The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-11-11
BANDITS
CAVE NOW
A Mine.
River Pirate with a Price on
His Head Lived in II for
Many Years

Carbondale, H.. Nov. n.-csve-in- Rock
in Harden county, this state. where inn
mense deposits OF kaoln have been dis
covered Is known by old residents in this
! part of Illinois az the former hiding place
and fortress of the famous bandit, John
A. Murrel
For thirty years-from 1890 until 1850
Murrel made this cave his headquarters,
ana TO this day relics OF the bold free
booter and his band are frequently found
I'm It's recesses
Murrel was tho son OF a Louisiana plant
er an ambitious. daring young fellow
who was anxious 10 make fortune for
himself quickly Early IN 1890 he gathered
band OF about forty men OF kindred
spirit. and began making raids on the
fleets OF iatboats that went down the
Ohio and Mississippi 20 New Orleans
which was then the main market OF the
South. The number Of these boats was
large and their csrgoes WIRE rich. They
came from the Upper Mississippi. the Mis-
souri, and the Ohio rivers. Some OF them
were laden with grain and farm produce;
others carried furs and manufactured
goods. and stil others conveyed consider
s.l44a ---4-4 4 -4-- rsf fsoi1 urrrii silver.
Making his headquarters at Cave-in-
Rock, Murrel preyed upon the river COM
merce until the Federal government sent
posse after posse OF marshals to capture
him, and even put n reward OF 600 on
his head owing 10 his knowledge Of the
recesses OF Cave-in- Rock and the topog-
Apply OF the surrounding country Murrel
managed TO evade the numerous traps
set for him by the United Sta tes marshals
and was never captured. In the winter
OF 1880 the bandit chief was killed by
n Is " In ar,ol
ESCAPE HOLE MILES AWAY.
csve-in- Rock Is on the Onto river, on
the southeastern border of Illinois II IL
a mammoth cavern, with many side
chambers
The main opening is on the Ohio river,
and the men who were seeking 10 capture
Murrel supposed this 10 be the only means
OF exit, but explorations i'm recent years
have disclosed an underground passage
thirty miles long. with an opening at
Equality. IN Gallatin county. This passage
is large enough 90 lead laden horse
through and its discovery solves the
mystery Of Murrels many escapes.
Satisfied that he and his band were be-
ing followed and watched Murrel would
make for the Ohio river opening TO the
cave as If he were trying 10 throw his
pursuers off the trail Seeing the bandit
and his gang enter the cave. the marshals
X
confident that sooner or later the hunted
men must emerge that way.
But Murrel would lead his band through
the secret passage come out in Galiatin
county. and laugh at pursuit The en-
trance 10 this passage was so cleVerly
concealed that none Of the men who were
chasing Murrel ever found it, and its dis
covery in recent years was due to acci-
dent
Besides this provision for escape Muir
rel always had the cave stocked for a
long siege. About 300 Yards from the en-
trance he established stables for twenty
horses, and near by were stored grain and
hay sufficient TO last a year
over the stables. and reached by a lad
der Was -LaE2e-GLalalllr- -+4--tl
as a living room, and this was kept well
stocked with food just beyond the stables
there are natural tunnels Of considerable
size and forming a hewiderng maze
through which none but men of expert
enCe can travel without becoming lost
Murrel had STUDIED these passages care
fully and knew how to go through them
at rapid pace and unerringy strike the
one that leads 10 the exit in Gsllaun
county.
BECAME A TYRANT
BY lSl9 Murreis thirty years Of pillage
had so devastated the river commerce
that the people OF the Central West united
In an appeal for relief. Murrel had |
amassed large fortune, and was ready
to retire. but was afraid TO 10 so. The |
government had a standing reward OF
$4,000 for his head.
Ills rule over his band had become so |
arbitrary that some OF his followers re-
volted. and he was afraid that II he de- |
serted the remnant or his band those with
whom he had quarreled would seek him |
out and surrender him. Consequently he |
found his only safety was I'm sticking TO |
his stronghold and keeping the band to-
gether
Murrel grew restive and irritable and |
was almost constantly quarrclling with |
those OF his band who remained with him
one day I'm lSi9 he was shot by one of the |
bandits IN a dispute over the division of |
spOils from a robbery. Az least this IL |
what some or the survivors said hut |
there is another story 90 the effect that |
the shooting vas deliberately planned i'm |
the expectation Of getting the reward, |
and that tho quarrel was only a pretcxt |
AZ any rate. the murderer cut of Muir 1
rels head and made overtures 60 surren- |
der u for the offered so. 900 but the deal |
was never carried through While ncgo- |
tatous were pending hint was given |
90 the murderer that the passing OF Muir 1
the signal for his own death. and ne never |
appeared 90 claim the reward
Now the cave will be explored for the /
kaolin. which II valuable material In the
pottery industry.
The turkey sees the AK approach