Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-10-16
BILL SNYDER.
An unpublished Horror i'm the Early
History Of Nashville.

The following story which was related
by an old man, who died few years ago
in this city, carries with it horrors which
the present AGE never dreamed of. at one
time contemplated using it as the plot
for a novel, but as the press of the country,
within the pas. few years, has so layishly
bestowed upon the public through its
columns the Intrigues of Fisk and Josey,
Crittenden and his Laura Fair, and last,
but not least, Beecher and Lis Mrs. Tilton,
yellow back literature is at such a discount
that INV publisher declined the manuscript,
believing as Inc said, that it would not
prove TO he paying Investment. But to
the story.
On the lot opposite tie old +, male Acad-
envy building in this city, in the year Is
hut never mind the date--there stood plain
two story brick building, occupied by
family consisting of father, mother, son and
daughter. The old gentleman had moved
from the eastern portion of France a few
wears previously to the above date, aud fol-
lowed the trade of halter. The cholera,
or a disease ola similar character, appeared
| in the city the summer Of the year follow
ING. and the mother and son fell victims To
! its fatality. For lime the father was ia
consOlable, and il WAS the impression Ofhis
family physician, DIR. RI, and the
neichbOrs. that he was rapidly losing his
mind. A stronger evidence of the fact of
! insanity was perceivable in the great aver
sion shown To a young jourDeyman IN his
| employ. aid that too, without any discern
able Cause. Suddenly the bright daughters
| face was missed from the window. and her
| cheerful voice was heard no more reSOund-
| ing through the rooms Of the dwelling.
| When she was enquired after be invariably
/ gave as a reply to all inteTTogatories, that
he had sent her Meth TO bOarding-SchOOl.
The iIl-temper of the father became I'M
endurable to the iourneyman, and as last
re ort he left the city and removed to Phil
adelphia. where he amGSSed a large fortune
and died. leaving family beloved and re-
spected bv all who knew them. Alter the
journeyman left, tie old man kept closely
at home, leading in reality the life OF
hermit. The walk from his gate to his
house was soon over grown with grass.
Two faithful slaves, a man and woman,
were the only living creatures besides hiEl-
self who entered the building. Among all
his q. centricities there was more more
marked by his servants than that of strict
rule prohibiting any one from entering his
cellar, violation of which he swore would
be certain death. About Use years after
his daughters departure for the North, the
old man Informed his servants of her
death. II was a source of comfort to the
community, who thought with a shudd T
of her return 10 so gloomy prison. Thus
matters moved on for two Yeas longer
when a seryant-maid determined to unFaYei
the mysteries of the forbidden cellar.
One day while her master was
confined TO his bed from illness. she
slipped the key to the cellar from his bu-
rean, and, tripping lightly along the. hall,
unlo ked the door TO the interdicted cave
! he noise Of the bolt echoed loudly through
its dark vaults, and the rats scampered at
her approach like a body Of cavalry on the