Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-07-04
SMUGGLERS' CAVE.

4 IL
Every variety Of scenery is presented Il
the view OF the visitor as he glides over
the surface of the lake--mountains. val.
leys and undulating plain, Jagged rocks
and cultivated fields, pretty little vii.
lagos nesting in the valleys and stately
summer residences of Canadian and
American millionaires. The lake isdot.
Ted with manyislands, large and small
the most important of which is Province
island, on which is marked the bound.
AIRY line dividing the United States
from Canada This, too, is the only is.
land in the lake that has any sign Of
habitation. TWAS purchased some years
ago by Mr.. Zabriski of New York, who
erected handsome summer residence
near its cunter, and as one end Of his
island home is in the Dominion and the
other under the sway Of the stars and
stripes he can celebrate Dominion day
on one part of his dominions and indie.
pendence day on the other.
1t is not my intention to extol the
beauties of the lake, but merely to re-
late one of the many legends concerning
it which are told by ''old residents =
This legend concerns SINNERS island
opposite Owls Head, or, more properly
speaking, SINNERS cave, situated at
one end of the island. Any one who has
visited the lake will reoollect it, From
the deck of the steamer the cave looks
like an open doorway But from the
deck of steamer is not the best way to
see it, and determined to examine it
more closely While stopping at Owls
Head L took rowboat, and in company
with an old fisherman, started to ex-
plore the cave. But / was sadly disap-
pointed, for instead Of seeing large
cavern capable Of holding a cargo Of
struggled goods, as ! was led to sup
pose, the opening was barely large
enough to contain cur boat, and it was
impossible for us to stand upright at the
farthest end. The cave was worth visit
ing, however, being completely lined
with dwarf growth of weeds, the rays
Of the sun, shining on the water and
rejecting upon the sides, giving it all
the colors of the rainbow. A snake or
two lay coiled up i'll some of the crey
ices, while minnows sported at its
mouth. / was about to express my as
constituent to my guide at the small.
ness of the place when he forestalled
me with the remark:
"Well, sir, what do you think of it'''
why" / returned, II am disap.
pointed. expected to see quite large
cave, but soc only small hole in the
rock. Where is the storehouse of the
famous Skinner? Where the place
where he used to keep his arms and
ammunition? Where the dungeon where
he confined his captives?'
''Hold on, sir, " said my guide, and
will tell you the story as it was told
to me by my father. OF course cannot
vouch for the truth of all the details, as
ho was not q witness of the occurrences.
We drew the boat TO the mouth OF the
cave, seated ourselves, lighted our pipes
and my guide spoke as follows;
SAT the beginning of the present cen
tury smuggling was extensively carried
on both ways across the border but
principally from the United States into
Canada, and many a bold ADVENTURE
entered into the business. One OF the
boldest of these was Captain John Skin.
ner. He was an Englishman and early
in his career commanded sort of pr.
vateer that used to smuggle goods from
different ports in the United States and
Canada. He had associated with him
band of the boldest spirits of the time.
James Jackson, his lieutenant, was wont
to declare that he cared neither Tor
man nor devil. How it came about
do not know, but Captain Skinner ios1
his ship, and when next heard OF here
together with several members OF nls
crew, including Jackson, settled on tne
Vermont border, half of his house being
situated in Stanstead county, Canada
and half in Derby, VT. He kept whas
was supposed to be general store pu'
it soon got to be noised abroad that the
place was a rendezvous for the most no
torious of the smugglers. Itwas known
that large quantities of goods were taksn
into the store but nobody ever saw
them come ont again.
1T was known that the smugglefs
must have some secret hiding place 70
store their goods, but nothing oouia pe
discovered. Officers were constantly ~
the watch, the place was raideai "
footsteps Of Skinner and his band wefs
logged whenever they left the old store
rewards were offered by both govern
ments, but all without avail. Inc nis
ing place remained secret.
Meanwhile, however, other eVens
were happening in skinner 81 stoFe-
events that subsequently led up r. : $
narkable denouement. The captain nav
a daughter, very handsome girl -
,ering on IS years of age Mary osin
ner was a fayorite with every nlenips'
Of the rough band and. fn her 80
appeared To treat all the band iiapa.
TALLY. III she had any preference y
given to Will Blake, q fair hl..s
young Irishman, who had joined 90 a
ner on his last cruise and had reni'linsr