Gypsy Heart
Gold Member
Harmon's Cave
Harmon's Cave
Harmon’s Cave is in a hollow behind the Madam Russell House and was long ago used by the Native North American Woodland Indians as a burial place. In A History of Saltville, William B. Kent tells of a local legend that says pygmy Indian spirits are often seen rushing in and out of the cave during thunderstorms. This legend is probably connected to the Native North American Cherokee Indian fairy, Anisgaya Tsunsdi, meaning, “little men.” They are short in stature but look just like their Indian counterparts. They are so connected with thunder that they were often called “thunder boys,” and were believed to make thunder.
In The Ghosts of Virginia, Volume VI, L.B. Taylor, Jr. goes on to tell the story of the lost Smith Treasure of Saltville, and the ghost that still guards its location. He says that in October of 1864, Union troops under General Burbridge were in route to destroy the salt mines in this little town that supplied most of the south with salt during the Civil War. Abraham Smith, a wealthy plantation owner, refused to flee like the rest of the townsfolk, but knew he had to do something to invest in his own future. He and his two sons, Sam and Eli buried close to a million dollars worth of gold and jewels on a dirt road. Eli was caught by a Union colonel, Jack Harrington, and told Harrington where the treasure was buried. Harrington shot Eli, and took the money for himself, burying it in what is now called Harmon’s Cave. Before he could return to stake his claim, he was killed in a blast that shut one of the mines. Old timers say that no matter how often people search Harmon’s Cave; they’ll never find the treasure because Old Jack Harrington still haunts the cave to protect the treasure.
http://www.hauntmastersclub.com/places/smyth_county_saltville_harmons_cave.html
Harmon's Cave
Harmon’s Cave is in a hollow behind the Madam Russell House and was long ago used by the Native North American Woodland Indians as a burial place. In A History of Saltville, William B. Kent tells of a local legend that says pygmy Indian spirits are often seen rushing in and out of the cave during thunderstorms. This legend is probably connected to the Native North American Cherokee Indian fairy, Anisgaya Tsunsdi, meaning, “little men.” They are short in stature but look just like their Indian counterparts. They are so connected with thunder that they were often called “thunder boys,” and were believed to make thunder.
In The Ghosts of Virginia, Volume VI, L.B. Taylor, Jr. goes on to tell the story of the lost Smith Treasure of Saltville, and the ghost that still guards its location. He says that in October of 1864, Union troops under General Burbridge were in route to destroy the salt mines in this little town that supplied most of the south with salt during the Civil War. Abraham Smith, a wealthy plantation owner, refused to flee like the rest of the townsfolk, but knew he had to do something to invest in his own future. He and his two sons, Sam and Eli buried close to a million dollars worth of gold and jewels on a dirt road. Eli was caught by a Union colonel, Jack Harrington, and told Harrington where the treasure was buried. Harrington shot Eli, and took the money for himself, burying it in what is now called Harmon’s Cave. Before he could return to stake his claim, he was killed in a blast that shut one of the mines. Old timers say that no matter how often people search Harmon’s Cave; they’ll never find the treasure because Old Jack Harrington still haunts the cave to protect the treasure.
http://www.hauntmastersclub.com/places/smyth_county_saltville_harmons_cave.html
