Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-04-03
SMUGGLERSi CAVE.

The Indian name means Beautl1ul
Water, and beautiful water it truly is.
Every variety of scenery is presented to
the view of the visitor as he glides over
the surface of the elake-mountains, val
leys and undulating plain, Jagged rocks
and cultivated fields, pretty little viii
lagos nesting in the valleys and stately
summer residences of Canadian and
American millionaires. The lake is dot
ted with many islands, large and small,
the most important of which is Province
island, on which is marked the bound
ary line dividing the United States
from Canada. This. too, is the only is
land in the lake that has any sign of
habitation. 1t was purchased some years
ago by Mr. Zabriski of New York, who
erected a handsome summer residence
near its center, 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 Inde-
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. Skinner's cave, situated at
one end of the island. Auy one who has
visited the lake will recollect it. From
the deck of the steamer the cave looks
like an open doorway. But from the
deck of a steamer is not the best way to
see it, and | determined to examine it
more closely While stopping at Owls
Head took a 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 cargo of
smuggled goods. as 1 was lei to sup
pose, the opening was barely large
enough to contain our 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 in some of the crew
ices, while minnows sported at its
mouth. was about to express my as
tonishment 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," I returned, 81 am disap-
pointed. expected to see quite large
cave, but see 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 captivos?'
''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
he was not 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:
cat 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 bold adventurer
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 prl-
vateer that used to smuggle goods from
different ports in the United States and
Canada. He had associated with him a
band of the boldest spirits of the time.
James jackson, his lieutenant. was won't
to declare that 'he cared neither for
man nor devil. How it came about I
do not know, but Captain Skinner lost
his ship, and when next heard of here,
together with several members of his
crew, including jackson, settled on the
Vermont border, half of his house being
situated in Stanstead county, Canada,
and half in Derby, Vt. He kept what
was supposed to be a general store, but
it soon got to be noised abroad that the
place was q rendezvous for the most no.
torious of the smugglers. 1t was known
that large quantities of goods were taken
into the store but nobody ever saw
them come out again.
"It was known that the smugglers
must have some secret hiding place to
store their goods, but nothing could be
discovered. Officers were constantly ON
the watch, the place was raided, the
footsteps of Skinner and his band were
dogged whenever they left the old store,
rewards were offered by both govern
ments, but all without avail. The hid
ing place remained secret.
meanwhile, however, other events
were happening in Skinner's store
events that subsequently led up to ro-
markable denouement. The captain had
a daughter, q very handsome girl, bor-
dering on Is years Of age. Mary Skin
ner was favorite with every member
of the rough band and, for her part,
appeared to treat all the band impair
TALLY. If she had any preference, it was
given to Will Blake, fair haired
young Irishman, who had joined Skin
ner Oh his last cruise and had remained
with him when he gave up seafaring
life. Will made no secret OF his adlni-
faticn Ct Mary and thereby incurred the
enmity of jackson, the lieutenant, who,
as he boasted to his boon companions,
had sworn to make the girl his wife
Mary contented herself with treating
Jackson with indifference or passing off
his many compliments in laughing
manner.
'sThere had been an apparent o3ssa-
ton of vigilance on the part of the GUS
toms officers for some time, and this
somewhat emboldened the smugglers,
and a very large consignment OF goods
had been arriving at the store for few
days. The customs officers had, how
ever, simply changed their tactics. Dis
guising themselves, they mixed with
the members of Skinner's band, drank
with them. went Oh fishing excursions
with them and endeavored by all secret
means to worm their secret from them
One part of Skinner's store was devoted
to a bar. and it was here that all tn!