The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-12-14

MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF PURE
GOLD AND SILVER.

Grant, who very rarely sought the haunts
or habitations of white men. His ostensi-
BILE occupation was prospecting for precious
metals, but the fact of his long and unin-
terrupted residence in these wilds pointed
to the fact of his non-suecess in that direc-
tion. Mr.. Grant was in this city a few
days since, and the following is an extract
from his wonderful and interesting history !:
He is a native of Bourbon county, Ken
tucky, having been .borns there in 1926
He was sent to Harvard College, where he
graduated in 1916, second in his class, In
1851 lie was admitted to practice in the Su-
preme Cour. of Kentucky. He enjoyed a
lucrative practice in that city until the
breaking out of the rebellion, when he en-
tered the Confederate service, receiving a
commission as Major in one of the Ken
tucky regiments. In the meantime Grant
had married and gathered little family
around him. These he at that time had
taken to the southern portion Of Kentucky,
and placed them under tho protection of
relatives.
When The war ended he pictured to him
self in rapturous delight the happiness that
would fall 20 his lot when he could once
again gaze upon The faces of his loving
wife and dear children. lie took passage
for Southern Kentucky. Upon arriving ut
the spot where his hopes and happiness
were centered, there awaited him nothing
but, a mass of charred ruins. The strong
man Gismounted from his horse and sat
down upon the ground, weeping like "a
child. He learned that about a wear before
the close OF the war a small band of strap-
CLING troops had infested that portion of
Kentucky, and that the family of Grant
had been murdered, and the incendiary
torch was brought into play. In the early
spring of 1866 he engaged passage in a
mule train which was then about crossing
the plains, and afterward arrived in this
State, and emigrated to the most extreme
southern end Of the Walker river noun
tains, where he has been existing ever
since, only a. rare intervals seeing the de-
tested face Of a white man.
4 number of the Walker river tribe
looked mp TO him with great reverence
supposug him TO be endowed with super
natural powers. About two months ago
one of these Indians, who had been a re-
cipiept of special favors at the hands of
Grant, desirous of exhibiting his gratitude
requested our hero to accompany him on a
two days ramble through the mountains
and he would show him a cave wonderful
ly rich it'll gold and silver. What direc
tion of the compass the party followed
Grant is reluctant about revealing At
all events, after travelling about two DAYS
and half, our hero and his compau on
arrived at dusk one evening in a narrow
canon, or mountain gorge, enclosed on
either side by rugged, steep mountains.
In this vicinity, the Indian said, the cave
was located. y camp fire was lighted, and
while Grant vas cooking supper his COM
panion went in search Of the exact location
of the cave, SO that no time would be lost
in finding it i'll the morning. The Indian
returned with joy imprinted upon his cop
per-cololed features, and inSparted to
Grant the satisfactory tidings that lie had
found the cave without difficulty, and that
Notwithstanding the darkness which then
prevailed, the interior Of this wonderful
vault was as light as noonday. At All early
hour next morning after travelling in this
canon, which Is many miles i'll length, for
an horr, or may be little less, the Indian
pointed TO pile of granite of immmense
weight stacked up against the cragged
side OF monster mountain, and told
Grant that by removing the boulders an
entrance to the cave could be effected.
The two men Immediately set to work at
their herculeau task, which occupied them
nearly two hours When the obstruction
was removed. all that could be seen WAS
an opening leading into the mountain, of
dimensions only great enough TO admit the
bodies of two largely developed men but
the interior was as dark as Erebus
Grant ventured into this opening to the
distance Of ABOUT ten feet, but the utensi-
ty of the darkness precluded him from
seeing his hands before his face. lie cried
out TO his companion for some burning
sage brush, which was immediately thrust
into the cave, but, strange to relate, this
artificial IghI would not illuminate the
darkness. Here WAS nice pass. Grant
emerged from his subterraucan visit and
consulted with his semi-savagc companion
as to the most expedient means to be en-
ployed III The emergency it was useless
TO seek FOR gold or anything else in SO
dark place where artificial hight proved
of no avail. The Indian then repeated is
story of the illumination which he saw in
the cave the preceding night. Although
TINS yarn sounded rather improbable in
the ears OF an intelligent white man, yet
the Indian was SO earnest and sincere, to
al! outward appearances that our hero de-
cided to remain until the stars came out
and determine whether there was any
truth in his companions fabulous narra-
t1On. 1he men returned to the CAMPING
ground OF the previous night and brouch
their traps to the mouth of the mysterious
cave. 1t seemed as if that day would
never draw to close, SO great was Grant S
lmpatlence but as twilight was approach
ing a slight glimmer was discernable a.
the mouth of the vault, vet the blacklist
darkness mortal ever beheld was still hold
ing sway therein. But gradually, as night
was falling, an unnatural light was making
Itself apparent, and at Q clock that eyen-
ing ray OF brilliant MONDAY light shot
out from The opening of that wonderful
MONDAY subterranean passage. For the
hrst time in many years Grant gave vent
tn shout of delight. The Indians tale
OF seeming fiction and probability was true.
Ihe sight was SO grand, SO wonderful and
SO magnificent, that for few moments
Grant was rooted to the ground by a com.
oinauon OF terror and admiration. After
awhile be and companion entered the cave.
out the night was SO piercing and brilliant
That Tor few seconds :he pair could see
nothing their vision seemed to be lost :.
but gradually their eyes became accustom'
ed to the unnatural brilliancy of light, and
the sight which met their gaze no person
eau depict. The walls and ceiling of this
passage were covered with burnished gold
and silver, the bulk of which comprised
thousands IF tons. Grant relates that the