The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-02-25
THE CAVE OF THE FAMOUS MUIR.
RELL GANG FOUND.
The Bony Remains of a Negro Man,
White Woman and two Blood
hounds Fastened to the Cavern
Walls.

lUNT1NGDoN, Tenn, February 49,
On the llth instant, we left Huntingdon
Tor the Southwestern portion Of this
County for a few days bird and squirrel
hunt, having for our companion a. ii.
Lee, the acknowledged prince Of post
masters and let us say when Hunting
don loses him she will lose postmas-
ter that has pleased every one without
dissenting voice. His duplicate can
not be found. Being securely seated
behind two-forty (hour) thorough
bred, we were sc Oh on our hunting
ground, it being in the immediate v;cn-
lty where VIC were both born and raised,
| as Il matter OF course we were we'll ac-
qulnted with the woods. While follow
ing rocky branch. known as the Gin
Branch, we came to where it skirted tho
margin Of n high hill, our setter, Char
lie made dash at a rabbit md both
rabbit and Charlie disappeared in the
| / III. Phe entrance was what we suppos-
cd to bc crcvicc in the rocks, as the
margin Of the hill was covered with
large sand rocks; in q moment the bats
| came pouring out by the hundreds tho
weather being chilly they fell to the
ground i'll 4 slupor as soon as the air
struck thcm-thcir slumbcrS had been
disturbed by the dog. We were enjoy
ing the fun when, to our astonishmcnt,
several large horn n-owls came Hopping
| out-onc gave II dismal hoot as though
he had not seen daylight in years, or
wished to frighen us away. Becoming
uneasy for fear our dog could not re-
turn, Mr.. Lee went to the entrance Of
the cave, taking pole and probing some
six feet, he found it made an abrupt
angle to the right, the opening was
barely sufficient FOR common-sized
man to enter; he CROPPED his way until
1t became 80 dark that he rctunsd and
revealed the terrible news that it opened
out into what he believed to be large
hall, and that he could hear Charlie run
ming and whining, as though he was lost
and could not find his way out. We
sent to n nciShboring house and procured
a lantern. determined to rescue Charlie
ut all hazards With lantern in hand
VIC both entered, compelled to crawl on
hands and knees for some distance be-
fore we could walk erect; the entrance
turned tilst to the right, then to the
left, i'll zigzag form; finally We met
Charlie and his bark, rs it echoed and
rc-cchocd, astoniShcd us TO such an
extent that we raised our lantern over
our heads, which threw bright light
around. We stood dumb for moment:
were shocked and horrificd: the sur
roundings were revealed; we were in Z
large room, cciled on sides and overhead
with rude clapboardS. Before us set
large table with mutilatcd pack Of
cards in the centre; heavy wooden chairs
around the table; couple OF large and
rough shop-made knives Oh one corner.
4
and calm our staggered brain we found
we were in i secret cave that had once
been occupied by band Of outlaws, but
veying the room, which was lSx18, wo
holding the! light close. our blood WAS
skii, anu hesh .i,,. az those who. In an
cicnt days, were given -p.-,-.nra ,oye-
Sharon; large and rough made -ahaih :
was locked around his anklo and fasten-
ed to Il staple in the floor. In the opposite
lay the dried frames Of two hugo
in an old and heavy
wooden box was found two old-fnshioned
horse pistols with Hint locks; ihryhad un-
done service in the revolutions:
there was also several pair of handcuffs.
We began to think that we were in the
regions Of the damned. When looking
on the rough wall there we saw "the
1t was John A. MUIR
rell, 1925" We were in the great
outlaws den; we could then Sec that tho
man chained had been stolen by tn. bold
there and chained until
they could run lin South and sell him.
The presumption is that when the cave
was deserted he wnx alive; the doom
was sure, but what agony he underwent
chained and alone-his face like Mil
tons devil, ''grinn-d horribly ghas,ly
smile" Tho bloodhounds had been
kept for the purpose Of recapturing any
slave that might escape. As we''wore
about making our exit our companion,
Lee, called our attention, in an excited
manner, to another object. We turned
around, and no was pale and the lantern
trembling in his hand; he pointed under
the table, and there lay the form and
dried frame Of another human being.
Examining close it proved to be that Of
a once beautiful female. She too was
chained. She had died horrible death
to death. Hor long yellow
hair still clung to the dry skin on her
head, which hung in golden tresses over
her bosom that once hcaved with the
br, ath Of life. though now cold; her
once ruby lips were parted so az to dis
close a set of pcarly teeth. How came
she in robbers den? She could not
have been victem to Cupid's dart ifso
why chain her? She undoubtedly had
been kidnapped and held for ransom.
Bnt our hearts grow sick rs We write
several letters were found Of a suspicious
character, but as they contain the Names
of people in Middle Tennessee, wa do.
cline to give their contents.
The discovery Of the den has caused
great excitement in tho neighborhood.
Numbers have visited the place, and u
few have vehturcd in. Mr.. w. C.. Blair,
on whose land the cave il, refused to
have anything disturbed until the people
could see it. He permitted A. M. lee
to remove the dragon pistols, which
have John A. Murrelrs initials stamped
on the barrels. Any person wishing to
see them can can on him at the postoffico