Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-03-05
1 THRILLING ADVENTURE.
A "Reminiscences of the Cumber-
land.
The Veil Uplifted on the Brink.

Inc ven Upl1te0 on the Br1nk.
While going down the Ohio river q
short time age, fell in company one
afternoon with young Virginian, who
was on his way to Galveston, Texas. He
was tall, handsome and graceful, was ap-
parently well educated, and possessed no
ordinary fund of general information.
After few words by way of general
introduction, we entered into spirited
but to me agreeable conversation in re-
gard to the past and present condition of
the country. His speech was fluent and
at times animated, but always courteous
and respectful, indicating at once his
nativity, as also in measure his past po-
liticsl faith.
"By the way, " he abruptly remarked,
after probably an hours conversation,
''that is the mouth of the Cumberland,
believe. The sight of that mountain
river brings wildly to my mind days in
Tested with care, and nights devoid of
ease, TO say the least of it."
"a war "Reminiscences, suppose z"
"Beth of war and of peace-for peace,
| you know, has it horrors no less re-
| nowned than war;
"A horrorf Well, then, a horror
l anything to relieve the tedium of
| journey on Western river.n
He endeavored TO excuse himself from
| describing the scene which the sight of
the Cumberland revived in his memory,
| alleging as q reason that the improbable
! character of the episode would excite
ridicule rather than interest. ! assured
him, however, of my confidence in his
veracity, and promised him strict stten-
ton throughout when, with mingled hu-
NOR and esrnestness, he related the fol-
lowing incident:
"Just little while before the late war,
while travelling afoot over the drear
mountains of Southwestern Virginia,
(my horse having given out the day be-
fore, l stopped one evening about sun
set to rest my weary limbs before ascend
ing the next height No sooner, how
ever, had stretched myself upon the
| messy bed than my eyes were closed in
balmy sleep. How long l slept do not
| know, but when awoke it was night
and probably the blacklist night known
to time. The sky was one solid storm
cloud, and the whole upper world roared
| like the mighty waters. l determined to
seek shelter some where, and immediate
ly started in the direction had
I journeyed during the day. But the
path l followed then was guide no lon
ger. An occasional fash of lightning
would prevent my plunging into some
hidden ravine, but leaving the surround
| ings blacker than before. had wan
dered around for perhaps an hour with
out discovering anything capable of
sheltering me from the impending storm
or affording refuge at all, when to my in
expressibie delight saw on hill some
distance ahead what took to be light
from some mountaineer's cabin. So, in
spired with the hope of obtaining a
nourishing meal and nights repose,
pushed blindly ahead in the direction of
the light over rocks, and ravines, and
fallen trees. Arrived at the base of the
hill, or cliff rather, found that it was
skirted by stream of considerable width
| and depth. But Sin l plunged boldly,
no matter how coldly," and to the other
side. Here, however, 1 experienced
again the feeling of despair, for the side
| of the height had to ascend was almost
perpendicular. l was too much fat
igued to reconnoiter with the view
of finding a route less for
bidding than that that lay before me, and
so, with my remaining strength, began
the task. Rhen about one-third of the
way up, l sat down on q projecting rock
to rest; and while here nerVing myself
for the remainder of the journey,
thought of all the inspiring words of the
living and the dead. ga youth who
bore mid snow and ice, }" passed through
my mind, but his injudicious determine
ton was rather discouraging. ''Look
aloft to the sun that is never to set was
Just then impracticable. 81 would not
live always" dismissed as soon as pos
sible, for l had always considered that
an aggravating case of sour grapes.
'sHere's heart for every fate, " was the
oretically fine, but sadly at variance with
the facts of the case. But that which
seemed to suit my predicament exactly,
and which appeared to give more hope
and courage than all the rest, land over
which, because of the seeming mockery,
l laughed half my care awsy,) was this
verse from Longfellow:
The heights BIZ great men reached and kept
Were not attained by sudden fight,
But they, while, their companions slept
We're toning upward in the night''
$50 imsginingmyself one of the ''great
men" l began again, my ''tOiling upward
IN the night, and after while, by the
most superhuman exertion reached the
locality of my beacon-ight. And here,
my friend, (his countensnce assuming a
more thoughtful shsde,) l would gladly
drop the story, lest you consider me
''voluminous sensational list" "Well,
on reaching the summit of the cliff,
found Immediately in front of me, be-
tween two huge rocks, a half opened
door or gate, which led into a sort of
cave or recess in an upper ledge, as it
were, of the mountain / stopped few
PAGES from the threshold and meditated
for some time as to the object of this out
of-the-way abode and the probable
character of its occupants. At last
thinking, or rather hoping, it retres.
for the hunters and fishermen, who
annually visit that section, l pushed the
creaking door further open, and walked
in. The scene which here presented
itself chilled my very hearts blood. No
sooner had my presence been oSAerved
than five of the most savage and desperate
looking of men, with wild and startled
look, sprang to their feet, grasped their
arms, and assumed an attitude of de-
tense. The true character of my hosts
was at once apparent. They evidently
belonged to notorious band of highway
men who had infested that region for a
number of years. To me flight was i'm
possible and resistance was death, and
my confused brain was in no condition
for treaty making. Presently, however,
hopeful alternative flashed upon my
mind and that was to explain the fate that
did cast me "out on Nights Plutonic
shore, swear eternal secrecy as to their
whereabouts, and leave behind me what
ever had of value. This proposed, and
l assure you waited the effect of my
proposition with no slight concern. But
ell in vain. Each shook his head with a
determination that seemed to blast what
little hope | had cherished, and l sat