Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1870-02-26

yer qand myself took refuge from a
storm, while hunting, in Wocosson
Cave. Mr.. Weaver asked me If I
had ever seen, or had evor heard of
the ERchdnfed Iponderf told him
no. He then said, white Owl, I
am the only man, living or dead,
who has ever trod those silent halls,
or gazed upon their matchlcss beau
ty, and on account of the friendship
that now bear you, I will lead Won
to the Enchanted Wonder Mr..
| Weaver further requested, that any
unforeseen contingency should result
IN his death, that ! would deposit
his remains in, ,WpcoS,omo Gave.
with a suitable index pointing cut
this secret wonder, that In some fu-
ture age of the world his pale-face
brethren might develop scientific
truth, which would otherwise re-
main avoid among the semi-barbaric
hordes who Then infested these sunny
plains. All Of which faithfully
promised" We had now arrived at
the Sentinel, and all three. OF the vic
tins remained as they were left in
early morning, with no indications
Whatever of their having been dis
covered. White Owl and myself
now constructed q rude litter, and
having placed the body. of Mr.. Wea-
yer upon II. took up our mournful
march to Wocossomo Cave, which
was nearly IN a Southcrn direction
about one mile. We arrived at the
entrance about 8 o'clock, p. NJ, May
10, 1850. After resting a few min
utes, we entered boldly the cave, and
proceeded about tl,rce-quarters Of a
mile, when White Owl suggested
that we had arrived at the proper
spot for burial. White Owl then re-
quested me to form the grave, and
prepare 1t properly, which he said I
could do with my hands, as there
were no obstructions, save few
small Stones, and the light glisteninu
sand, for,'' said White Owl. AZ
have other work to do, while YOU are
engaged in preparing the grave"
He then left me, aud was gone nearly
an hour. When he returned, he was
bearing In his arms a rough, white
chalk-st0ne, about two Inches I'm.
thickness, three feet by two i'm length
and breadth. He then took from
the folds of his hunting-shirt, about
u half dozen finely wrought steel in
struments, resembling somewhat the
ordinary steel chisel, though each be-
ing dissimilar to the other. In the
course Of two hours he had produced
q neatly polished crucifix or stone.
de then set to work and chiseled out
an inscription upon the face of 1t,
which was unintelligible to me, on
account Of the symbolic characters
used. White Owl then selected a
small delicate brush from among his
assorted instruments, and approached
the, corpse Of Mr.. Weaver, which was
lying on o FIAT rock near by. /, In
the meantime, remaining a silent,
though deeply interested spectator in
the seemingly magic work which
was being there enacted IN the deep,
dark, cavern OTIS recesses of Wtcos.
some Cave. White Owl then turned
down the hunting-shirt OF Mr.. Wea.
Yer, and revealed tho gun, shot
wound that caused his death. from
! which the blood was yet oozing. He
i dipped his brush In this blood and
painted each letter, figure and sym.
Dol, OF the strange cryptoyraph
which he had chiselled upon the cru
cifix. This 10 mo was somewhat an.
palling, as 1t did not exactly comport
with my views In regard to inteilet
tual and religious refinement. When
he was done he gave the usual satis-
fed Indian. like grunt, and said. at
may Seem strange to YOU, my pale
face brother, thus to witness the ,is,
OF blood in the burial of friend. II
Is legendary with the Indian RAGS
probably ~ old as the Mosaic Deliv-
erancc, that IL blood IL used extern
ally about the grave, it Is n positive
Ievidence, per SC, of tho purity and
Innocence OF the victim. And as 1t
Is possible that the Indians may by
accident find the body Of Mr.. Wen-
yer, l know that this type Will DO
the means Of protecting his remains
from the ruthless and savage procliv-
tiles Of the Indian character. Be-
Sides" said he, !" l profess to be we'll
skilled In the arts and sciences, and
honestly believe that at some future
age Of the world, the highest intelli-
gence will prevail over this contl-
nent, and it may be that In the great
battle for intellectual superiority and
scientific suprenacy, this crucifix,
! which will cover the body of Mr..
i Weaver, may probably be found, and
lin view OF said event, this enigma
\ will be solved readily by the prcpond-
Icrating influences Of mind over mat
ter, the Enchanted Wonder will be
traversed by the curious, and all the
rich, rare, and beauteous develop
ments OF the inner world will be an
alyzed by thought, and man will ap-.
lproximate nearer and nearer the
spiritual life, by his acquaintance,
cputact and familiarity with the ma
tural lifc." After White Owl had
uttered this Heaven horn truth, he
lslgnaled me to the last sad rites. We
laid the body in its rude rock coffin,
which was formed due east and west.
then laid tho stone crucifx over the
head and breast, with nice smooth
stones extending from this 10 a point
beyond the feet; after which, we
covered the entire with glitterlng
sand to the depth of three Inches.
When we had finished, the knoll oil
departing time solemnly tolled thel
hour of lou hocive, and we silently |
Withdrew from Wocossomo Cave for
ever. t
When we reached the outer world, |
we found the moon nav In liz
strength) riding In the hea vens with |
all her queenly majesty and silent,
devotional grandeur, 7 could but
feel that this lower world Of ours was
designed by the Great I Am, to be
one vast temple, from which ilis sem
tient creatures could send up praise
and alteration, like sweet perfume
from the Holy Altar; and should his
creatures fail to render the homage
so eminently due, 1.-THE heavens
would declare the glory OF God, and
the ornaments would show forth
His handiwork." ..,.,
White Owl and myself were now
on our way TO the Choctaw Camp,
and designed striking the trail at tile
Sentinel" When we had APP
preached 10 within four hundred
wards of this tree. we could distipctlv