The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1910-06-29

entering this cave / would not
back down from anything |
would hear or see. So / stepped
across 10 where there was
something laying that looked
like an old iron kettle turned
upward. Rejecting my lantern
about / could see that il was
sure enough an old rusty kettle
almost covered mp in the sand.
| stood there as If tied TO the
earth. A thousand thoughts
came TO me i'm one minute. 1
was sure this was the place.
Finally l made up my mind TO
see what was under this kettle.
| picked up an old rust-stained
bayonet which was lying near
and began TO dig around the
kettle. Just at this time I look
ed over on the other side and
there lay the skeleton of a man
and close by his side lay an old
slate rock, and ON this rock
were letters carved thus: "The
first white man reading these
lines will find ninety thousand
dollars IN gold coin under this
kettle Take this money and
bury this body IN a lonely spot
on the top Of Copper Ridge near
the Did Hickman farm, and YOU
shall live in peace the remand
er of your days"
At this ! hesitated and stood
there trembling as II an electric
bolt had struck me. Finally
plucked up courage and began
digging again. Soon ! was at
the bottom. Lifting the kettle
from its bed there lay the gold
IN great stacks. Well. no one
but God and myself will ever
know my feelings at this time.
| was raised a poor boy, rs
many OF the readers know, and
have lived hard all my life. The
thought Of finding a fortune
here in my old days was almost
more than | could bear. After
| had collected my thoughts to-
gether ! thought Of my suit case
that / had left at the entrance
90 the cave. So ] made my way
back and got my suit case and
returned. l emptied out some
grub had in the case and be-
gan lifting the great stacks Of
gold from their resting place I
could notice some OF the pieces
were dated back 20 1900 and
looked as bright az II they had
Just come from the mint. BY
this time | had gotten over my
nervous spell and began to
think how proud my wife and
children would be 90 see me
come home loaded down with
gold.
"Well, 20 cut a long story
short, / got out with all the gold
and made my way 10 the home
of friend, and the night fol-
lowing / went back with a box
made as best / could and took
the skeleton and buried il ac-
cOrding TO directions. While in
the cave removing the skeleton
the spiritual voice Of this skele-
ton told me q wonderful story.
and told me all about the gold
and how il come 20 be put there
and true history of the mys-
teries surrounding this great
cave, but / am not permitted Ia
make public any information
regarding the mystery OF this
cave. If l were 10 tell the story
impaired 20 me by this spiritual
voice IL would unravel the
greatest mystery ever known in
East Tennessee. Well, l have
landed home and am living
happy. ! often think of the
words my mother used TO tel
me: "Some day, Tom You may
be rich" This is a bare outline
OF my trip through this cave
AS l stated in the outset, | was
born and raised near this cave
played on the banks of the
river aud in the rock house
many a day. After l had grown
mp TO the age Of 8 years | went
TO stay with G. 4. Vaughn, OF
Clinch Valley, until | was q
years old, for a horse, saddle
and bride. l am sare a greal
many of my old friends will bt
glad TO hear Of my success OF