The National tribune., 1886-08-05

Discoveries Of Jackson Fishing Party at Browns
Cutoff.

Jackson Miss.l State Ledger1
The fishing party of gentlemen which went
from this city last week to Browns Cutoff on
Pearl River, 80 miles above here, encountered
more startling experiences than they dreamed
Of when they left. The cutoff is in the shape
of a half circle, and is thought to have been at
one time part of the channel of the river. it
is about one and q half miles long, about 100
yards wide, and its two ends are within 200
yards of the present channel of the river
Within the limits of this half-circle and be-
tween the main body of the cutoff and the
river is embraced an area of perhaps 500 acres
Of land covered with dense growth of tim
Der and large cane common to many Of our
swamps.
This almost impenetrable swamp is five miles
from the nearest settlement, and rarely. if
ever, since the war has there been human
track made upon its soil, until the gentlemen
composing the fishing party set out to explore
its jungles during their visit TO the cutoff last
week. When they had about satisfied their in
clinat:on to ramble in the depths of the swamp
they sat down at the roots of spreading beech
tree, where they made a discovery which sud
denly dispelled all feelings Of WEAKNESS Lean
ing upon the roots of the tree and half covered
with the soil and rotten leaves they found the
rusted remains OF an army musket, and prosecut-
ing their investigation further they found, near
where the gun lay, the skeleton Of a man, the
rotted remains of n leather belt, eartridge-bo
and knapsack, a pair of leather boots still upon
the feet of the skeleton, and number of brass
buttons still partially hanging to what was de-
eided to have been the uniform of United
States soldier. Upon the buttons were stamped
the American eagle and the letters " U. ).
Near the skeleton, but detached from the belt,
were two leather scabbards, each containing a
large army pistol. Upon the brass plates Of
the belt and cartridge box were the same let
tiers u. s." Within the cartridgc-box were a
number of cartridges and quantity of musxet-
caps. But on the inside of the tin-lined cap
box articles Of still greater interest were found
In the eap-box were a Masonic badge square
and eompa5s), q silver watch, small plain
gold ring lock Of golden hair and the badly
/ faded remains of piece of manuscript, which
unfortunately was illegible On the inside OF
the watch case was scratched in rude letters j.
I Il. StOneman, Co. A, - n. Y. Regt," and on the
/ inside Of the ring, From Mary" Upon the
/ bark Of the tree, near the roots, were cut the
same letters as those in the watches The
| skeleton was doubtless that Of Union soldier,
and all are now settled in the belief that the
unfortunate man died either from starvation on
disease during the war. How he came to wan
der in this dense swamp no one can explain,
I except upon the conjecture that he became de-
tached from the main army and wandered
! there to prevent his capture.
\ So absorbed became the gentlemen in their
/ CHASTITY find that all else was forgotten, and
after burying the bones Of the unfortunate sol
/ der they sought their camp and Immediately
made preparations to return home. determined
/ to spare no effort to discover the family or
I friends of the poor man who persisted in this
trackless forest. The gun and other articles
/ found with the skeleton are now ia the pos
session of Mr. Thomas Wharton, at the post
Office, where they can be seen by those curious
/ to inspect them.