The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1890-05-24
MuaRgLLs DEN.
A Strange story from Carroll coualy
Iennessee.

4
World.
On the llth of February we
left Huntington for the southwest
portion of this county for few
days bird and squirrel hunt. hay
ing for our companion A. NJ. Lee.
Beng securely seated behind
two forty (hours) thoroughbred.
we were soon on our hunting
ground, it being il the immediate
vicinity where we were both born
and raised. as a matter Of course
we were well acquainted with the
woods. While following Il rocky
branch known as the Gin branch,
we came to where it stlrtcd the
margin Of d high hill, our setter.
Charlie, made dash at 4 rabbit
and both rabbit aud Charlie dis.
appeared IN the hill. The en-
trance was what we supposed to
be cfeyice 10 the rocks, as the
margin Of the hull was caycsrd
with large sand rocks; in mo.
men: the bats came pouring cat
/ BY lie hundreds; TIE weather be-
ing chilly they fell to the ground
IN stupor as soon as the ar
struck them-thew slumbers had
been disturbed BY the dog. We
were enjoying the fun, when, to
our astonlshment, several large
horn owls came tapping out-one
gave a dismal boot rs though lie
had not seen daylight IN years, or
wished to frighten US away. Be
coming uneasy for fear our dog
could not return, Mr.. Lee went
to the entrance Of the cave, TAX
ing pole ana probing six feet
he found it made an abrupt angie
to the night: the opening was
barely sulIicien. ior a common sized
man to enter; he CROPPED his way
untli 1t became 50 dark that he
returned and revealed the terrible
news that it opened out nlo what
he believed to be Il large hall, and
that hecould hear Charlie running
avound and whining, as though he
was lost AMI could not fud hs
way out We sent to q neighbor-
ing house and procured a lantern,
Determined 10 rescue Charlie at
all hazards. With lantern III
hand We both entered, compelled
! to crawl on hands d lloees for
! some distance before we could
walk erect the entrance turned
first to the rght thea 70 The lett,
, in zlgzag form; finally We met
Charlie, and his park, as it echoed
, ana lcechoeJ, astuulshed u3 to
( such au extent that we raised our
lantern over our heads, whlcl
t threw a bright Fight around. We
G stood dumb for a moment; We
D were shocked and horriiied: the
/, surroundings were revealed; we
: were IN a large room celled on
: sidss anu overhead with rude clap
= boards. Before Us set large
9 table with a mulilated pack Of
] cards in the centre heavy wooden
t chars around the table; a couple
. of rough shop-made knives in ont
U corner. As soon as We could col
lect our senses and calm our stag
gered BRAN we found we were in
secret cave that had once been
occupied by a band Of outlaws,
n but who or when, was the ques.
G tion. In surveying the room
0 which was 18xlS, we found il
one corner black something
, holding the light close, our blood
i was chilled; it was large, black
: man, his skin and flesh dry nj
r. those who, il ancient days, wtr,
given passage over Sharon;
u large and rough made cham wa
3 locked around his ankle aud fas
? tened to a staple in the floor. Ii
l. the opposite corner lay the drIet
d frame of two huge blood hounds
d 10 an old and heavy wooden boz
was found two old Fashioned
G horse pistols with flint locks; the,
had undoubtedly done service il
Il the revolution; there was ais,
several pairs Of handouts. W
) began to think that we were i
the regions of the damned. Whc
looking on the rough wall Their
70 we saw ''the handwriting" /
81 was "John A. Murrel, 1928
% We were in the great outlaw
l. den; we could then see that I'll
man chained had been stolen b
j. the bold bandit, brought there an
chained until they could ran hlr
a, South and sell him The prC
sumption is that when the cav
was deserted he was alive; th
doom was sure but what agon
!; he underwent-chmncd and alon
~ his face, like MIIton's dow