Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1896-11-27
CAV DNE[[ER
ARREST OF STRANGE BEING EIGHT
MILES FROM SPOKANE.
He Is Placed in Jail on a Charge of
Selling Liquor to Spokane
Indians.

Spokane, Wash, November 20.-"Dun-
ham, the Cave DweIler,'' was neatly en-
SHARED yesterday by Deputy United |
| States Marshals Vinson, Drake and |
Thompson, and safely lodged in the coun-
| ty Jail.
The officers proceeded cautiously to the |
place where they expected to find the
notorious wholesale violator of the law
| against the sale of intoxicating liquor to
| Indians. No marks were visible except
| dim shoe track in the snow, near the
| cave, eight miles below the city, on the
| bank of the Spokane river. They fol-
| lowed this about a mile, through the
| woods, and came upon the object of their
pursuit 150 feet below the Great North
ern railroad bed, where he was saving
| wood with part of a broken crosscat
saw.
Mr.. Vinson threw his winchester rifle
down upon him and he acknowledged that
he was under arrest. He asked permis-
sion to get change of clothes, and led
the officers up an indistinct trail to his
cave The interior of this was dark and
dismal. Mr.. Thompson struck a match
and found lantern. By the light of 1t
they saw that the place was furnished
with bed, some cooking utensils, fire.
place and supply of flour, and wood sut-
ficient to have lasted the occupant IL
winter. There was also supply of other
| provisions.
The prisoner gave his name as Turner,
but refused to tell his first name. lie
sullenly stated that he was engaged IN
hunting and trapping, but when asked
; how he could hunt without gun he was
: silent.
IN hn oxyn 10 md n
overhanging cliff, which rises above $50
3 feet There had been an opening at one
side, but comforter had been hung over
this, and backed with bark. Over the
main entrance to the queer domicile a
blanket was hung for protection against
= the wind.
. 1t is desolate and unfrequented spot,
: | and so arranged that a person might
n | walk within five feet of the entrance
without observing it, unless there were
a noises inside. 1t was discovered by a
r woman residing in the vicinity while
Q picking berries there with her children
Il about three months ago. They heard
. some one snoring, and being unable to
a locate the sound became frightened and
- ran away. The woman's husband inves-
!, tigated and found the cave. He at once
notified the officers, who have since made
numerous excursions in that direction, If
hope of capturing the occupant of the
grotto-like abode, but always withou
10 success, until guided by Indian Ellis, or
III this occasion.
{, The Indians say Durham, or Turner
a. has two other camps in that locality.
Thought to he a Fugitive.
The prisoner acknowledged that he hat
been arrested once before by, Marsha
Thompson, and had served term in the
4 TT.,sk -.IIb.
island.
l. He was taken before COMMISSIONS
Kenyon, and upon the testimony of Ell
hit lis was committed He will be brough
as out again at o'clock this afternoon TO
h. further examination.
in The Indians state that it was this maj
at who sold the whisky about 10 days ag
which precipitated the disturbance il
as | which one Indian was dangerously
a nor fatally wounded, and an Indian wo
in mans arm was broken. He is though
IN to be a fugitive from some other state.
The cave dweller, whose name an,
IL identity can only be conjectured, had
re hearing yesterday before United State
re Court Commissioner Kenyon, on In
nd charge of selling liquor to Indians, az,
re, was sent back to the county Jail in de
re elusive that he has for two years or NOR
re been engaged in the Illicit traffic on
10. large scale: Many a bloody fight and a
re least one tragedy are attributed to the ex
tn istence of his joint under the cliff at Tn
ri bank of the Spokane river eight miles be
re low the city.
lot In court the prisoner gave his name a
ere William Turner, although ne has until re
he Gently been known as Durham, the Cav
he Dweller," or Hermit of the Cliffs" H
was represented by N. e. Nuzum as al
I'LL torney. The government having no '1ros
ne ecutor available, owing to the snow block
T. ade, the commissioner himself examine
'il the witnesses, all of whom were Indians
He Indian Ellis testified through Interprete
~ Nolan that he got from the defendant on
VI bottle of whisky and two bottles of alec
90 hol. SANTA said ne bought whisky thre
III different times from Turner. Moses sta.e
he had bought whisky from him a hea
- of times, SO many that he had not finger
10 enough on both hands to count them III
~ Sam How-et-a bought a good deal
whisky, he said.
Ellis testified that he could not remen
III Der how many times he had got whisky &
rs the cave. AT one time he got four bottle
six pints and a joyful He was celebra
~ ing for two days, and in that time he pal
" Turner &7.5O for whisky. When aske
Al how long Turner had been supplying tn
70 Indians with whisky he replied:
',S Long time; may be two years, may
- three. No keepum count"
u The government officials believe tn;
en- the cave dweller has a considerable SUI
~ of money and a stock of goods cache
ne somewhere in the vicinity of his unt1r
~ abode. Search will be made as soon q
the state of the weather will permit
- MONTANA RAILROAD COMPLETED