The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1886-05-07


came alarmed for the safety of her
riches, which, tradition says, consisted
of large sums of gold and silver. So
she took her money one night and with
the aid of her servant carried it to
certain place in a dark, dreary ravine
few hundred yards from the house, and
there, in the side of the hill under
huge overhanging mass of rocks,
digged a hole and buried the money.
Well, the war finally ended and the
boys came. Both were grief-stricken
to find their aged mother near deaths
door. She called them to her bedside
and told them where she had hidden
the money, and instructed them to go
after she was dead, as die she must,
and get the money and divide it equally
between them. Mrs. TOris died a few
days later, and after she had been
decently buried the boys went one day
to get their treasure. They easily
found the place and set to work, but
had not worked long before a dispute
arose as to who should have the largest
share of the money. The older one
| claimed the largest portion by virtue Of
his age, while the younger claimed an
equal share by their mothers will.
| They became angry and finally fell to
| blows, when the elder of the boys sank
to the ground with a pick driven
through his head by his younger broth
er. Appalled, at his awful crime, the
murderer did not stay 20 finish the
task Of digging up the gold, but fled
the country, Since then several par
ties have been there to dig for the hid
den treasure, but are as often fright
ened away by the sound of angry
voices, then blows followed by pite-
Gus cry and dull fall. These are sue
| ceeded by the sound of rapid footsteps,
| but the adventurer is too much frighten-
ed by this time to stay and see whether
the footsteps are advancing or retreat
/ ing, but himself makes a rapid retreat.
"There, you have the story. You
can believe it or not, as you like.
| hardly know what to believe, for have
heard some pretty strong testimony to
sustain it. -
"And have you lived here all these
years and never convinced yourself of
/ the truth or falsity of this strange
| stOry?" L asked, in some surprise.
''Well, yes, sir, he said, with a faint
smile. II never took fancy to ghost
/ hunting, and in this instance have con-
/ tented myself with the testimony of my
neighbors, several of whom aver that
| they have seen and heard all 1 have
told you"
"And you have never been to the
placer" 1 asked.
sob, yes, several times, in the day
time; but never to look for the buried
gold"
Il should like very much to see the
! place." l said, ''and if you do not
mind walking over there with me in
the morning l should esteem it 8
favor"
Il will go with you, Mr.. Montague, -
he said, rather slowly, "but l think you
would not enjoy the trip. The way is
very rough, and really you will see
nothing but hole dug by the side of a
large rock which Overhangs the
gulch."
/ saw very plainly that Mr. Wetherly
| did not care to go and 1 disliked to
press him to do so, but / was deter
mined to visit the ''haunted hollow"
as it was called.
ooh, I shan't mind the walk in the
least" L replied, ''but if you prefer not
to 60, can easily find the way alone
! by your direction"
II will 90 with you," he replied,
You would not easily find the place
without a guide"
1t being late, I arose, and bidding
Mr.. Wetherly good night, with the
| promise TO be up early in the morning,
was shown to my room, where 1 spent
a very comfortable night.
| / arose early the next morning and
/ sat down in my room and ruminated
for some time over the incidents of the
| preceding night, and especially over
/ story of the haunted hollow"
| MY hosts reluctance to visit the
I
mind that probably there was another
| mystery connected with that gulch
which Mr.. Wetherly did not care to
have investigated.
Going down stairs, 1 found my host
seated by the fire, spoke to him in q
pleasant, jovial way, to which he re-
| spOnded rather gruffiy, imagined.
Soon, however, breakfast was an
nOunced, and we went in. Mrs. Weth.
erly and her daughter were there, but
both of the boys were absent.
To my question as to what luck the
boys had, my host responded that they
had not yet returned; that he supposed
they had stayed all night with some Of
the neighbors.
Mr.. Wetherly was evidently tout OIL
sorts" and uncOmmunicative, and no
ticed that he cast occasional furtivt
chances toward a path that led from the
house.
"Well," said I, Il suppose we viii
pay a visit to the hollow this morn
ing"
''If you still desire to CO." said he
81 will go with you, but L am of the
opinion that you will be disappointed. .
"Oh, 1 guess not, said L; "anyhov
my desire to go is as strong as ever.
Breakfast over, Mr.. Wetherly had
my horse brought out as / requested
for 1 had decided to take him along
and continue my journey without re
turning to the House. After OBTAINING
me for some time on various pretexts
Mr.. Wetherly announced his READINGS!
to accompany me, and we set out.
walking and leading my horse. Before
we had proceeded far we met one o
the boys, whose eyes were red, his face
begrimed, and who had the general ap
pearance of one who had been up al
night around a camp fire. This inciden
served to strengthen my suspicious, anC
/ involuntarily felt for my revolver, TO
did not know what was in store fOl
me in the haunted hollow"
We proceeded along in almost un
broken silence until we arrived at
deep, dark gulch between two largu
hills, which were covered with heavl
growth of large hickory nut and whit,
oak trees and thick underbrush.
You had better hitch your hors
here" said Mr.. Wetherly, land W,
will 90 on up the ravine. 1t is not far
I and you would find great difficulty il
. getting your horse along"
! picketed my horse and we proceeded
up that rugged, rocky ravine, Mr.
Wetherly acting as guide. 1t was al
awfully rough place. Great lodges o
. | mnss-cnvered rncks here and ther.