The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1879-05-29
RANDOM THOUGHTS.
BY THE EDITOR.

1t was six years ago-May, 1873, that
discovered the caves down Salt Creek,
and took my family there for days en-
joyment On last Thursday, May 3d.
we went again. The morning was cloudy
and quite cool, but by nine o'clock it had
cleared up, and the day was cool through
out, yet clear and pleasant
We arrived before nine, being taken
down the creek by Delays and Burt's
conveyances. I never saw the old Chilli
cothe road in so fine condition.
During our delightful day, we were
talking about the persons who had COM
posed our company on former expedi-
tions. Since our first trip, six years ago.
there have been five deaths in the fami
ly. AS this is written to be seen by the
children of the expedition long after
shall be gone, 1 will enroll the names of
those composing the company There
was my oldest daughter, Octavia Hawk,
and her husband, Samuel Smith Hawk,
and their three children, Mollie Steece
Hawk, Edith Hawk and Warren Stanley
Hawk. My second daughter, Elvira
Rhodes, Charles Percy Rhodes, Harriet
Rhodes and Arthur Mackley Rhodes, and
her hired girl, Miss Anna Jones. Then
my son John Henry Mackley, his wife
Lottie Mackley. and her sister, Miss Fan
ME Hilliker. My sons children, Stephen
Davis Mackley, Nellie Mackley Harry
Steece Mackley and Laura Mackley.-
Then my other son, David Lewis Evans
Mackley, his lwife Ella, and their little
girl Ada. Then there was Tom Powers,
the devil of the Standard office, and Ar
tie Monahan, son of the late Dr. A. B.
Monahan.
Having with us four stout boys, from
eleven to fifteen years of age, we had
them carry our baskets of provisions and
dishes from the road up to the caves. The
dry weather had destroyed one of the
waterfalls, which so much added to the
loveliness of the place; but the northern
division of the rocks still had stream of
pure water pouring down into the great
basin at the foot of the cliffs.
At ten o'clock I built fire at the side
of stump, and after it had burned into
a great bed of Goals, the boys brought
up water, and two coffee pots were filled,
the water heated, and plenty of coffee
made. We had milk and sugar to finish
it. The women spread cloths upon the
ground and got out the provisions Oh
what good dinner
After dinner we all moved down from
the rocks to nice level place, where the
ground was dry. We older ones rested
and talked, while the children and young
er folks climbed the steep hills, gathering
ferns, wild flowers, shells, pebbles, &c
We could hear their merry voices, laugh
ter and happy songs, away up among the
cliffs. I will never forget the voice of
Tom Powers, as it is just turning from
the voice of boy to that of man. Tom
was happy Then Nellie, Hattie and
Edith got behind some rocks, and while
the birds sang among the trees overhead,
these dear little girls joined in songs no
less innocent.
Up on the steep hill north west of us
we heard shout: "Oh come up here;
this is the most beautiful place yet" We
all went up, and there we found some of
our young folks upon kind of shelf in
the cliff, extending some distance along
its edge. At one end of this table rock
was kind of recess, worn by water in
ages past, and in this recess was a rock
very much resembling the head of an el-
ephant, tusks, trunk and all.
Reader, did you ever sit down and rea.