The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-03-11
A MILE UNDERGROUND.


/
er's Cavern.
When, some weeks ago, Deputy Col
lector j. c. Wilson, of Ilarrodsburg, KY,
and Deputy Tom Austin, of Lancaster,
quietly perfected plans to visit Rock
castle county and raid the mOonshiners
still in what is known as Salt Petre
cave, they did not dream of the find
they would make. This cave is situated
on Crooked creek, in one of the widest
sections of country to be found in Ken
lucky, and has long been known as a
rendezvous of the worst class of law
breakers, and for this reason has always
been given a wide berth by government
men. none of whom ever dared explore
it. When they began their preparations
for the raid they were warned by some
who were familiar with the desperate
character of the outlaws to forego the
undertaking, but this they refused to
do.
One morning the posse left Livingston
station, on the Knoxville branch of the
Louisville & Nashville railroad, and,
after Il ride that lasted until nine that
night, arrived at the cave. Entering the
hole in the side of the mountain. they
traverscd distance of 600 feet and
came to a narrow defle which they
were compelled to pass in single file,
and which led them into a spacious
apartment. At the further side of the
chamber was an opening that led down
ward to a depth of 80 feet, the bottom
CT which they reached by means of a
TOle placed there Tor that purpose by
those who utilized the cave for their
unlawful purposes.
Reaching the bottom, the passage led
them straight forward for quarter of
mile, where they were again COM
PEELED to go down 50 feet on crude lad
der; thence there was gradual descent
for nearly half mile, and then the way
led upward for fully 600 feet, which was
easily assembled by means of steps cut
in the dirt.
From the top of these steps straight
and level passage led them for fully 200
feet, and from there on, for about the
same distance, the way again led down
a gradual incline. Then for 600 or 700
yards a level and smooth path led to
another chamber, where the officers
found a clear spring of sparkling water,
and within Il few feet thereof was Il
trough filled with water, and within Il
few feet of the trough was found d
p,oor,niro s+;u in f,,rrooo of +ba
finest masonry. The capacity of this
still was 100 gallons, with eight fer
,,ertiro trl,. nf son craI1ors a,ch frIl of
NOW. ,,,.,sh and ra,d,e fo,. o,,o,o+io,, o,d
le,pinr ,roinst tba wall here ,vara
F,,rd -Four Iy;robos+o,, riaas
rho dietiIIor, onr,ro+us y,os do
stroyed and +bo frnarn,. oonf.cotod
Drocoadi,cr 1no ,.,,d. f,,r+[or. .,,otho.
,+iu of tbe so,,,e c,r,ci+,. ,.,. fo,,rd
ord p.,, l,,. +b,,o NVinobos+or, ,,bi,h
,,.o,o ,i.,, t,I.,
Do+,,.,.,,,, +haso two 9TH. :, -, o,,+
of-+ba-,,.o,, cor,,o,. of +bo obo,,,(,or ,,.,..
fo,,,d Nv o,,,,,i,,;,,r ,h,, ho.,,,. 81 +u.o
sI,oIn+o,,, ,,biIo +1,a bona. ,,f o,,o+h.r.
Inv nv tho side Of tba how Tbe off,
,nr. also found a,.idono,. +bo+ +bo ,Iooa
Is fraouan+ad bv goro of counter-
faiter. II i, tho on;pion Of Tho rayorne
MON tI,,+ +boso I,o,,as ,ro +l,o ,.or,,oins
re soma co,.or,,,,o,,+ of4ioar, ,,I,o bo,,
met instant death o+ tbe hands Of the
outlaws, or of members of their gang
who had BETRAYED them. or who they
feared would give their secrets AWAY.
and octino on tbr theory that dead
men tell no tales, had murdered them.
or that hey mioht be the bones of those
who had met death in battles with the
onicers
ing devious WAYS, and the officers be-