The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-11-07
SOUGHT FORTUNE
LOST EVERYTHING
HI
Lived Hermit's Life in Cave Near
Columbus, Ky.
WIFE MARRIED ANOTHER
WHILE HE WAS SEEKING
WEALTH IN CALIFORNIA
GOLD FiELDS-VISiTED
HER IN GUiSE OF A
TRAMP.

Columbus, Ky, Nov 5.-Thera arc
,ery few people, other than those who
are citizens Of this place who knox
tha: there lived. for many years with
in ona mile Of Columbus, an old man
whose home was an artificial cave
Not since The days of the ancien'
troglodytes had this been the case il
America, until Grounding Allen, a;
he was called, built aim dwelling
place in the ground and there remain
cd for twenty years before deaf
claimed him. This strange mode 0
existence was only equaled at tho
time by the tribes of savage Bo1ou
ms that inhabt the mountains 0.
Arabia.
There is not a child in the toWl
who does not recall his visits to the
subterranean home of this good old
man with pleasure. He was fond
tic company Of children and nothing
afforded him mere happiness than foI
alone in the world, their prescnc'
cheered him, For hours he would en-
terrain them with stories, and tn
writer distinctly recalls that he wa
Always kind and smiling, the Who'll.
community was his friend While he
made. weekly trips in town for SUP
plies, he had but very few to buy, q
nh x.fcft h In 1n-
with provisions of some kind He H.
variably received them by calling o.
5od to bless the donor. He was
close reader of the bible, copy o
which he always kept on hand, and
levoccd Christian. He could almost
recitc the holy book from Genesis t
amen" at the conclusion of the les
HAPPIER OF Revelations Religion was
his principal theme. and he never
Jailed TO turn to it any conversation.
The opening which he lived in IL
about twenty-five feet deep and egg
shaped. with the larger end down
ward. The bottom is reached by
means OF an almost perpendicular
light Of stairs. On entering al tho
top one was greeted with the o1or o.
tobacco and wood smoke The only
article of furniture watch gr1ced this
lismal habitation was a iude wooden
arrangement, about three inches high
and six feet long, which served the
double purpose of a bed and dining
table. Lying full length upon this ir
'front.' of large fireplace cut in the
WALL, with a chimney bored througl
from above to serve as draught, the
old man slept every night for the last
twehty years of his existence. One
night a turtle from a small branch
aearby wandered too FAR from horne
md fell in on Grounding. The old
man was not quite asleep and heard
the intruder as he lodged at the side
f his couch. The story of how he
killed that turtle was one of bis most
amusing yarns u took him until dsy
light 20 accomplish it. but he succeed
cd. The watchful hours he spent Oh
his knees, with Ratchet uplifted in
his right hand. waiting for the turtle
TO thrust out his head that be might
cut If off were anxious moments to
Groundhog Not until day began to
break did the cautious visitor venture
20 prolTude his head from The shell.
When he did it was never drawn back.
The blow with the hSchet vas well
--~-~d o~7 rIas l.-- Cor 1=r~nr tn 1ff
tie hole in the earth was perfumed
'Rith the smell Of savory turtle soup.
Grounding Allen had implicit
faith in Providence and trusted TO it
for the few things be needed. He was
rewarded for his faith. for never did
Re go hungry. He owned ten acres Of
land surrounding the pit and On tbi.
he grew corn for his hogs and pota-