The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-02-26
CHAINED SKELETONS.
The Cave of the Famous Murreli Gang
Found,
Correspondence Nashuiile World.

l ~N~ oA shV Eohoub EkuEkett SdtnI
| Found.
| Correspondence Nashville World.
HUNTINGDON, TENN, Feb. Is.
On the llth instant We left Hunting
don for the Southwestern portion of thi,
County for few days' bird and squirrel
hunt, having for our companion A. NJ
Lee, the acknowledged prince of post
masters. Being securely seated behind
a two forty (hours) thoroughbred, we
were soon on our hunting ground. it be.
ing in the immediate vicinity where we
were both born and raised, as a matter
OF course we were well acquainted with
the woods. While following a rocky
branch, known as the Gin Branch, we
came to where 1t skirted the m margin of a
high hill, our setter. Charlie, made q
dash at the rabbit, and both rabbit and
Charlie disappeared in the hill. The en-.
trance was what we supposed TO be q
crevice 10 the rocks, as the margin Uf the
hill was covered with large sand rocks ;
10 moment the bats came pouring out
by the hundreds; the weather being
chilly they fell to the ground in a saupor
as aoon rs the air struck theni-t,Ieir
s!umbers had been disturbed by the dog.
We were enjoying the fun when, to our
astonishment, several large horn owls
came Hopping ont-one gave q dismal
hoot as though he had not seen daylight
IN years. or wished to frighten US away.
Becoming uneasy for fear our dog could
not return, Dir. Lee went to the entrance
OF The cave, taking pole aud probing
some ak feet, he found it mado an ABRUPT
angle to the right; the opening WAS
barely sufficient for q common sized man
to enter; he groped his way until it be-.
came 30 dark that no returned and re
vealed the terrible news that it opened
out into what he believed TO be q large
hall, and that he could hear Charlie run
ning around and whining, az though he
was Lost and could not find his way out.
We sent to neighboring house and pro
cured n lantern, determined 10 rescue
Charlie ut all hazards. With lantern in
hand we both entered, compelled to crawl
on hands and knees for some distance
before we could walk erect che entrance
turned first TO the right, then to the left,
In zigzag form; finally we met Charlie,
and his bark, ~ it echoed and ro.echoed,
antonlshed us TO such an extent that we
raised our lantern over our heads, which
threw bright light around. We stood
dumb Tor moment; We wero shocked
and Mortified; the surroundings were re.
vealed; we were In o large room, cejled
on sides and overhead with rude clap
boards. Before us ees large table with
mutilated pack of cards in the centre !;
heavy wooden chairs around the table; q
couple of large aud rough shop made
knives on one corner. AS uuon as we
could collect our senses and calm our
staggered brain we found wo were in q
secret cave that had once been occupied
ny band Of outlaws, but who or when,
was the question. In surveying the
room, which WAS 1918, We found, in one
corner, q black sonething; holding the
light close, our blood waa chilled Il was
large black man, his skin and flesh dry
as those who, In ancient days, were given
passage over Sharon; n large and rough
made chain WAS locked around his ankle
and fastened to staple in the floor. In
the Opposite corner lay the dried frames
Of two huge bloodhounds in an old and
heavy wooden bog was found two old
fashioned horse pistols with flint locks {;
they had undoubtedly done service in the
revolution there was also several pair
OF haudcuffs. We began to think that
we we're in the regions of the damned.
When looking on the rough wall there
we saw "ths handwriting" It was
John A. Murreii, 1929" We were in
the great outlaws den we could then
see that the man chained had been sto,en
by the bold bandit brought there and
chained until they could run him South
and sell him. The presumption In that
when the cave was deserted he was alive !;
the doom was sure, but what agony he
underweut-chained and alone-his face
like Millions devil, "glinned horribly a
ghastly SMILE" The bloodEounds had
been kept for the purpose of recapturipg
any slave that might escape. As we
were about making our exit our compan. !.
ion, Lee, called our attention, In an ex
cited manner, to another object. We
turned around and he was pale and the
lantern trembling in his hand he point.
ed under the table, and there lay the
form and dried frame of another human
being. Examining close IL proved to be
that Of once beautiful female. She too
was chained, She bad died horrible
death--starved to death. Her long yel
low hair still clung TO the dry akin on
her head, which hung in golden tresses
over her bosom that once heaved with
the breath Of life. though now cold her
once ruby lips were parted so as to dis.
close set of pearly teeth. How came
she in robbers den7 She could no.
have been victim to Cupid's dart; il
20. why chain herr She undoubtedly
bad been kidnapped aud held for ran.
som. But our hearts grow aick as we
write several letters were found of q
suspicious character, but as they contain
the names of people In Middle Tennes.
see, we decline to give their contents.
The discovery Of the den has caused
great excitement in the neighborhoad. .
Numbers have visited the place, and q
few have ventured in. Mr.. w. O. Blair,
on whose land the cave 10, refused to
have anything disturbed until the people
could see it. He permitted A. II. Lee
to remove the dragoon pistols, which
bave John A. Murrell's initials stamped
or the barrels. Any person wishing to
see them can call on him at the postoffice
In Huntingdon, where he will take great
pleasure In showing them.
Tho Prlcel .ssness OF DIan.