Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-02-24
GH0STLY GUARDS.
BlOOd-Stained Treasure Which Spooks
Are Said TO Wateh-Why Dittman's
Gold Bine Remains
UnWOrked-The History OF a Cruel Crime
An Assassin's Horrible Expiation
A Strange Story.

youngstown tOl Dispatch to Cincinnati Enquirer
| In the side OF q ravIne near the village of
Mount Nebo, ten miles southeast of this city,
is a cave which is an object of horror to the
supersiitious and OF peculiar interest to the
adventurously inclined.
One night twenty years ago, SO the story
goes, two men sought shelter in the cave
from a binding snow-storm. One was
simple minded old peddler who for years
had supplied the farmhouses in the vicinity
with his wares, which he carried in pack
upon his back. The other was a friend
whom he had long known and whom he had
met an hour before, belated like himself and
seeking shelter from the storm.
Once in the cave, a blazing fire was soon
started, which effectually shut out the cold
blasts of wind and snow, and the two men
prepared to pass the night as comfortably as
possible. The peddier drew from his pocket
handful of money, and, after counting it,
slipped 1t into a money-belt which he wore
about his waist. He made no effort 10 con-
ceal the fact that the belt was heavy with
gold, and talked simply and unsuspect-
ingly as a child of the time, soon coming,
when he could forsake his pack forever, and,
with the money he had saved, end his days
in peace and comfort. After readjusting the
belt about his waist he laid down and was
soon fast asleep, his pack serving him for a
pillow.
His companion, whom the sight of gold
had excited to desperation, feigned sleep
until tine breathing of the peddler assured
him OF his complete unconsciousness. Salts
fed of this, the man, his eyes glittering
fiercely in-the freight, drew from his pocket
a large clasp-knife, opened the blade and
drove it with devilish precision into the
sleeper's heart.
1t was all over in a moment. The dark
blood gushed from the wound in a thick
stream, there was nervous twitching of the
hands, the eyelids half opened, and the eyes
turned inwardly, the neck stiffened and drew
the head back, and all was rigid and still
again.
drew it out, wet and Shiny with blood. He
hastily poured the gold out AND looked at it,
and ran it through his hands. In the fas-
cination of the gold he forgot all else, and
only remembered the crime and the victim
when a stream of blooi trickled down the
corpse's breast and formed in a pool where
the gold lay. Then consciousness of his
position flashed upon him, and he tossed the
body into the darkness in the back part of
the cave, and with the bloody clasp-knife dug
a hole and buried the gold for which be had
paid so terrible price.
He would not remain in the cave with the
body of his murdered friend, and he rushed
out into the snow, intending to return some
time and recsver the fortune-for there were
thousands of dollars in the peddler's hoard.
The clasp-knife he still retained, and with it
he "blszed" trees along his path, 80 that he
might be a5le to find his way to the cave
more easily on his return.
A month later he was lying in hospital
at Cleveland, haggard and helpless. He had
been found in the snow, miles away from the |
scene OF his crime, so badly frozen that |
of his hands and feet was per-
formed in desperate effort to save his life. |
wi Ga had rod far ,..Io |
that the object of their sympathy |
was murderer.
He fingered in the hospital for months, |
and then they told him he must die. The |
OF the crime which he was ex- |
plating so terrible became too much for him |
to bear. He sent for his niece, to whom he |
told the story, and died.
Scarcely waiting to see the MANNED body |
Of the murderer consigned to the grave, the |
niece and her husband fastened to Mount
Nebo and made inquiries concerning the dis
appearance of the peddler. By means of the
olazed trees which the murderer had de-
'cribed they found the cave, only to discover
hat its walls and rock had fallen in and
barred up the entrance. The husband set at
work. assisted by firm hands who lived in
he vicinity, 10 remove the rocks. After
hey had progressed a few feet they were |
tartled by unearthly voices and lights that
ounded and cleaned through assures in the
'ocks from the darkness in the interior of the
,avern. The exploring party Immediately
Ibandoned the work, and a moment later the
ocks again fell in, filling up anew the space
which had been excayated.
Since then many unsuccessful attempts
ave been made to open the cave. One was
y Mr.. Conrad Di tmar, who owns the prem
ses upon which the cave is situated. He
eclares the place is undoubtedly haunted,
nd testified to having heard and seen the
oices and lights which frightened the first
Exploring party.
A party of four men, living near Mount
sebo, attempted to open the entrance, and
ad the temerity to camp out over night at
be mouth of the cave. After dark, while
itting around their camp. fire, They dis
nctly saw the ghostly figure of a man
landing few feet from them. Upon being
ddressed the figure faded away into nothing
ess. The hair of one of the party became
lstantly white, and a day or so later he
led, 30 they say. The survivors declare |
nat the figure they saw corresponded ex-
city to the descriptions OF the murdered
eddler given by those who remember him.
ne individual who ventured to the place
fter dark exhibited scars and bruises for
eeks afterward in proof of his story that
e had been picked up bodily by unseen
ands and tossed into the creek that runs
long the bottom of the Iavine.
A spirit medium" who visited the place
lid that the fortune would not be recovered |
II many years to come.
The trees standing on the hillside imme-
lately around the cave are black and life
IS, and have the appearance of having
cen burned with fire.
The story of the murder is we'll authenti- :
tied, and the ghost stories are implicitly be-
eyed by the residents of Mount Nebo and
cinity