The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-06-28

rue SEQUEL 30 AMuRDER--A HAUNTED CAVE
worLp.Bs EXPLORERS FRIGHTENED OFF.

woCLD.BE FxPLoasRs FRIGHTENED OFF.
A letter from Youngstown. Ohio, says !:
Your correspondent having heard certain
rumorx OF the existence OF a haunted cave
and a buried treasure in the vicinity OF
Mount Nebo station. on the Atlantic aud
Pacific road, about six miles from Yeungs-
town, yesterday visited the place in com.
pauv I'm several others. Being directed
70 the gentleman who owns the land on
which the haunted cave Il situated, the
marty HE'D themselves thithcr. The gentle.
man. who lives about bali mile south OF
the station. was found and questioned as 10
the authenticity OF the report concerning me
cave. He at 6rst WAS quite reiicent on tne
subject. but finally, being pressed hard oy
The anxious newsmen, led the way TO IKE
cavern, relating on the way the following
particulars:
Manyy years ago, when the country In the
vicinity Of Mount Nebo was but sparseiy
settled, two men-one peddler ana 'ae
other a friend OF hls--camped one eoid
winters night In the cave. The peddIer
had been to this part OF the country on
trading expedition, and was returning W
the East on foot, with s1S,000-quiie an
amount OF money in these days.-tns. ne
had realized from bis venture. The money
ne carried Ia a Ieathern belt that encircled
his waist. spd II consisted entirely OF gold
coin. His companion was well aware OF
tbis..and concocted a plan to rob, ana, II
necessary, murder the peddler. Accord
iugly. on the night In question. after The
peddler bad gone to sleep, his friend s.oie
40 10 him and tried to disengage the belt
from around bis waist. His efforts awoke
the peddler, who Immediately on becoming
conscious OF the presence OF tho fi'ain
0rnpp,ed with him. The wonld-be MUIR
derer. drawing knife, plunged 1t again ana
again into the body OF his victim. Then
securing the money he buried The corpse IN
the cave, and bid the money in the floor OF
the cavern, six feet from the grave OF the
peddler. Not waiting for daylight, he
struck across the country In the direction
OF Cleveland. The night was bitterly cold
aud the snow deep and soft. He was una
BILE to proceed very far on account OF
numbncss in his feet. He reached a SET
tiers, where 1t was found that both his feet
were frozen. A surgeon was sent Tor ano
amputated both the members. From that
time TO the day Of bis death be was the IN
mate of various almshouses and the object
OF private charity. He kept bis dreadful
secret locked in bis own breast, and revealed
10. 10 no one till on his death-bed 10 Cleye.
land, some twenty years ago, when ne
made bis niece his confidsnte.
That lady with her husband, who, by Inc
way, was in rather sraitened circum-
stances, visited Mount Nebo aud was aD'e
IN find the cave by means OF certain marks
the murderer bad left on the trees in its i'm
mediate vicinity. But now an almost In
surmountable obstacle lstood in the way.
The cave had fallen in, and thirty ton OF
ha al murdered
man and on the buried treasure. Thoroughly
disheartened, and without means OF prose
cutting the search, the niece and her huS-
hand returned to Cleveland. From that
time 10 the present various efforts have been
nut forth 10 unearth the hidden treasure,
but all endesvors have proved fruitless.
Some years ago gentleman who claimed
10 be a Medium visited the spot. He
was gone from his host but short time,
when he returned with his clothes torn and
Dis face terribly lacerated. According to
his statement he was approaching the cave
aud was crossing o grassy plot that over
looks il, when nc felt himself raised With
irresistible force and dashed to the rocky
bed OF the stream.
He was impressed" that if he stayc d
and searched for the gold some one would
be killed inside OF few days. SO he LETT.
A gentleman from Youngstown, with CON-
mendable nerve and courage, visited the
cave at the dead of night, and was peering
into the crevices OF the rock when ghostiy,
wavering light suddenly appeared, having
its source, apparently, under The mass OF
df6riS. He left, too. A party OF gentlemen
from Youngstown built fire near the cave
one autumn night with the intention OF
searching for the gold at midnight, and were
warming their hands on the one side OF the
fire when they were startled by seeing man
standing on the opposite side gazing at them
intently. Immediately aiterwar6 he vanish-
ed into space. They left rather precipi'
tously.
BY the time the narrative was concluded
the party had arrived at the haunted cavern.
A pile Of rocks and rubbish was all that was
TO be seen OF the cave. Excavations have
been made which extended far back under
and through the rock. The host informed
the correspondent that he himself had found
human bones not far from the cave, which
he had no doubt once belonged to the mur'
dered peddler. 1t Is a singular fact that the
trees surrounding the cave are in state oil
premature decay, presenting much the APP
pearance Of having been scourged by fire.
The facts above can be authenticated by
any of the residents OF Mount Nebo. The
gentleman who owns the cave desired bis
name suppressed solely for the reason that
his time Is taken up by his daily duties,
aud he does not wish 10 be bothered by
traasnra-eeekars and iuOiliriuQ cOrresDOn