The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-10-22
THE GREAT WHAT is IT?
A MARVELLOUS DISCOVERY IN KY.
Strange Feathered Animal Found in q
Cave Near Georgetown, kentucky
Something in the Shape of q
Bird, Beast and Devil.
[Georgetown CKy) Special, Probably by Joe
Mulhatton.l

One Of the most wonderful curioslties
ever seen in this section is now in the pos.
session of Pres I. Pullen, Esq, of this
city. A full description Of this marvellous
"bird or devil" would exhaust the vocabu.
larry of the ornithologist and require
more profound knowledge Of natural his.
tory than the writer possesses. The cir.
cumstances Of its capture, as related to
me, are as follows:
It has been the immemorial custom for
the boys and hoodlums of this city to
make an annual tour Of inspection and
discovery to Johnson's Cave and the
Indian Houses, so-called, which form
group of caverns upon high cliff over
hanging Elkhorn Creek, some three miles
from the city. The first of these caves
takes its name from the fact that Colonel
Richard M. johnson, Indian fighter, slay.
or of Tecumseh and Vice-President Of the
United States, discovered it more than
three-quarters of century ago, while on
one of his hunting expeditions. or the
Indian Houses tradition has 1t that long
before the advent Of the white man in
this region two hostile bands
Of Indians, attracted to the vi.
cinity by the beauty and excel
lence of the hunting and fishing grounds,
came into collision In one Of the many val.
leys near the caverns, and deadly battle
ensued, lasting throughout the day, and
resulting in the defeat and almost annihi
latiCn of the weaker party. The victorious
band pursued the beaten foe with savage
vengeance to the cliffs above, where sud
denly all trace Of the fugltives disappeared
and the party. fearing ambush, returned to
the scene Of the battle, where they in.
dulged in orgies peculiar to them for sew.
eral days, after which they departed tc
Join their tribe north of the Ohio River.
The remnant of the defeated band who had
opportunely discovered the Indian houses
remained many years In their secure re-
treat, after. which they, too, left this re.
gion, leaving behind them many evidence
of their peaceful as we'll as warlike life In
the shape of tomahawks, hints, arrow.
heads, bows and arrows, and other imple-
ments of rude savage existence.
Upon the occasion Of the late tour Of in.
spection by the boys, they were we'll
equip ped with torches and guns, and dc.
termined on more thorough search for
curiosities than any hitherto made. The
caverns, since their abandonment by the
aboriginal occupants, have become the
homes of every species of bird, beast and
reptile known to this region. Formerly
bears and wolves had their abode there,
but latterly foxes, raccoons, oppossums,
weasels, minks and rabbits shared in
common with owls, bats, hawks and other
obscene night birds and reptiles the
gloomy recesses of the caves. The pro-
cession of explorers had scarcely entered
the largest of the caves whom they STUN.
bled over pyramid of bones that marked
the remnant of former feasts indulged at
various times by the wild denizens Of the
place. As they proceeded, and the glare
of torches lighted up the gloomy scene, a
wild scramble for hiding places took pos.
session Of the occupants. 1t was like en-.
tering unpectedly a menagerie, where the
animals had got loose and were holding
convention. The walls hung dark and
frowning on every side, while here and
there huge masses Of rocks blocked the
way, and rendered their advance extreme.
ly difficult. A small stream, rising no
one knows where, runs lengthwise
OF the cavern, and is lost in some remote,
and as yet undiscovered, outlet. Follow.
ing this stream the boys spent several
hours in explorations, with the usual in.
cidents OF such trip. The air became ex
tremely cold as they proceeded, until at
last they came upon subterraneous inner
room, whose entrance was nearly barred
by huge bowlders and debris. A few Of
the most adventurous soon overcame the
difficulties Of the situation, and stood up
right in the. hitherto unexplored and stu.
pendous room.
Their perseverance was soon rewarded
by chorus Of sounds that might have ap-
palled stouter hearts than theirs. They
had gained admittance Unexpectedly TO the
sanctum sanctorum Of as motley collec-
tion OF animals, birds and reptiles as ever
greeted mortal sight. Snakesi There
were thousands Of them; while foxes, rab.
bits and different Representatives Of the
animal kingdom, huddled together In re-
mote corners, eyed with dread and appre.
hension the no less scared and awe-strick.
en- intruders. Over all arose the screech,
clatter and uproar OF thousands Of the
teathered tribe, resenting in discordanl
notes the unwelcome advent Of the stran
gers.
As the boys became accustomed 10 the
strange sights and sounds in the cavern
their fears gradually gave way TO the de
sire q capture some OF the object, sur
rounding them. While engaged in this
exciting pursuit one Of their number sud.
denly came upon the strange creature
forming the subject Of this sketch, and
after terrific struggle IL was secured.
brought to this city, and, as before relat.
cd. became the property OF M. Pullen,
who has natural taste for curiosities OF
every kind. Under his careful nursing 1,
has entirely recovered from injuries sus.
tanned during Its capture, and is now In
perfect health. '' ',
The bird-it II may be 90 called-is abou
the size Of the largest species Of the owl
and It's wings, tail, thighs, legs and fec
very much resemble that midnight prowl
er. With the parts thus referred to the re
semblance to q bird ceases. The head
neck, back and body are the stranges
compound OF many animals IL would b,
possible To imagine. The top Of the heac
and the neck, running back over the body
, are covered with short, downy substance
, not unlike the hirsute covering Of al