer. The
horror of my situation may be imagined. |
stood alone in that cave wherein was death
and darkness, fully aware that when | went
out into the light | would only meet
strangers and suspicion. called my com
panion by name again and again till terri
fled by the Scpulchral echoes that re-
sounded through the blackncss.
This is the true statement Of the fact.
Whether it will be credited is more than
| can say. / am fully aware how difficult
it is for me to answer the question, "Why
did you not make this statement sooner 7"
Here is my reply. When left the cave |
went to my room at the hotel. Over
whcmed as | was, could not help being
sensible that the discovery was an impor-
tant one, and resolved to secure the bene-
fits of it a.; so kept the matter quiet until
my designs should be accomplished. To
this end obtained a favorable lease from
the agent of the Rathbone Oil Company Of
the ground covering the cave. This lease,
as the county records will show, was made
the day after the occurrence above re-
vealed. 1t is made to George Temple, the
father of Henry V. Temple, the brother OF
H., lata Alvin q Tcmuln | have not rp-