Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-11-11
CAVE JEWELLERS.

caves in which the deserters from the
Confederate army lived
After the Confederate ranks were
.hlnned by the desperate fighting OF
1861, the lines of the deserter fell in
hard places. The Richmond govern
ment set energetically to work to bring
every avaible man to the front. Presi-
dent Davis by proclamation urged
every man to hasten to his country 8
defense, and promised pardon for all
past delinquency, provided the often
der now hastened to do his duty.
Stringent orders and threats of punish
ment infused energy into the officers of
the home guard. Detschments of Con-
federate troops visited the neighbor-
hood at short and irregular intervals,
while the homes of the deserters were
watched and repeatedly searched.
Then it was that the deserters, as we
called all who shlrked military duty,
whether they had ever actually been in
the army or not, had recourse to amode
of hiding which they had learned from
runaway slaves. The fugitive in this
region having neither the swamps of
the Last nor the mountains of the
West for refuge, like all hard-run crea-
lures naturally took to earth. He
either enlarged and concealed some
natural cavity, or dug cave in which
he hid by day, to sally out under cover
of darkness in quest of poultry, pigs,
sheep, fruit, roasting ears, water
melons, and other good things In sea-
son. If he feared pursuit by dogs, he
rubbed the soles of his feet with onions
Or odorous herbs in order to confuse
the scent. If moderately wary or skill
full, he found little difficulty IN remain
ing ''out" till the crops were "laid by
and all the heavy work was over, or
TIL cold weather drove him back to q
snugger berth in the quarters.
The deserter made vast improve.
ment on the burrow of the runaway
negro. His cave was larger, better
constructed, and better appointed than
its prototype, but not better concealed.
Banding together IN squads of two or
three, some unfrequented place would
be chosen, generally on a hillside to
avoid moisture, and as near a stream
as practicable, for the easiest and
safest way Of dIsposing of the earth
thrown up In digging the pit was to
dump 1t in running water. The site
being carefully selected and recon-
noitred from every possible way of ap-
proach, watch was set, and work was
begun and pressed with the utmost dis
patch.
First the leaves or pine-needles were
raked back and space ''lined of, +"
usually six by eight feet, but often con-
siderably larger. Then the ubiquitous
bedquiIt was spread to catch every par
ticle of the tell-tale clay, and grubbing
hoes, spades, and all available lmple-
ments were put in rapid motion. As
any prolongation of the work increased
the danger of discovery, the object was
to get it dug and oDcealed at the ear
liest possible moment. Every hand
that could be trusted, --old men, women,
and children,-wasc called in to assist.
To these auxiliaries fell the hardest
part of the task, that of disposing of
the dirt, which of course could not be
left near the cave. This was generally
"toted" away in buckets and piggins
and dumped in the adjacent stream,
and as the direction from which the
cave was approached had to be con-
stantly changed lest the faintest vestige
of path should betray the spot, the
labor of transporting eight or ten cubic
yards of earth IN this primitive fashion
was no light undertaking.
The proper depth, commonly about
six feet, being attained, fireplace was
cut in the earthen sides of the cave and
connected with fue cut through the
adjacent earth. Across the pit, and
slightly below the surface were then
placed stout poles, on these the roof of
pine boards, while over all the earth
and leaves were carefully replaced SO
as to conceal all signs of having been
disturbed. Pine-needles made a very
good carpet. A bed was constructed
oy driving forked stakes into the
ground, snd upon these were laid
small poles topped with pine boughs.
Sometimes cupboard" was cut in
;he earthsn walls.
What gave the cave-dwelIer most
concern was the disposal of the smoke
rom his chimney. Even under the
pest of circumstances, in the fairest,
warmest weather, and in the driest
soil, a cave was dismal abode. There
vas a darkness, a chilliness, a strange
and Srave-like silence down there,
which made fire, the only light obtain
able in those hard times, an indispen-
sable companion. When rainy weather
came, and the walls oozed water, only
heat made it habitable. Care was
taken to use the driest and most smoke
less fuel, but as even that, though burnt
ever SO sparingly in the daytime,
would cause some smoke, various plans
were hit upon to minimize the danger
of betrayal from this source. When
practicable, the cave would be dug near
q dead tree, which was first blackened
by fire, unless one could be found al
ready partially burned by the chance
fire of some coon or opossum hunter.
Failing this, an old tree-stump, after
being charred, was ingeniously planted
over the chimney mouth so that the
smoke might rise through or around 1t
The object of these devices was, of
course, that, should any unfriendly
eye discover the smoke, it would be at
tributed to one of the accidental nres
which sometimes smouldered in dead
timber for weeks at time. But, as a
rule, the occupants. putting their de-
pendence on good eyesight and legs,
would, when no especial danger was
apprehended, betske themselves to the
woods during the day, and use the
SdNSs OuiS dS SlcOpihS pidCSS- AbuSSu,
few of the deserters took refuge under
ground except in cases of pressing
need, which, toward the last, were very
frequent.
Entrance to the cave was usually hao
by means of small trap-door in the
roof, in the concealment of which much
care and ingenuity were also expended.
In addition to the leaves always kept
on 1t, tree would often be felled over
the spot, the bougbs serving not only
to screen the entrance from view, but
likewise to lessen the danger of any
one walking directly over the cave. As
it was sll-important that no trace of a
path should be seen thereabout, the
trunk of the tree afforded safe walk
way, care being taken always to ap-
proach it from different directions
The presence of a newly felled tree.
like burning one, attracted Little sus-
oicion, being charged to the negro,
)possum hunter.
Nine hundred tons OF green peas