The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-07-14
AN OLD CHESTNUT
DONE OVER FOR THE SUMNER
OF 1855.
There In Too Much Cut Stene, and
Nicely Laid PaVFmcnIs ana
PetriHed Men and Horses.

The Boomerang, publ shed at Fulton,
Ky, is a wide awake, newsy paper,
and reasonably reliable at least, ordi-
nariy its statement would be entitled
to belief, but its slave story, it must
be confst sed, smacks of the Mulhatton
variety to such degree that it is well
TO take 1t with feveral degrees OF al
lowance. 1t is, nevertheless, a good
yarn, and rs The Boomerang man is
personally responsible, ss well as 70.
liable, the american IepIoduces that
papers last sensation, which Ia as fol-
lows:
Col. John A. Preutiss, who resides
nine m les east OF Fulton upon what
is known rs the young Daniel
Boone" farm, has Just discovered n
cave that surpas ses in interest the
Mammoth Cays OF this State. The
discovery was made accidentally in
this manner: Col. Prentiss had a
very fine Jersey COW that hadn't
come no for several days, and becom.
ing uneasy about her, he saddled his
horse and, with nis shepherd dog, set
out to hunt her. When about a mile
from the house and in his large woods
lot, he was attracted to sink in tho
ground by the barking oil his dog, and
upon arriving there found his
cow unable TO extIicate herself.
Finding he could do nothing
acne towards releasing her, he went
to the house and soon returned with n
lot of farm hands, whom he set to
work digging slanting trench. Work
was progressing nicely until they got
within few feet OF the COW, when the
earth began to give way. The work.
men succeeded in getting out before
the cave in, but not moment too
soon. The COW went with the dirt,
and was pTecipitated twenty feet
The Colonel and his men could zee the
animal below, but were unable to do
anything. So Col. Prentiss sent the
team to the house for n ladder, and
upon its arrival he descended il, and
to his surprise found a large, square
room about 40x40 feet, lie Mt once
summoned the men, who were as
much surprised as himself. The COW
was soon hoisted out, and Col. PrentiHs
hHu lllb bbb w NOIh w tAIlOIb
the cave, finding the results we shall
speak Of later on. Thus it was the
cave was found. News was brought
to this office Thursday, and we hired
a livery team and were upon the
scene in short while. There were
about 500 people there in advance Of
us, but when we made known to Col,
Prentiss the object OF our visit, he
very politely escorted us through the
cave. The first thing we noted was
the large room, 40x40 feet, the walls
of which are stone and exhibit some
fine carving on the sides. The top is
covered by what appears to be COM
position, and the ceiling Is supported
by four mammoth pillars of carved
stone. There is nothing particularly
attractive in this chamber, 30 we pass
on to the next, which Is sepa-
rated from this by a narrow passage
about three and half feet wide,
and seemingly about 30 feet high,
leading to a small room about ID feet
square. Here we found the petrifed
bodies of sixteen men, some in sitting
pastures ana others stretched upon
the floor. Each body had become a
part of the stone, and could only be
separated with difficulty. In the cen
ter Of this room are frying pan, a few
iron cups and other cooking vessels,
and what resembles pair OF cooking
toDgs, but the latter are almost de-
stroyed by decay. In the northeast
corner OF this room are shelves
that were chiseled out OF
the stone, and laying there
on were the barrels OF nineteen flint
lock guns and seventeen old fashioned
pistols, the wood work having decsyed.
The only resemblance Of the petrified
bodies to human beings is the shape,
as every other resemblance has long
since left them. As our space in this
issue is limited, we paes on to the next
room, the most beautiful yet discov-
cred. This room is 80 feet square,
with stone elevation 0x1G feet and 1
feet high, built in the center. Here
we found a banjo VERY much
unlike the banjo Of the present
day, a violin and a triangle, but al.
most decayed. The triangle, how
ever, was in a good state OF preserva-
ton. There is not foot tquare OF
this immense room but what has seen
the sculptor's chise, and the work is
for ahead Of any thing Of the kind we
see in these days. The figures are
principally wild animals and birds,
hut 81 a tnatttV that Uo1ld faacinatp