The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1890-06-21
SKELETON IN A GAVE.
Relics of the War of the Rebellion
Found on the Banks OF the
Missouri.
| From the N. Y. HeraId.I

From the N. Y. Hersld.I
Kansas City, NO., June 5, 1904
few days ago some boys were fishing in
the Missouri river near the historic
town of Wayne City, few miles below
| here, and in their rambles I'm the neigh
borhood scared up fox, which made
dash through what seemed to be q
clump of underbrush growing on the
side of the bluff. The boys got sticks
aud stones and started to rout the ami
NAL out, but TO their surprise found
that the bushes were the covering 10
the mouth OF cave, the existence of
which had never been known to any of
the people around there. The bushes
were torn away aud the boys began to
explore. When they had gone in about
fifty feet they found that the passage
had narrowed so that they would have
to crawl if they proceeded, and as they
were afraid to venture they went home
and told OF the discovery.
Last Sunday an exploring party was
formed and the cave was visited. After
crawling through narrow passageway
for about fifty feet the party came to O
large chamber about ten or twelve feet
in height and about thirty feet In length
and breadth. In this open chamber
was found the skeleton OF man, W hich
had been torn and strewed about by
some animal. In one corner of the place
was q pile of old musket barrels. with
the stocks worm eaten and rotting
away. Lying near the guns was
haversack, and on the haversack was
al old memorandum book yellow with
age aud bearing the date OF April z,
1868. 1t had evidently been the pro-
perty of the man whose skeleton had
been LEFT In the cave. The first entry
was as follows:-
"We were shelled by the federals
from up the river In a gunboat."
On the next page was the entry:
"We had skirmish with the federaIs
at the landing After strong fight they
were beaten off,
On the next few pages of the book
were memoranda of sums OF money,
and what were apparently extracts of
letters and books which seemed to have
been written from memory. Then came
the entry
81 am wounded In the left side and
the rest of the boys were run off. Jim
has gone for q doctor, but he can't
save-."
The man probably had only strength
enough to lay down his book. for this
was the last entry.
Among the old settlers of this neigh.
borhood this incident calls to mind the
battle which took place at Wayne City
on the date mentioned in the book.
There has always been something of Q
mystery connected with this battle
which the discovery OF this cave clears
up. The battle was brought about by
curious incident. A farmer named
Peter Julian, who was strong Union
sympathiZer ana afterward command
ed company OF state troops, was cut
ting some frewood on the bluff and
was working on massive oak tree.
At last the tree fell and crashed down
the side OF the bluff with noise re-
sembling that Of the discharge of bat
terry of artillery. Just at that moment
q boat loaded with German soldiers
from Kansas City passed down the
stream, and the captain at once jumped
to the conclusion that he was being
shelled by the rebels.
A six FOUNDER was the only cannon
carried on the boat, and this was at
once brought into action and the face
of the bluff shelied with the hope of
dislodging the enemy. A few hours
later the German troops dlsembarked
at Wayne City, but no sooner had they
landed than they were attacked by q
force OF confederates who disappeared
as mysteriously as they came, ,snd 1t has
always been matter of conjecture as
to where they came from and where
they went. II had been q long time
since any rebels had been seen in the
neighborhood. Captain Julian now
lives six miles north of Independence,
but has never known of the cave which
seems to have been the secret resort of
the few men who made use of il during
the stormy period of the wal.