The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1872-03-28
oNaaauNIcATIoNs.
For The ~CuszEs.
A Mysterious Sink Hole.

- ------AA-AANN M --A-f ~ EA~ AAAA III Lla-
road leading from Pulaski to Vale
Mills, some distance from this read,
ere two sink holes In close preximi-
tys barely admitting q carriage to
pass between upon the margin Of
each. These sink holes at present
have a basin shape, bat fifty years
ago the largest hole was in the shspe
Of a funnel, and the smaller opening
penetrated the earth TO az unkHONn
depth, and was considered q dark,
deep, mysterious place, whence
strange lights and unearthly sounds
frequently proceed, and com
mon rUinOr was 50 strong that the
braxest ia passing on dark night.
step. e I light. and breathed lew. In
fact Il was. considered & haunted
place, as many old citizens can vet
testify to, and it now remains for the
writer Of this 70 disclose some of
the mysteries, as he is the only iiv-
ing man who can, from the fact that
all the parties to the mysterious dga-
ma have long since passed from
earth, but there remains, deep down,
below the present bottom Of this
sink hole, human bones and many
silver dollars, al beyond the ken OF
human vision. and perhaps will re-
main 90. I win now proceed to re.
late the facts as they were given to
me by the parties having full
knowledge Of them.
About fifty years ago, while Giles
County was Ia her infancy, a man by
the name Of Cooper came from
South Caroline and with his family
settled in the romantic region Of
those rocks, near the late residence
of Esqr. Morris. Cooper had q son,
Robert, a lad that was very fohd Of
fishing and hunting, and ia his fish
ing excursions made an acquain-
tance of a negro man, belonging to
one Simmons of the neighborhood,
and they frequently tished in Rich
land together. When the fish was
divided the negro always sold his
part and would take nothing in pay
only silver meney. This attracted
the young mans attention, and he
also noticing that the negro never
spent any OF the money, Cooper was
led to enquire what he did with it;
Why Marster Bob, / am going to
purchase my freedom said the ne
gro; ''and ! have already about one
thousand dollars.
Soon after this old man Cooper
sold his place among the rocks,
which has ever since been called
CoOpertoWn, and moved with his
family to Alabama. After remain
ing there several years, Simmons
sold his lands and moved to Aiaba-
ma also, carrying with him this ne
gro. In the course Of 4 few years
yonng Cooper, who was aow o man
OF family, sand a very worthy citi
zen, saw the negro again, and renew
ed the old acquaintance, Cooper re-
marked to the negro that he 'sex-
pected to have been a free man be-
fore then.
The negro replied, t'ATassa Bob, I
viii trust you wild de whole secret.
Every dollar of dat money is in the
haunted sink hole long sago, and
black man, q friend Of mine went
down after it and he never come
back to this blessed day" @Why,"
said Cooper show did that happen p
"Why just in this way, I was afraid
somebody would find my money and
steal IL, so I put It in a pot, carried
it to the sink hole, climed, down the
narrow part about ten fee9, there ]
found a shelving rock, on which
placed my money knowing nobody
would poster the haunted hole and il
w0pld be safe there, and remained
there until Master sold his land, and
was about moving to Alabama when
I proposed purchasing my freedom,
and we agreed upon the price, and
went TO get my money. Descending
doWn the-sink hole By hol2ing with
my hands to the sides, and feeling
for foot hold, I came to the shelving
rock on which sat my pot of money,
placing my foot on It, when sudden
u it broke, and down, down went 4
money, pot and all a long way down |
[ could hear it rumbling and jing-
ing. My hopes were now at an end, /
Tor there was no chance to get at it,
or It went down world without end, |
and / went home and told ms Mas I
u mY money was gone, but did not I
ell him where it was. He said I |
vas q fool for hiding il ont. as |
night have known some body q steal /
{. We all soon moved TO Alsbama, T
md here / became acquainted with 4
] black man that was lying ont from /
lis Master, Mr. Hugh Binf0rd. and (
VOuld not live With him. The man /
old me he never would live with 1
8inford. that IL he hal some money /
le would go 70 the free States. ]
hen told him Of my misfortune. lie
leing the FIRST man that / ever told
about IL This black nan
declared that If / wOuld give him
lalf of the money he would 60 dowB
n the sink hole and recover it for
ne, II he had to 60 to hell after it, so
7e aRreed he was TO recover it for
lalf I tod my Master I wanted 10
70 20 Giles County 70 see my friends,
10 he let me have q uale % ride. and /
p I started, and bY appointment /
net this black man after night. and /
proceeded on our Journey travelling
" night and lying by in dAy light
s the black man Vas afraid % trnv-
] the public highway Is daylight.
g il was at aight S bright moon
lght night shat we PASSED through
s0opert0Wn, noticing those curious
oeks, what q strange appearances +
hey made. ] said g my friend.
int you afraid % 60 down Is that
I1nutec holef be sGid he would do +
heap foe meHey, 80 We satAsred
one hickory BARK smong the co- /
ars, and wlfen We arrived g the
iEk hole We atEtk sonle Ere and
ghted 8 TORCH of afckory bark. and
ly friend started down 81 the
ink hole sorch ii band. natii be
soc1sded far below the shelsiag
ock CD which 1ay ncneF had eat. I
ouEa hear hs9 sad talked vita him
g said e wAs getting awful ugiy
ine. and that Be feared he
oult Eot get back. Aoaht this