The Savannah morning news., 1900-10-16

ploring them But these tales or mines
that once glittercd to the greedy gaze Of
early explorers and of war-won booty
never enjoyed by rowing free laucers re-
fuse TO leave the romantic habitat Of
Southwest Missouri a region that is as
full OF charm as Il Is laden with legend
and tradition.
The Robbers Cave" as il has been
called for thirty years. was one OF the
alternating bear dens. into which the old
nimrods Of the pioneer days We're wont TO
crawl In search of the shaggy beast. and
many desperate encounters took place in
its dark chambers when the dauntless
frontiersmen attacked the sleeping game
with the hunters knife. The cave has a
small outlet near the base OF the noun
tain. and the game would sometimes e..
cape through this when the hole was not
guarded
But Il was during the war that the cave
acquired most fame. II became the hiding
place OF the various guerilla bands that
made southwest Missouri their field OF
operations. The mouth OF the cavern Is
80 large that n small troop g bandits
could find shelter under the granite roof
Of this secluded retreat. and az that limo
the country was wild and but sparsely set
tied Towards the close Of the war a bard
OF Confederate gueril,as passed south
ward near Springfield. hotly pursued by
a troop OF Union cavalry. The fugitivel
had robbed q bank in central Missouri AMI
were trying 20 escape with the booty THE
chase had been a long one. and the horses
81 both parties were almost exhausted.
when the pursuing squadron reached
Yoachum Pond. about thirty miles south
Of Springfield. they were only a Few hours
behind the guerilias but the hors =
the Union troopers could not continue the
chase company Of mounted militi1
happened 10 be campod az the pond. AMI
these men took up the TRAN 81 the ham
dts aud followed "a down into the Bear
Creek country. The guerlllas took adj
vantage 81 the Bear Creek cave whars
they had. IL is said. frequently taken ref
uee. and here the militia hesieged tncm.
The guerillas. finding that they were in
q trap attempted 20 break out. and made
a sortie IN force. The fight that follow
81 was a desperate one. an1 there were
few survivors In either band when the
smoke o. battle cleared away. The que
riila leader zen mortally wounded ana WIS
taken 20 Springfield along with several
other prisoners. Ills mother was sum
moned By telegraph 20 come 20 him an
almost q week later she arrived. TIE
wounded man was fast sinking and 20
soon as his mother reached his bedside h.
old her ne had some important informa-
ton 10 impart and begged her 20 write as
he dictated.
DR. Cheneworth an army surgeon. wa
attending the wounded prisoner. oni he
heard the conversation between the dying
guerilla and bis mother.
The Young raider told his mother abou,
the fight al the cave said that rich
treasure in gold and silver was buried IN
the cave. and gave her minute directions
how 70 find the money. The woman wrote
the direction on the SLIPS torn from ths
surgeons prescription book. there heihs
no other paper at hand There were msrka
on the trees az the mouth Of che cave
and signs cut on the rocks that the pris-
oner had his mother note.
The guerilla died and his mother went
hack home Or Chencworth kept the
story OF the treasure IN his mind, ana 20
terniued 10 10 TO the cave ana search for
the money. hut sudden changes ~ the
fortunes 81 war took him away from
Springfield. and h. went East and hnailF'
about the close OF the war, settled IN bos-
ton Shortly aftcrward the mother OF th'
guerilla chleftaln died and left the story
M me treasure cave and the written d.
rections 10 ana the buried money as
legacy 60 her younger sons
several years after the stick Of the Con.
feaerato rocket struck the earth behind
thc hills OF Appounatt0x one OF these sons
heard OF Dr. Chonoworth's presence IN
Boston and went 20 see him lie showed
the doctor the written account or the hlA-
deu wealth. aud the eX-army surgeon re-
,ncfnbered the story well and recognize
tre leaves from his Old prescription book.
Tho two men agreed to hunt Tor the treas-
uro and to share equally the We'hh
found
When the time agreed upon Tor the star
N the cave came the doctor could not he
found The brother Of the guerilla AZ one
.tspected his partner had played MIN
false. and he set out alone for southWesi
Missouri In quest Of the cave. He went
town on Beaver creek. east % forsyth'
and incurred for the. cave. lie stoppfd ~
,lcc Kissee's the nahoh OF fancy county,
I'd made known the object Of MS Flsl.
Eissee knew al caves IN the county anu
toid the stranger there was no sucn cav
IN on Beaver creek. The cave sough'
must be the noted Stone county bear hen'
The treasure hunter was directed 70 IN"
Rear creek country. Here he found an
IA settler by the name OF Weaiherman
.bo had In years gone by Killed many
hears in the cave lie knew 81 the hsht oi
~ euerlile@ ard militia az the cave
sat rad not heard OF the hidden wealth.
The stranger was eager 10 get 90 thr
ave ana candid IN telling his story he
vonid divide any treasure found with q
sttLf. xpha unulH show MIN tl0 cave