The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-10-13
KEPT IN A CAVE
A Young Man Held a Prisoner by His
Two Cousins Some Time
ESCAPED BY RUNNING

His Abductors Are Arrested and
Released on Hond-It is Said
They Intended to Kill Young
Chummey, Who Had Been Held
in Captivity for "a Hours.
A Spartanburg dispatch to The
State says Joe Chimney, a youth
of II years of age, son OF Smith
Chummey, who lives near Hobbeys-
Vile in that county, was waylald and
caught, it is alleged, on his way from
school last Thursday afternoon by
his cousins, Frank and Simeon Chum-
mey, sons of Ben Chimney, OF mat
section, and imprisoned in a cave
six miles below Woodruff, where he
was held prisoner for "a hours.
The Chummeys, it is said, learning
Friday afternoon that the people IN
search of Joe Chimney were close
on their trail went to move their
prisoner ITO another hiding place,
when he broke loose and ran, max
ing good his escape. The alleged
kidnapping Of Joe Chimney has
stirred the neighborhood about
Woodruff and Hobbeyville as 1t has
never been stirred before.
From what can be learned of the
affair, Frank Chummey and his con-
rederate may have intended to kill
Joe Chummey. The cause of their
IL. feeling toward their cousin Joe is
said to be a grudge of long stand
ing-a misunderstanding between the
families of Smith Chummey and Ben
Chummey.
The place where Joe Chimney
is alleged to have been confined is
a cave of 6 by 20 feet, within 800
yards of Ben Chummey's home. Joe
Chummey, it is charged, was
led to this cave with a rope
about his neck, Frank Chimney tell
ing him on the way that they were
taking him to kill him. Within the
cave the lad was placed in stocks
md made to lie fiat Of his back,
bound down by ropes. His jailers
kept guard over him, their sister
sending them food in a basket from
the house.
Hundreds of people visited the
cave a few days ago. Within 1t is
a post with chains to it, a mean bed
with two quilts, a small brass lamp
and shotguns. No more secluded
place of confinement could be de.
vised than this Jail which so resem'
bles tie 'robber barons' dungeons
of old.
When Joe Chimney made his es'
cape Friday afternoon about 2 O'Clock
he ran to his uncle Will Chummey's
house and Mr.. Chummey's son es-
corted him home. But getting to his
uncle's house was a hairbreadth es'
cape. Behind him, he says, was
Frank Chimney with a shotgun
threatening to shoot him down al
every step. The ~kidnappers got WIND
that Joe's friends were chose in be,
hind them and that they had better
change the hiding place.
About l o'clock Friday they lei
down the sheet iron door of the
cave and emerged with their prise
ner. At the first opportunity Joseph
made a dash for liberty and was sc
successful that he gained IN his pur-
suers. When he raj itno his un-
lies house he found the family at
dinner and his tale was soon told.
Mr.. Will Chummey, being on the
grand jury, was in Spartanburg at
tending court, but his elder son saw
the lad safely home.
Frank and Simeon Chimney were
arrested and carried before Magis-
trate Bragg at Woodruff Saturday.
They were placed under a bond of
$500 each.
1t is reported from Woodruff that
Frank and Simeon Chimney will be
rearrested, together with their sis
ter, who cooked food and sent it to
the ave to them. The ChummeyS
are supposed to be in Enoree. 1t
is said that the papers will be served
on them at once. Farnk Chummey's
bond, it is said, will be increased to
$4,000. Frank Chimney is about
20 years old and Simeon is about 10
years old.