The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1875-10-02
a REAL INDIAN ROMANCE.

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this story Between Clarksville, Tenn,
and Eddyviile, KY. on the Cumberland
river, there is a cavern which can only
be entered by diving into the water, and
which has no other light than that re-
dected from the bottom of the river. 1t
was accidentally discovered by a 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 a longtime 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 a fire and enjoy himself in
looking at the magnificence Of the scene
as the lilht reflected back millions of
beams from the numerous stalagmites
and stalactites of gigantic size and fam
tastic forms. The cave was about fifty
feet wide, and about the same in hight.
In the course of time this young son of
the forest became enamored with a beau
tlful daughter of one of the backwoods-
men in the settlement. The young In
dian chiefs name was Wallahalla, and the
girls name vas Agnes Robertson. In
those days the daughters of backwoods-
men could swim. ride and handle a u
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
she must remain as his prisoner until he
gained the consent of her parents to their
union.
Wallahalla then departed to return
soon after with dried venison and such
articles as were necessary for her COM
fort. Returning to the settlement, Wal
lahalla found that the place had been
attacked by the foe and the village burned
to the ground. The parents Of Agnes
monrned her as dead, or lingering in a
captivity to which death would be far
preferable. The young chief was loudest
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 settlements to-
gether with the friendly tribe to which
the young chief .Wallahalla belonged,
started in pursuit of the foe to rescue the
girl. After a long and tedious march thew
came upon the emmy In the neighborhood
of where Metropolis City, ILL.,, now
stands. A furious battle was fought, in
which the attacking party, headed by
young Wallahalla, dealt death and de-
structiOn to the foe until the ammunition
was exhausted. 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 agony he published to the troops
the following announcement:
l. Andrew Robertson, will give to the
rescuer of my daughter from the hands
OF the Iowas her hand in marriage, LOCO
acres of land. 100 head of cattle and
horses, 100 pounds of powder and two
rifles. ANDREW R~oBERTsoN
Thirty men, warriors and rifemen,
among them Wallahalla. stepped forward
and rendered their services. The girl
was a fortune to any man. The parent
and his trusty friends. with the exception
OF those who were to 60 in pursuit Of the
lowas In search of Agness Robertson,
returned to the settlement OF Little River,
near the place now known as Cadiz, in
Trigg county. KY. to rebuild their huts
aud the stockade which the Indians had
destroyed. Wallahalla separated him.
self from both parties. and by a circui-
tous route wendell his way to the cavern
in search of his beloved Agnes, whom he
found In almost q starving condition.
The full moon shone forth in all her
great splendor on the night of the 25th
Of May as they rose to the surface of the
water and entered their to return
to the arms of the lovely Agnes parent,
and receive the reward and a blessing.
Their advent into the settlement on the
following morning was an occasion of
great rejoicing, f~easting and dancing were
the order for several weeks, and the Young
chief Wallahalla was the toast Of the
country for miles around. He was the
recipient of presents Ct land, horses. cat
sic, skins, etc., to a larger extent than anv
man living since the foundation of the
world OF the nineteen men who stepped
forward to offer their services to Andrew
Robertson. not one returned to give his
experience. and the general impression
existed at that time that they were either
tomahawked or burned at the stake.
Wallahalla married and changed his name
to Robertson. Many OF his descendants
lived in the neighborhood OF what Is now
known as Chrittenden county and Tripg
county, KY. till about the year 1919.
when they removed to eastern Georgia.