Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1904-07-14
A Pit of Death
copyright, 1904, by c. B. Lewis. !

In the years agone three brothers,
all men grown and Stillwell by name,
came over from England and settled
down on one of the mountains Of
PENNSYLVANIA, and by and by it came
to be known that they were prospect
ing for minerals.
Not much attention was given them,
and 1t was year or more after their
arrival that the eldest one, Joseph by
name, made his appearance on the
streets of Mercersberg and stated that
his brother William had disappeared
In mysterious manner and asked for
assistance in unraveling the mystery.
Hunters and others searched the
mountain for days and days, being
paid in English gold for their services,
but not the slightest clew could be
picked up.
Seven months later the same man
appeared again and announced the
mysterious disappearance Of his broth
er Thomas. A search by fifty men and
lasting two weeks brought nothing
further to light.
Not wishing to be alone on the noun
tain, the surviving brother engaged
the services of miner named Taylor,
and for year there was no cause for
further excitement. At the end Of that
time the miner came to town one day
to spread the news that Joseph, the
last of the three brothers, had also
mysteriously disappeared. When he
left the house one morning, he went
north over the same path the others
had taken.
My father was elected captain of a
party, and 1 went along with them.
At least five other parties were strung
along on the crest of the mountain for
a distance of twenty-five miles, while
yet other parties searched the foothills
and ravines and the level country.
OF course there were theories by the
score, but the one held by our party
was that the three brothers had discov-
cred some valuable mineral deposit
perhaps gold or diamonds-and the fact
having in some manner come to the
ears of a desperate gang hiding in a
cave the three disappearance meant
no less than three murders. I do not
know whether any Of the other parties
held to- this particular theory, but it
was understood that our search was to
be entirely directed to locations where
the bodies Of the murdered men might
have been secreted.
At the end of three weeks, we being
provided with tents and plentiful
supply of provisions, our little party
had covered an area Of three miles by
ten-that is, every foot of ground from
north to south, running over the noun
tain and down to the foothills on Ell
Their side, had been SO closely searched
that not woodchuck's hole had es-
capped US.
The last days search brought US to
the spot where Joseph had dug his fire.
clay. About forty rods south of the
clay pit was fine spring. 1t was to
the east of what might be called the
main trail running along the crest OF
the mountain. Between the spring and
the trail was fringe of bushes thirty
feet wide, and one wanting water had
to push through this fringe.
In the searches made for the missing
brothers that spring had been visited
thousands Of times. Only ten years
ago 1t was discovered to be wonder
full cure all, and sanitarium has been
built there for the benefit of individ-
uals. On the day our party were to
begin their search north of the clay pit
l did not go out with them, the cook
wishing my assistance in preparing
dinner.
1t was about 10 O'clock that started
out for ramble by myself, and 1 had
got within twenty rods Of the spring
and was intending to turn aside and
get drink when caught sight of a
bear coming toward me. 1t was hot
day, and l think he must have been
fired on by hunters or pursued by dogs,
as he seemed to be very tired.
AS soon as got sight of him leaped
behind bowldeS to my left and was
sure he had not observed me. He had
probably visited the spring before, for
as he came opposite it he swerved to
Liz AAShI " ACdSA ~. L uc DuSleS WGIS
not so thick but could plainly follow
his movements.
When he had gone about twenty feet
he uttered 'whoof" of surprise and
dropped out Of sight. I thought he had
sunk down from exhaustion, and |
waited long quarter of an hour be-
fore moving forward. advanced step
by step, expecting to see him rise up
every minute. and at length got close
enough to discover the mouth of a
shaft or pit. 1t had been covered with
vines and leaves, and even after l was
sure that the bear had gone into it the
spot looked almost safe
Getting down on hands and knees
and creeping to the edge of the pit, I
could hear bruin whining and shut
fling far below, and such an odor rose
up that 1 was speedily forced to re.
tire.
hurried along to the north, calling
to the searching parties as ran, and
after awhile 1 got them together and
told them about the bear 1t was only
after they had reached the pit and
scented the dreadful odor that any one