The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1895-01-10


L am"
The Chinaman began by telling
me that | was then in one of the
large subterranean excavations con-
nected with the city Of Canton
that the emperor of China had his
summer residence very near where
we then were; that the emperor
and empress themselves, together
with the royal attendants were
fishing on the island which lay be-
fore us; that they would soon re-
turn, and that if they found me
there l would no doubt be put to
death; but that if / would give him
n reasonable sum of gold or silver
he would secure me for a long
time. This l knew / could not do,
for / had no money worth a men
ton.
/ now began to realize my situa-
ton in all its importance, and how
to make my escape from this place
and return to my own country at
once became my entire study. |
at once began to court favor with
Mr.. and Mrs. Singwang, as these
we're the names of my newly-made
acquaintance. | soon secured their
confidence by giving them one dol
lar each, which was all the money
| had.
| at once formed a plan for max
ing my escape and returning home,
which ] believed would be Il success
if l could put it into execution.
And, now reader, do not laugh
when ] toll you what it was, for |
am actually back at home again,
safe and sound, and not much the
worse of wear in consequence of
my visit to and from the Oriental
country. ] noticed that the differ
ent apartments in this great sub
terranean city were separated by
and that in many of the
rooms they were hanging prOfusely.
1t is proper to state here that this
place is denscly populated in the
summer months, but this being
autumn all had gone back into the
city, only a small number remain
ing, among whom were Sing Wang
and his wife. who had been left in
charge of what the royal family
had left behind.
Well, my plan was to secure some
of these curtains, make balloon,
initiate it with gas, attach myself TO
it and start it up the passage in
which / had come down. Now, |
say, don't laugh, for the plan was
put into execution, and was SO
much of a success that | only met
with one accident, and that was at
the place where Capt. Henry got
off, and the accident shall always
a piece of good luck, as it
was not a serious one, and | wanted
to stop at this station anyway.
While in this apartment my bal
loon struck piece of stalectite,
which SO damaged it that | threw
it away. / think / could have
it, but l knew that it was
not a great way ont from here, and
the journey on foot,
taking identically the same route
as that taken by the Captain, COM
ing out about two miles from
Frenchburg.
But, dear reader, my story is not
all told, and that which is behind
is the most interesting part. 1t
now remains for me to tell what
saw i'm the cavern visited by Capt.
Henry. | was in this place quite
awhile, and in hunting for pas
sage which would lead me out, i
discovered lying on the floor Of the
cave what | took to be silver coin,
and on picking it up found it to be
a one dollar piece bearing date of
1853. This was strange, thought.
turned my head toward the wall
If the cave, and there written in
plain letters was: John Swift,
1904"
Now. | began to be interested.
vas perfectly familiar with the
name of John Swift; knew il from
ny boyhood, and | had always been
aught that this man Swift was tho
owner of rich silver mine some
where in Eastern Kontucky, and
hat he had also hidden vast stores
# silver bullion and coin in the