Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-04-01

come from out tho Stygian blackness
and saw his light returning. Tho journey
had been successfully accomplished by
him, and we all prepared 70 cross over.
We had been paying out the Irvine as
We proceeded. and now it was discovered
that tho end OF it had been reached.
Tupps then went back 10 the falls to
break il al that point, as this portion OF
the route was straight, and IL was not
probable we would lose our way on the
return. When he came back we sll
started across, with Brakeman in
front. The ledge was entirely under
water, but in no place more than one
foot below the surface. Tie face OF the
rock was smooth and from twelve to
eighteen inches in width. We pro-
ceeded cautiously slongthe crooked path
way, feeling with our poles before
making a step. Tupps had no pole, and
soon we heard loud splash as his bulky
form fell into the water. "Take my
run" was his first exclamation, as his
head appeared on the surface and he was
seen clinging to the rock. Lane relieved
him of the weapon, which was found to
be dry, and he climbed up again. With
out further mishap we reached the shore,
and. as well as we were able to judge,
found that the gulf was about six hun
dred yards in length. It's width we were
unable to determine. Here we put on
our shoes, which had been removed,
and, fastening the end Of the string to
a rock, proceeded on our journey.
THE FIRE CHAMBER.
Our course was now upward, and walk
ing was difficult The ground was wet
and muddy, and the passage WAS almost
choked up in some places by earth and
fallen rocks. But we were stimulated
by the thought that we were climbing
towards daylight, and walked or crawled
along as fast as possible. AT length our
feet struck solid ground again, and we
had suddenly entered another large
chamber. This apartment was octa-
gonal in shape, and nearly two hundred
wards from side to side. The floor was
hard and dry, and the roof could not be
seen by the light from our lanterns.
Near the place at which we had en-
tered there was large pile of light
wood and considerable quantity OF a
substance which we found to be pitch.
In the centre of the room stood high
altar OF stone with steps leading up to 1t.
Nearly fifty small affairs were found en-
circling the apartment Lets make a
fire" said Lane, and the suggestion was
carried into execution. Gathering arms
full of hght-wood, and rolling large
mass of pitch to the altar in the centre,
we piled up the fuel and applied a
match. Soon the flames were leaping
high towards the roof. and Tupps, who
had climbed upon the altar, was en-
veloped in cloud Of steam ascend
ing from his wet clothing. "Look "
said Tupps, holding up a human
skull. We did look and the whole
scene WIS weird and impressive.
The flames were shooting high in
the air and strange objects were re-
vealed by the lurid glare. The walls Of
the cavern and the roof were momentum
ly brought to view and then suddenly
disappeared. Fantastic pictures were
thrown upon the background OF dark
ness, and uncouth forms of men and
beasts stood out from the rocky walls.
Above us in blaze of light was the
huge form of Tupps, holding in his
hands the evidence of mans mortality.
On examination It was seen that the top
of the altar was concave, and raking
away tho ashes We found many calcined
human bones.
CAPTAIN JOHN SMITHS ROMANCE.
While walking around the altar one OF
the party struck his foot against an OBJ
iect which had been lying within the
shadow Of the steps, and it rolled out
into the light with metallic sound. II
was found to be copper box, about Blk
bv four inches and one inch deep. AT
each end there were places through
which a belt might pass, and thus strap
it to the waist. Opening this box we
found some letters scratched on the in
side OF the lid, and by the freight read
the words "Captaine John Smith his
Cartouch." The contents OF the box
were then examined. First we found
a small brass-bound pocket-compass,
and next a parcel wrapped with black
silk. Removing this covering q small
piece OF parchment was seen, and IN this
a long tress Of dark-brown hair. On the
parchment these words we're written
"Dorothea Harlow Virtuous, Adora'
bic. but Unstable who affected to re-
gard We Estimation of her Ardent Ad
mirer. but disdained ye True Love OF yt
Souldier for ye frippish fancy OF Titled
RIVAL, and sent her Disconsolated True
Knighte to perish in this Heathernt
Land by We handle OF SalyageS."
At the bottom of the box we found
another writing. The ink was faded
and the paper much mutilsted. Hold
ing it up to the light we finally decipher
ed most of the writing. which ran as fol
lows:
A LETTER FROM CAPTAIN SMITH.
amos; Illvstriovs, And Most Noble:-
Forasmych 10 a TIVE and Faithful accompt'
| OF oil my Adventures In this Hestherne Gown
| trie hath come vnder We reach OF my own'
rovgn Pen, praie Yovr Grace 70 give ave DIM
! gence TO We same, and not sette doWne bgalns
| me vt aught ia written in Ill conceit or VAN
! Glory. Concerning divers 1ryalls and Adyen
| tvres In these Parts there we're mamie TO WIZ
ness bvt OF my Perille and safe Deliveranco from
ye crvell Death az ye hands Of Powhaian AND
! his Salvages there ~ none 10 b6are Witnesse saw
We Salvages themselves and Pokahuntas Wit
| did save my life, and she from Modestie dot
not Discourse Of the matter My present Adven
tyre In ye Cave Of salvage Prestes, and ye man.
extremities OF my sityacion in Perills OF Win'
and Water and OF fire have all been Trvly sett
downe but leaste diverse persons shoyld max
| impytacion vt such Relation Is wanting Proofe
and a knowledge Of Crveltes by ye Indian
shovld DO a prevention from settleinge by man
others in these lorraine lands, ] praie loy
/ Grace will daigne 10 yse Critticks Art II
making pvblick such parts Of ye presen
| Writings as will preserve We Reputation Of Acto
and Relator, and promote ye Glory Of God. Ii
| We present weaknesse There seyere
| sentences are illegibe.l bvt with al
| FncrRie and Care 10 compass ye proteckt
Yovr Grace, his Most Faithful and Deyote'
/ Servant JOhN SMllh'
9TH. January 1907.
After reading this letter our desire +
explore every portion of the cavern wa
greatly increased, but this was impracti
cable at the time, as we found more thai
a dozen passages leading in different di
| roctions A large 0uantity of fuel wa