St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1893-12-09

ST. TAMMA
Il IN sure DEATH HOLLOW.
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Stories and incidents Of mountain ex.
periences come % frequently from the
west that most people. and especially
the average readers. forget that the
east has some mountains with q dan
Igerous passes and scenes of ~ thrilling
experiences - the great Rocky noun
tainA The Blue Ridge mountains Of
VirGinia have some Iolmost impassa BILE
placeA The mountain caves arc the
homes Of auimals common to such To-
calities, and in reptiles they are. to say
the least, ''rich." The ravines and
precipices are something awful to BE-
hold.
In that part Of the valley from Berry
vile (near the famous Luray caverns)
down to Winchester may be found some
hne hunting and fishing resorts, yet
they are surrounded BY impregnable
passes, ravines. precipices and other
dangerous places, which. II not known
to the hunter and fisherman. may cost
him dear.
A lack Of knowledge Of this region
was the result of . terrible experience
to . certain well-known and popular
clerk in one Of the large government
departments 1t Washington. Being In
this vicinity during his annual vaea-
ton several years ago, the gentleman
started out one 6ne morning in Sep
tembcr with rife and fishing rod,
mounted on . sure-footed beast-one
that was thoroughly used to the rough
and rocky mountain paths
Having reached . place ON ono Of the
mountain streams that he had visited
before. he whiled away some little time
angling, but soon tired Of this sport
and started out for larger game, in the
meantime turning his horse to Rrsxe
In . meadow-like place near st hand.
thinking surely he would return before
dark.
Time passed quickly, and before he
was aware Of It darkness was upon him
and he had wandered some distance.
His first thought was to the direction
TO take to get to his horse and return
to his hotel, located near Berryville.
But he was about In the Ak mariner
would be on the high seas without Q
compass
The night grew darker and darker
and he wandered aimlessly on, hoping
and trusting he might be ON the right
gath. But fate was against him.
Suddenly . terrible sight met his
eyes and IN awful combination of hiss
ing, bowling and shrieking fell upon
his ears At turn in the marrow path |
he looked over the precipice into Q |
veritable ditch and all he could see
was what to him looked like thousands |
Of green eyea And he was making
preparations to move on as rapidly rs |
possible when he remembered that he |
had lost his way and was liable to |
step into this pit 1t any moment
What could he do? Below him were
thousands Of savage beasts and venom
ous reptiles, any one Of which could |
have mastered him in his then ex.
hausted condition.
Finally the distracted and uncon-
scious hunter knew nothing more of
his horrible surrouudineA having
tainted from fright.
Not returning to his lodge that night,
some Of the older residents of the Vi
cinity started out to search for him.
All day long they hunted the caves and
other retreats for hunters in that re-
gion, and il was not until near dusk that
one section Of tho party came upon
what they thought was the corpse of
the wanderer.
Calling in the rest Of the party with
their horns, they applied stimulants
and brought him to consciousuesa
Asked about his horse he was unable
to speak, being absolutely paralyzed
from fright. He was carried to . vehi-
ele left at the nearest point to the point
by wagon Of any sort, and
y ken to his lodge where . physician
vas summoned; hut itwas several days
before he could speak word, and the
only way he could express himself Was
BY the word lawful" /" oft Sepe ated IN
his then semi-deiirious condition.
His faithful horse was found where
eft and was evidently more Of mou n
Eaineer than his rider.
The pit of wild beasts and reptiles.
" hich had frightened almost to death
he subject Of this sketch was known
% the older settlers q ''Sure Death
Hollow" and rightly named IL was.
90; for In that den was to be found
.very species Of snake known in the
section and also savage animals, any
me of which would have been more
han . match for . single human being.
anless he was . sure shot and . man of I
,nheard of nerve.
As to the victim Of this terrible night,
le was months recovering from the
and was granted IN extra
esve Of absence by his department. in
rider that he might journey 70 the sea-
hore, where hunters are not seen. Il
, useless 70 say that he has never since
AIKEN . mountain trip alone or with
'nyone else.-St Louis Republic.
rhE ENGLISH DON'T LIKE ".
asy cAar.sssssss - sAspGsspsrs RUE ,
- sAs Ags q Dis1g1fs0sse
The world il ruled BY the shop :
Keeper, and the shopkeeper's handiest
seepoa II advertisement In his de-
to make himself notorious
e II quite - shaDeleo - the proSes-
lonal beauty O. the labor candidate.
10 no impudenee 10 too high, % NO .
rtif3ce IN too low for his amhition. I'll