The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-04

shaft Of about three feet diameter sunk
through the solid rock, and which We
were told led To- the b0tomless pit
Finding a. not possible 90 evade this
hard. cruel fate We babe adieu To- the
world. and descended the ladder about
thirty-eight feet more. when we came 90
what is called the landing. then march
ing shelf hv shelf tin descending about
thirty or forty feet more We came 90
platform OF boards laid underioot WITH
Something put overhead TO carry on the
water. which keeps continually dripping.
Here we found the inhabitants or TINS
woful mansion, who were exceedingly
anxious 10 know what was going on
above. We told them that Lord Corn
wallis had beat the rebel army ana that
their money was gone 10 the deuce, with
which they seemed satisfied, and rejoiced
az the news
ENTRANCE NOW EASY.
The present entrance TO the caverns,
so called. is accomplished more easily
and pleasantly. All that IS necessary Is
spnlication az the Office and payment OF
a small fee. The guide leads the visit
ors 10 a small shed az the rear or lHe
office building. and requests each mem
ulster which is furnished 10 Keep OUT
the chill and moisture. While the visit
ors stand around. clothed Ike gray friarS
the guide steps 20 q we'll hole, through
which the TOP of a ladder protrudes
Here was the first trap-door mentioned
bv the prisoners He descends the lad-
der without hesitation, and Is soon MD
Den I'm the deep darkness. The visitors
follow. as a matter OF course ana
many women make the exploit without
fear or nervousness. As the visitor u'-
seconds he Is cheered by the guide voice.
and reaches a landing about tho size OF
n large closet. He finds the guide busy
lighting n tlllOw dip, with when each
visitor proceeds.
Then with "a warning 10 stoOp low, the
guide leads the way down q gallery OF
slipperv and steep rock. ssof entering
a LARGE turtle-b8ckcd cavern. = was here
the prisoners said they found their un-
fortunate comrades.
The cavern is about twenty feet In
diameter. and tall man cannot stand
erect in the center. The floor u stieWh
with pieces OF wood, the remains, the
guide says, of the cots nlled win sifa"
which the prisoners occupied Inc water
IS dripping IN frequent drops from lhe
roof and every word spoken finds re-
II
In this grewsome place the heNolutary
prisoners were kept in some instances
Tor wears without once seeing the llsht
of day. 49,.
The fare OF the prison could not have
hocn sumptuOus. because prisoner
wrote this pathetic letter to the keeper
"Nlr Viets-If you have any meat
cooked YOU will much oblidge me ~
sending a dinner. for l suffer want.
And that George Washington endorsed
this treatment OF his foes Is shown by
a letter written by him 10 the commit
tee OF safety at Simsbury' when ne sent
from Cambridge a detachment OF pfl-
soners TO be kept there az the continent
al expense. But the Father OF ms couii-
try as well as Congress, came In fG a
,ibarsI share Of criticism when the Rev.
Simon Baxter, a Tory clergyman anu
rrlsoDer preached very vehement SER
no, "a q prcstrate but sympathetic au-
dla,ce How the clergyman must nave
made the dark recesses or the prison re-
eourd with his bitter words when ne
coued On his hearers 20 assassinate the
patriots at their first opportunity anu
ne babe Washington ana congress 10
remember that Judas was not patriot
until he hanged himself Tor betrayihs
his Saviour. "GO thou and do likewise,
he exhorted the general ana you wiz
prove yourself real saviour or Amer
lea. and. ike him. hold a place In the
temple OF everlasting fame
POSSIBLY HE STOPPED.
Unless the Rev. Simeon was man OF
low stature. It is difficult 10 conceive
how he could have maintained ulshl-
fed position in such low audience
room. -. %
The prisoners kept burning pots OF
charcoal TO dispel the four air whlch
was Somewhat relieved by shafts or
wells in the mines. cut through the solid
rock to a height OF eighty feet or more e.
The guide explains all these matters 10
bis -srocted listeners IN a quaint
dolefnl =, voice in keeping with the sur
roundings. lie then leads ,1,s-,d the =, T ,hs
through many narrow galleries OF the
mines. which extend considerable as
tance. In many places the sides are
bordered by piles OF broken rock. held
In place by wooden supports Whish nav
given away in some places. ana the TOOK
49, $1,000 ->--.nlAt1iv TIA S~---~---~- -