The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-08-31
Misrenat,w
OLD TIMES IN kESTUCKY.
How He Rescued Agnes and Mar
ried uer.-Diving 10 Some
rt1 Purpose. ..s..s
[From the Courier.Jonrnal.l

Between Clarksvlle, Tennessee, and
Eddyville, Kentucky,on the Cumberland
River, there is cavern which can only
be entered by diving into the water, and
has no other light than that which is re-
deeted from the bottom Of the river. It
was accidentally discovered by young
Indian chief, while one day diving for
his gun which he had dropped from his
canoe into the river. The Indian youth
who discovered it for long time kept
the secret to himself, and would often
resort to it in his lonely hours, where, by
the aid of his flint and a piece Of dry
wood, he would kindle Ere and enjoy
himself in looking at the magnilicence of
the scene as the light reflected back mil
lions of beams from the numerous stall
agmites and stalactites of gigantic size
and fantastic forms. The cave was about
fifty feet wide and the same in height
In the course Of time this young son of
the forest became enamored with beau
tiful daughter Of one of the backwoods-
men Of the settlement. The young chief
name was Wsllahalla and the girls came
was Agnes Robertson. ....
In those days the daughters of backs
wooesmen could swim, ride, and handle
la gun with all the dexterity and skill of
their fathers and brothers. Arriving at
the place the lover disappeared beneath
the surface of the water and the maiden
quickly followed him. Here he informed
her she must remain as his prisoner un-
til he gained the consent of her parents
to their union. Wallahalla then depart
ed to return soon after with dried veni-
son, and such articles as were necessary
for her comfort Returning to the set
tlement Wallahalla found that the place
had been attacked by the foe and the vii
lage burned to the ground. The parents
Of Agnes mourned her as dead, or liu-
gering in capacity to which death
would he far preferable. The chief was
louaest in his lamentations over the lost
girl, and at the war dance of his tribe
swore the direst vengeance against her
captors. All the male portion of the
settlement, together with the friendly
tribe to which the young chief Walla-
halla belonged, started ir pursuit Of the
foe to rescue the girl. After a long
and tedious march they came upon the
enemy in the neighborhood of where
Metropolis City, Illinois, now stands =
A furious battle was fought in which the
attacking party, headed by young Walla-
halla,@dealt. death and destruction to
their foe until their ammunition was ex.
hausted. At this moment the enemy
was reinforced, and the attacking party
was compelled to retire across the Ohio
The father of Agnes Robertson was
almost crazed with grief at the loss OF
his beloved daughter. In his great ago.
ny he published to the troops the follow
ing announcement: ,~a..l ,..-,,...
81, Andrew Robertson, will give to the
rescuer of my daughter from the hands
of the Iowas her hand in marriage, one
thousand acres of land, one hundred
head of cattle and horses, one hundred
pounds of powder, and two rifles,
-. Il. ANDREW RoBERTsoN.'
Twenty men, warriors and riaemen
among them Wallahalla, stepped for
ward and rendered their services. The
girl herself was fortune to any man
The parent and his trusty friends, with
the exception Of those who we're to &C
| in pursuit of the Iowas in search of Ag
mes Robertson. returned to their, settle
ments on Little River, near the place
now known as Cadiz, in Trigg County
Kentucky, to rebuild their huts and the
stockade which the Indians had destroy
ed. Wallahalla separated himself from
both parties, and by circuitous route
| wended his way to the cavern in search
Of his beloved Agnes, whom he found ii
almost a starving condition.
The full moon shone forth in all it:
splendor on the night of the 25th o
May as they rose to the surface of th'
water and entered their canoe to return
to the arms of the lovely Agnes pa
rents, and receive the reward and a bles
sing. Their advent into the settlemen
on the following morning was an occa
sion for great rejoicing. Feasting ant
dancing were the order for several weeks
and the young csief Wallahalla was th,
toast of the country for miles around
He was the recipient of presents ofland
horses, cattle, sbins, ETC., to larger ex
tent than any man living since the foun
dation of the world, unless I except tn,
great gift.taker, Gen Grant. OF tn
nineteen men who stepped forward tt
offer their services to Andrew Robert
son not one returned to give in his ex
]perience, and the general impression ex
listed at that time that they were eithe
all tomahawked or burnt at the stake
Wallahalla married and changed hi
name to Robertson. Many of his de
scendants lived in the neighborhood o
what is now known as Crittenden Coun
jty and Trigg County, Kentucky, til
about the year 1918, when they removes
to Eastern Georgia. 81 Goe5u
| wA gentleman of our acquaintance
Liberal Republican, Informs us that yes
terday forenoon, in party ofgfive Re