The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1903-10-15


gsstivs Of the siid character ard NE 81
those Who once Inhabited the cave. On
entering, which they aid By means Of
cable ladder. the Way explorer. found
themselves In long bali wh,eh led 10 ser
ersi apartments Here conference vas
held. "a VAS decided &c se.d two men Of
The party 20 fellow each passage and make
whatever discoveries they coaid: and Il
was ssreed 10 meet at the entrance after
hours o. exploration, and agree on fa-
ture course. They reasoned that the cave
extended for several huadred Of feet in
every direction. Then came the startling
diseoveries- Skeletons Of human beings
we're seen, some IN the position they oc-
eupied When death claimed their souls.
scattered about In the dim light Of the
dreadful cavern % some OF the withered
frames hung bits Of clothing not vet rotted
Iron them, Or torn sssy by the wiia beasts
evidence Of which vas also discovered bv
'heir bleaching skeletons, piled one upon
another IN these silent halls Of death No
further discoveries we're made ne the men.
terrified by the awful sight that met their
gaze. With one accord icd from the sick
ening scene, bot returned later With 9TH
ers Snd The findings we're piled IN hesp
anu taken TO cross roads trading point,
some ~ miles south Of the scene
~ vas several days before the discov-
cries made by the explorers leaked out
Many theories are being advanced a. 10
how tho Inhabitants Of the cave met their
death The position Of their remains
would indicate that the entire band died
"hle asleep and 10 IL conjectured that
prisoner IN their hands managed IN some
way 10 secure poisonous herb and muir
dered the band BY placing il in their food
and thus escaped the terrible cruelties 10
which De was subjected. Another theory I
- mat The skeletons were those Of prison /
ets taken by the gang and left alone 10
DE OF starvation. The latter seems 10 be I
the most plausible. ANYWAY the Terrible
scene OF death was there. and the band 81 /
outlaws that once infested the place were
responsible tor il. These discoveries 4
nfing 10 mind the many stories told Of the
history Of the iawlcss gang and their Wild 1
A. early a. the year 1910. c.tten.,
Hho we're crossing The mountains with
their herds, bound for the setticmep,s
That are nov Boa the Western valleys. were
sieted 40 spot on the trail and carried
Az ags the prisoners Of band Of outlaws
whose haurts could never be discovered
"s the numerous scouts sent to that re-
giou 10y thc settlers. This process OF rob-
nery was carried on for wears. and a. linz
terfals raids would De made on the srt
temenis and, disguised as Indians. thew
would rob The homes of the people aud Of
ZEN carried the women and children auar
=" their secret cavern. Especially was
'Nis 500 during che War of 1872. when
most of t1c men of the region were on he
battle Held, aud the unsusnectinr and In.
noeent vomcn and children. nowcrics. 10
lclcnt themselves. were their victim.
Aitfr repeated attempts 90 locate their
'''I'l abode and being uusucccssful fn /
.ftf. one, thc search was NJ last ah,n-
ionca. After while their depreciation.
.'asel and thc people of that country
gam enjoyed short reign of peace. hons
ne tHai ihc outlaws had grown Tired oil
"eir surroundings and bad iof Tor other
eafters to carry on their hsariiess uort
'i riilacc and murder
Another exploring party will De arran-
.'' roon- aud % be- expected that further
.'sco'erics vill Pee mede. when an onciall
cfeft OF thc cafirc explorations viii bel
made. Tho iniuro developments viii Dc
'iehel With Iatercst hy she entire coun.
r' -HluchcIi. W. Va. Telegraph.