The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1868-10-16
The EnstannIIce Gave.


laps--,nay have heard of large Cave, the ell
trance to which is about mile and u half east
of this goodly village. 1t Is believed to be
among the most wonderful ever yet discovered;
and we understand that a party of advcntur-
ousy young men contemplate making thorough
exploration at an early day. For many years
prior to the period when the Cherokees were re-
moved from the country South of the lIiwassee
River, the mouth of this Cave was closed,
and its existence almost lost sight Of; but by
some means. at date less remote, it was re-
opened, though there is no positive evidence
that it has ever been explored to any extent.
There is IN old Indian tradition connected
with the earlier existence of the Eastanallee
Cave. Il recapitulution of which may not
prove uninteresting to those who like to dwell
upon the improbable and marvellous. The
brief narrative was derived by the writer, in
1894, from an old Cherokee who lived Mt that
time near New Echota, in the Nation. Though
untutorcd in the knowledge of the books, he
was a man of extraordinary intelligence, full
of traditionary lore pertaining to his race. and
with but little of the reserve and reticence
characteristic of the Indian.
The student of history will remember, that
when the Spaniards landed on the Florida
coast, they at once commenced penetrating the
interior in search of the miraculous waters
which were to give eternal youth. bloom and
beauty to the human form. Failing in the OBJ
jcct of their perilous voyage, a large company
numbering several hundred, resolved to ad
vance still further into the country, carryin!
their arms and the bulk Of the wealth of thu
| expedition along with them. Still foilcd, bu
hopeful. they soon emerged from the Flower.
Land, and changing their direction severa
points, at length struck the dividing ridg
between the waters which flow direct,
to the Gulf and those that find their way t
the same great receptacle through the Hiwas
see, the Tennessee, the Ohio and the Lowe
Mississippi, Though dangers and diiiicultie
continued to multiply at every step, the nd
yenturers persevered in their determination
to explore the interior, and evidences exis
that portion of them penetrated as far Mort
as the Clinch, where they remained for som
time.
Our tradition has it that these were the frs
white men ever behcld by the original owner
was regarded with jealousy and disfavor. an
for hundreds of miles it was Il daily scene
encounter and conflict-the advantage gencl
ally being on the side of the superior valor an
skill of the invadcrs-until they reached til
Gap where the l1iwasSee breaks its way hcat
long through the mountains. Here terrib
battle was fought which lasted several day
The leaCer Of the Spaniards, however, bcfol
this occurred had taken the prccaution to d
!, tach small portion of his followers, lado
with the treasures of the expedition, with o
dcrs to defect from the projected line of marc
while the main body engaged in conflict wit
the foe. But this movement had not escape
, the observation of the willy sayages, and Il
i, little band. numbered as they were, were hot
$ pursued until they struck the waters of Il
Enstanallcc near where Athens now stand
< and finally sought refuge in the Cave of viii,
: mention has been made, hoping thus to clu,
G and ultimately escape their pursuers. Va
hope! They We're traced to its entrance, whi
was watchiully guarded and finally closed u
and the miserable men who had left their sll
p, ny horles in search of perennial youth, pclis
- ed there. shut off from the golden sun>hi
and the blue sky, in darkness and despair.
The tradition continues that some gencl
y lions later, the Indians of the neGhborho
: determined to enter the sepulchre which &C
: tanned the bones of so many of the first viii
= men who penetrated their country--where til
" found the grinning skeletons of the poor Spa
& iards in remarkable state of prescrvatiC
l. with their bruised arms still clutchcd in thu
q bony fingers. and in the midst of the trcasul
" and precious metal, to save which had CT
- them their lives in the most horrd mann
" But the supcrstitious reverence of the red hi
/ for the dead prevented them from removi
" any thing, and they hastily withdrew. az,
u closing the entrance. And the place was e,
~ after avoided by the Indian with awe and fe
Such, substantially, are the features of
tradition as detailed to the writer by the
r Cherokee Of the Oostanalla more than thi
II years ago. He, too. long since passed to
$. happy hunting grounds, and the subject wol
T. probably never have been recalled to mind !
e for the fact that there has been some talk
" Gently in regard to the wonderful Cave, and
= an intention to penetrate its mysteries.
IL There used to be strange stories told by VIII
- men VINO settled here Immediately after
IN exodus of the Indians, of what had been 81
III in the vicinity of the Cave at unseasona
er hours. And even now it is said, in t
time of the sere and yellow leaf, when
bleak winds begin to traverse the hills and
NJ nights are dark and moonlesss, wcird-look
g. lights may be seen issuing from its mouth .
lie unearthly sounds and means are heard amt
elk the branches ofthc tall trees which stand gu
in around the cayernous vault. These, howe,
Sc we suspect are but ghostly fancics, less re
nv bic and real than the dim Indian tradition
dis have attempted to relate, and which we tel
Of twas told to us more than quarter of q
|, fury ago.
For the Athens Post.)
Ir. Mr.. EditOr-I will give you, or any old