Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-06-18

The latter 10 one VI the nost noted
places oa the river During 1850 and
ISL history records that band II river
pirates. uuder the command of an out
law named Mason. made this their head
quarters. from whence they sailed forth
a. rob and murder river boatmen.
STORY of the lsivcr Pirate.
The governor II Mississippi put
price II $50 % Mason's head One at
the hand named Harp. turned traitor.
shot Mason. cut OH his head and carried
II Ia the capital. where he was paid the
reward Mason went by the name II
John A. Murrcll. known ~ the famous
river pirate. and this historic Cave in
the Rock - also called ''Aurrcli Cave
The scenery IL beautiful and the rock
imposingiy romantic. At one time dur
ing tho late war . whole regiment of
Union soIsiiers were stationed in this
wonderful cave.
John A. MurreIl had another hiding
place ia Cumberland Gap. which wis
also called after him. though at times il
wss called ~ieiser Cave" from which
he and his gang waylaid the merch ants
II that country, who were then obliged
10 pass through the gap carrying their
stores. merchandise and other yaluables
Of the day on the backs IL mules and
mountain horses. Through this gap
CROSSES the hnc Il threc states Ken
lucky. Tennessee and Virginia
We viritcsl this cave during the un-
pleasant engagement IL tSi and "a. and
struck camp here. remaining for about
one month. during the siege of Knox
vile. We entered the cave one morn
ing ut sunrise. with half candles. The
passage ways were many and yaried,
and the apartments numerous, some of
them beautiful in their formation. dec
Grated with clear crystal construction OF
staixctites. sfalagmites and mighty
tights. Our party became separated. we
ls~t our bearings. some OF the candles
burned out and We were entombed for
the day. We would BE- obliged Ia write
at length in order Ia describe the excite
ment. the bright as well as gloomy
thoughts Many have gone through the
same experience. and we afterwards
learned that one visitor had never come
out IL il. We succeeded in making our
way out Just at shutdown. and found
that our regiment had been called TO
march for battle. We followed them
and finally caught up at Clinch river.
But We are DEPRESSING from the main
subject and will now return to our main
trip.
Elizabethtown. Illinois, Golconda. Hi
nois. and Smithiand. Kentucky. arc
passed. These are all good river ship
ping points The mouth III the Cumber-
land river enters the Ohio at the latter
place. Its length is Goo miles
still Passiug Downward.
We pass Hanletsburg aud go To Pa
ducah, Ny. 10 miles below the mouth Of
the Cumberland. 900 miles below Gin
cinnati. 60 below Louisville. and 80
miles above Cairo. Paducah is one 81
the most important cities on the river
route. Ii is situated just below the
mouth 81 the Tennessee river. which
mingles with the Ohio above the city.
The Tennessee Is 500 miles hong and
navigable Ia Chattanooga. some 600
miles. hearing south east
Pasiucah bears the name IT an Indian
chief who once lived in the neighbor-
hood On account 81 the favorable To-
cation Il the city. being at the coniiu
ence 81 two great rivers. u was point
IL much Importance during the late
war FOR both armies. though early &C
cupied aud kept in possession by the
Federal troops.
We pass brooklyn. and stop at Me-
tropoiis. I'LL. which IL quite a numbering
district and a large shipping point Tor
various farming products. We now
make a stretch ~ 20 miles Ia Mound
City. H.. which was the site Of the u.
s. River Navy yard during the civil
war.
Cairo lies nine miles below Mound
City. This Is the most important point
on the river. not in beauty nor popula-
ton. hut owing t. its location. II IL
situated upon the point ~ land formed
by the confluence ~ the Ohio aud Mis-
<i~-ippi rivers and IL the extreme south
crn point 90 Illinois II Is subject "a
food when either and especially both II
the two great rivers start un rampage
Every steamer plying between places on
the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. OF be
tween psrts upon the Upper and Lover
Mississippi. stop nj Cairo Ia receive and
discharge freight and passengers. The
buildings erected here by the general
/ government are large aud handsome. -
1 pecsally the cBstorn house. which ~ Il
/ cut stone aud cost something over $40.
ca. - Ne ueFe todd. Cairo IL noted a. 4
great grain shipping point 81 the sugar
plantations 81 the south. This part II
eovatfy - generally known as Egypt.
the land ~ corn and plenty. During tbs
civil war Cairo was an important sup
! ply dept
upeo the Mississippi
The steamer remained hong enough d
give passengers an opportunity a. yIss
the city and take a Last glance al th'
! Ohio before entering the lower Nis
@sseippi river We took n six.usile triv
GA the electfie cars and visited mos
~ the public holdings. being Sundal
evening se sas the people go 10 church
! cfs~~snx from their homes IN sinai
sklfYs and dug out csnoee- Many ~ ~.
h1u-rs we're unslsr water and abandoned
sooe hal little bridges built from th'
eiesst~d streets into their sseOad
stories Many - the small houses arr
built on sfiits The three main avenues
Csmnrsesal. Washington ADD Wslaui
are hsxh sfr~st~. eel paved. ansl -ali Z
be- si<a.e high, water mark. Tie taif'
hssiu- ero~~rs rne mile stase the city
IL - esssi b. ~ the h,asest bridge N th'
wvri.i IL i seur miier long and said !.
lie EIGHT wst~s firm the tsa estfena
approaches shIeh ran along the rive
ksaks co both .sssr~.
TIE sster es= high 90 ear trip. 90
BOT had t-r~s ssi<s hsrxlng hesvy freight
before ss ssashe~i The tsisszs. sai sfo'
esrsfssl ssessssemenfs. = = A. fssni TIA
she eosili nd pa-~ ansiss the tsidss
esss stth kef ssoesr stacks iossses'