The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-09-14
MYSTERIOUS KENTUCKYCAYE
WHERE, IT IS SAID, 4 VAST
 TREASURE IS HIDDEN.

Within one thousand yards of Iron bridge, on Barren river, is located cave which is additionally known as Magic Cavern. One hundred and fifty years ago this cave was discovered by young Italian called Count Lillien- thai, who came from the historic plains of Lombardy in quest of adventure in the new world. This count used the cave as a refuge from the hostile sav- age and as a storehouse and hiding place for the vast treasure he brought with him from his native land.
 Magic Cavern is the most elusive mystery in southwestern Kentucky, writes Victor Moulder in the Louisville Post. It is located on the south bank of the river and adjacent to the famous Wickliffe Bottom. For the past one hundred and twenty years the entrance theentrance to the cave. The mouth of ure house has been sought by many persons at various times. Few have entered the opening, and none who en- tered the gloomy chamber has returned to tell the story of his narrowing expe- riences. No fewer than twenty lives are known to have been lost in vain eff forts to secure the treasure reputed to be secreted in a sealed niche of the cave. There is a curse upon the place. Wickliffe Bottom was the scene of a bloody battle, and the perpendicular cliffe north of the river, known as Lil- lfenthaps Leap, was the place chosen for the climax of a shocking tragedy.
 Tn orlI art of %6a ogp century settlers were constantly in search of Magic Cavern and its thou sands of dollars in gold coin and bags of priceless gems. In 1864 two white men came to the vicinity, searched along the river for days and days, then suddenly disappeared. That they per- ished in an attempt to secure the treas ure was the general verdict, for they were tracked to the mouth of cave above a suck-hole, which, they are known to have entered, and from which they never returned. John Darling of Missouri met a similar fate at the same place in 1866.
 In the spring of 1880 four Cherokee Indians came to Iron Bridge and pitched camp on Li1lienthal's Leap. They had soiled, rough chart of the vicinity which they often consilted. They left their camp early one morn ing, never. to return. Like that of the white men, their trail led to an opening in the bluff. What their fate was none may know, but men now'living do know that they never returned from Magic Cavern alive. Searching parties, after days of fruitless labor, failed to locate him familiar. The chapter on Touraine the aperture where the Indians tracks | led was sealed wall ten feet above the waters edge. Blasting, digging and 1 excavations have proved unavailing in the work of forcing the sealed doors. Recently a party of six young men | began systematic search for Magic Cavern. Several weeks were spent in the work The leader of the party was John Mays. An entrance to the main | cavern was discovered. Mays leading | the way, passed into the interior. Sud denly his form shot forward, and utter | ing a sfriek of horror as an invisible power bore him into the bowels of the earth. That was the last of Mays. His companions, terror-stricken, fled from the scene, closing the gap behind them. There is not enough surplus cash in the Union to induce one of the survivors to | go near the place again.
 The history of the cave runs in this wise: Tn the year 177S Stephen Clay | pool emigrated from Virginia to Ken | lucky and settled at Harrodsburg. He was an experienced woodsman and had | grown up amid the alarms of Indian warfare. He participated in many of
 the frontier battles He knew the In- dians; they knew him. In 17S5 he left l the older settlements, crossed the will
 derness, came to Barren river and set- 1 tied near the present site of Claypool. With him came John Wickliffe, Hut Martin, Andrew McFaddin, two broth CTS and others, with their several fami- l lies Wickliffe settled on a place known as Wickliffe Bottom, north of the river. Martin founded Martinsville, McFadden established McFaddin's Sta
 ton, while Stephen Claypool and, his brothers patented and settled on land
 south of Wickiffe Bottom and Martins
 vile, just across the river, and founded
 Claypool.
 At the time these hardy pioneers came to Barren river few scattered Indians still skulked in the forests. On ! MT. Claypools claim was a lodge occu l pied by an old Indian and his squaw The old warrior was about seventy
 years old, and his squaw called him l Wah-tum he called his squaw Ouita
 This old pair of natives proffered the l white settlers their friendship. They
 were peculiarly religious. In a short
 time Wah-tum and MT. Claypool were fast friends. Wah-tum frequently re-
 lated events that took place in the vi-
 cinity long before, saying that Wick life Bottom was haunted by white dew
 ills that had been slain there many
 years ago. Piece by piece MT. Claypoo
 extracted the whole story from the ole
 chieftain and his squaw, both of whom
 had been participants in the struggle.
 Since then strange fatality haunts
 the place. Many lives have been lost
 in the vicinity. Ouita and Wah-t tun
 witnessed all these events; they knew
 where to find the cave but neither fol
 friendship nor love of gold would they reveal to MT. CIaypool it's exact where.
 abouts. When they crossed to tht
 happy hunting grounds their secret
 was buried with them.
 III Il,