Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-04-30

the mountain, until they arrived at a
small funnel shaped hole that entered
the mountain horizontally near its
base. This they entered about rod.
where the direction changed, running
perpendicular up something the shape
of the bowl of pipe. This aperture
was so small that it was with difficulty
that it would admit full sized man on
his hands and knees. This fsure in the
rock extended about four feet upwards,
and opened into large spacious cavern.
At the top stood sentinel, who chal-
enged the party, and permitted them
to pass after the proper password
had been given. The cavern they en-
tered was about ten feet high, about
forty feet wide, and two hundred long,
with several passages or natural fs-
sures leading to rooms of different
dimensions. Lights were kept con-
stantly burning at all the angles lead
ing from the main room. In this room,
at the time BARRET entered, were seat
ed at long rough table about fifty or
sixty men, drinking, playing cards,
telling tales, DC. When the recently
arrived party was announced, the band
all rose from, the table, and ~on BARREr
being introduced, they all shook hands
with him and gave him hearty well
come. He remained with them about
two months, learning all their modes
and customs, secret passages through
the mountains, and much valuable in
formation which he hoped would event
ually lead to the surprise and capture
of the entire band. After having
learned all be deemed necessary, he
concluded to leaXe them, and report to
the nearest military post, and rejoin
his company. He easily found an op-
portunity, and as he supposed without
exciting suspicion, and started to Trini-
dad, which he reached in safety, re-
porting to the officer in command, who
gave him an escort of four men 20 in
sure his safety in performing his jour
ney to Fort Union. On bright morn
ing in the month of March, he started
across the Ration Mountains, full of
hope and well satisfied that his adven-
ture had terminated so favorably. But,
alas, for human hopes. 1t appears that
some of the band had become suspicious
of BARRET on account of his unwilling
ness to commit depredations, and his
frequent excuses for not Joining them
In their excursions through the coun-
try. They had accordingly watched
him, and becoming fully convinced
that he had turned traitor, they deter
mined to make his life pay the forfeit.
Accordingly party of the band Sc
'creted themselves in narrow pass in
the mountains, through which the SER
geant and his party must pass. BAR
RET, supposing that he was not sus-
pected, was doubtless little anticipating
what was awaiting him in the pass.
The Banditti allowed his little party to
advance well up the gorge or pass,
when they fired from their ambush,
hliiihS tuC lOul Hlcn dllu 50 severely
wounding BARRET that he fell from his
horse. They then took him in his
wounded condition and hung him to
tree, and cut out his heart, leaving the
body hanging, where it was found by
party of emigrants. l have learned
since writing the above that BARRET
left with the officer to whom he first
memorandum OF incidents
that occurred during his stay ameng
the Banditti. Also that a small memo
randum book had been found near the
place where BARRET had been murder
ed. If am able to obtain these meme
randi, I will endeavor to give your
readers the full particulars of his ad-
venture, in continued tale through the
columns of the JOURNAL.
Truly yours, &c,
G.. C.. J.