Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-06-04

NO. 45.
entrance and explored the winding
galleries. They were rewarded be-
yond their anticipation. A strange
and uncanny object was found in the
''coffin-shaped chamber" and many
were the stories told the boys Of a
corpse with long, black hair, which
swung from chains in q metal coffin
the cavern's silent and only inhabi-
tant.
These alluring stories were too
much for the adventurous youngsters
in the town. So one day Sam Glenn
ems gathered them together and pro-
posed that they explore the wonder
full cave. All the members Of the band
agreed to the proposition and prepara-
tons were made for the journey the
next morning. The band met at the
foot Of Lovers Leap. The party was
composed of Samuel Clemens, John
Briggs, Barney Farthing, John Mere
dith, Gulliver Brady, Frank and Tom
Pitts and Robert Bodine. On their
way to the cave the boys met Tom
Blankenship, the original Huckleber-
ry Finn, who was fishing from the
hurricane deck Of steamboat, and he
was quickly induced to Join the party.
When the boys gazed into the mouth
Of the dark cavern many would have
turned back had not pride and fear Of
taunts from Clemens and John Briggs
prevented. So, with these two lead
ing, the band entered the cave. For
a short distance the descent was made
through q steep, high-arched way,
then a slight descending passage.
which they traversed for what SEEM
ed many miles. BY the dim light Of
their tallow candles they finally reach
ed the -petrihc spring." where the
young adventurers satisfied their
thirst and bathed their heated faces,
a quaking, exhausted group.
After resting a few moments they
started down the long passage in spite
Of the entreaties Of some to turn back.
The passage grew narrower until pro-
gress was difficult. Then Clemens,
who was in the lead, stopped abrupt
ly. The band gathered around him.
looking over his shoulder In fear to see
the weird mysteries Of which they had
heard so much. One hurried glance
was enough. As the candles cast
fiickering light into the gloom Of the
vaultlike chamber they saw a coffin
swaying to and fro, suspended by
chains from the ceiling, or 1t may have
been that the wavering light produced
the Illusion.
One boy cried out suddenly, and
then the whole band retreated hastily.
Stumbling over. stones, falling against
the walls Of the cave, they ran on and
on until they came to spot where the
passage divided into two similar gal
leries. They were undecided as to
which one to follow, but one was final
ly chosen and the band proceeded on
Its weary journey to find the "petrific
spring."
But they wandered on and on with
out finding any trace of the spltng.
Finally Samuel Clemens stopped and
told the rest Of the band that they
were lost. The more timid ones then
set up a wall of despair. their fear
being intensified by the weird shad-
ows cast on the wall by their flicker
ing and almost consumed candles.
Their cries echoed down the cavern
Gus passage until they died away In
the distant gloom. They had heard
their parents tell many times Of the
man who was lost in this cavern, wan
dering for days, until at last he died
of starvation. They wandered aim
lessly around until exhausted, when
the entire party fell asleep. Their
candles all burned out while they
slept, and when the first boy awoke,
Ia cry of terror burst from his lips.
The others Immediately awoke, and
the echoing cavern was filed with
their cries. At last they heard the
welcome sound Of voices, and the
light of a dozen torches appeared,
carried by a searching party. Weak
from wandering and lack Of food, they
were carried out, after having been
lost in the cave 80 hours.
The mystery Of the grewsome figure
in the cave was soon made known.
The physician who owned the cave
had obtained a body from the medical
college with which he was connected
and had put 1t in the cavern to test
the petrifactive qualities OF the water
which had been claimed for It.
For many years those who had VS.
tied the cave asserted that Mark Twain
made a mistake when Tom and Becky
were made to wander In an undiscov-
cred portion Of the cave where stalac-
tites and stalagmites abounded, Tor,
they asserted 1t was geological I'M
possibility for crystals to form In that
kind of stone. But the theories OF
these scientists were disproved when
another branch Of the cave was dis-
covered in 1892, the walls OF which
srarkled with crystals.
The cave was an enduring and SUD-
stantial Joy for all the boys in the
town. For young Clemens 1t had
fascination that never faded. Other
localities and diversions might pail,
but any mention Of the cave found
him eager for the three-mile walk
that brought them to its mystic door.
With its long and tortuous passages,
its possibilities as the home Of a gal
liant outlaw band, It contained every
thing that a romantic boy could desire.
Kansas City Times.
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