The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1885-03-27
MURRELL'S DEN.
A Strange Story from Carol COun-
ty, Tennessee.

Huntingdon, Tenn, Feb. 12.-
On the 1lth inst, we lett Hunting
don for the southwest portion OF
this county for few days bird and
squirrel hunt, having for oar COM
paniOn A. Nj. Lee. Being securely
seated behind two forty (bOurs)
thoroughbred, we were soou Oh our
bunting ground, it being in the iG-
mediate vicinity where we were
both born aud raised, as IA matter
of course we were well acquainted
with the woods. While following
a rocky branch, known as the Gin
branch, we came TO where it skirt
ed The margin of "a high hill, our
setter, Charlie, made dash at the
rabbit aud both rabbit and Charlie
disappeared in the hill. The en-
trance was what we supposed to be
a crevice in the rocks, as the mar
gin of the hill Was covered with
large sand rocks; in moment the
bats came pouring out by the hun
dTedS; the weather being chilly
they fell to the ground in stnpor
as soon 9s the air struck them
their slumbers had been disturbed
by the dog. We were enjoying
the fan, when, TO our asIOniShment,
several large born owls came flop
ping Out-one gave a dismal hO0t
as though he had not seen daylight
in years, or wished to frighten us
away. Becoming uneasy for fear
our dog could not return, Mr.. Lee
went to the entrance Of the cave,
taking a pole and probing some SIX
feet, he found it made an abrupt
angle 10 the right; the opening
was barely sufficient for a common
sized man to enter; he grOped his
way until it became so dark that
he returned aud revealed the ter
rible news that it opened out into
what he believed to be a large hall,
and that he could hear Charlie run
ming around and whining, as
though he was lost aud could not
find his way out. We sent to a
neighbOriug house and procured a
lantern, determined to rescue Char
lie at all hazards. with lantern in
hand we both entered, compelled
to crawl on hands aud knees for
some distance before we could walk
erect the entrance turned first to
the right then TO the left, in zig
zag form; finally We met Charlie
and his bark, as it echoed and re-
echoed astonisbed MS TO such an
extent that we raised our lantern
over our heads, which threw "A
bright light around. We stood
dumb for "a moment; we were
shocked aud hOrIified the sur
rOuudIngs were revealed I; we were
in a large room, ceiled Oh sides aud
overhead with rude clapboardS.
Before us set a large table with "A
mutilated pack OF cards in the cen
tire; heavy wooden chairs around |
the table; a couple OF large and |
rough shop made knives on one
corner. As soOu as we could col |
lect our senses and calm our stag |
gered brain we found we were in a
secret cave that had once been Oc-
cupied by "A band of outlaws, but
who or when, was the question. |
In surveying the room, which was
1Sx1S. We found, in one corner, "a
black something; holding the
light close, our blood was chilled |
it was large, black man, his skin
and flesh dry as those who, in an
cieut days, were given passage over |
Sharon large aud rough made |
chain WAS locked around his ankle |
aud fastened to staple in the floor. |
Iu the opposite corner lay the dried |
frame OF two huge blood hounds,
in an old and heavy wooden box |
was found two fashioned horse |
pistols with flint locks; they had |
undoubtedly done service ia the
revolution there was also several
pairs of handouts. 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.
1922 We we're in the
great outlaws den; we could then
see that the man chained had been
stolen by the bold bandit-brought
there aud chained until they could
run him South and sell him. The
is that when the cave
was deserted he was alive; the
doom was sure but what agony be
nderwent-chalned aud alone
bis face like Millions devil, sgrinned
horribly a ghaStly smile.' The
blood hounds bad been kept for the
purpose of recapturing any slave
hat might escape. AS we we're
about making our exit our cOmpan-
on, Lee called our attention, Ia ag
excited manner, to another object.
We turned around and be was male
lnd the lauern trembling i'm his
laud; be pointed under the table.
md there lay the form and dried
rame of another human being.
Examining close It proved to be
hat OF once beautiful female.
Sue too was chsined. She bad died
J horrible death-starved to death. ,
Her long, yellow hair still elung in
.Olden tresses over her bosom that
lnce beaved with the breath OF life,
hough now cold her once ruby
lps we're parted so as disclose a set
4 pearly teeth. How came she la
robbers deui She could NOS