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The exploration of Devils Oven !! - Friday, October 05, 2007 at 7:41:17 PM

During the Patriot Wars of 1838 a man named Bill Johnston (often referred to as a pirate) spent time hiding in a little cave called Devils Oven. Many stories exist regarding how big the cave really is. The water is really low right now so I decided to do a little investigating and take along the video camera.

Video:

Now there are a lot of stories about all of this. Some say he was in this cave for a whole year, some say just 3 days. The link below contains the oldest bit of information I could find and I imagine it is probably one of the more accurate versions of the story. Go to the link below and read what it has to say.

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~twigs2000/chap9.html

I was also warned about large black water snakes in the cave, but that is not enough to scare off old Johnny.

In case you don't know this little story has a lot to do with Pirate Days which we have in the Bay every August..

UPDATE:

Here is the extra footage I didn't use in the video.. you can really see in the cave with some of it..

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE LIVE RIVER CAM !!

Comments

Comments by ''Hardball'' from United States on Saturday, October 27, 2007 at 8:11:09 AM - IP Logged

Chris, Johnston also lived in the silver mine on Grindstone Island. How about a visit there?

Comments by ''Mike B'' from United States on Monday, October 08, 2007 at 7:06:35 AM - IP Logged

I too have always wanted to do that.It is funny how the story attracts so much attention.The Palasades east of Nine Mile have dozens of these ovens but I don't know how far they go in.Great job Chris you may be on to something here.You could be the St Lawerence Myth Buster.Maybe a TV show.The Bay network...........why not? ? ? ? ? We look forward to your next legend adventure.Where is Mrs Boldt buried?

Comments by ''J.T.'' from United States on Sunday, October 07, 2007 at 2:46:25 PM - IP Logged

ohh there is something back there... you can see it when I shine the light in there in the second video.. its either a small little pocket or maybe more ? need somebody skinny and little to send back there. Tidd is too tall.

Comments by ''SoCal Mike'' from United States on Sunday, October 07, 2007 at 1:23:53 PM - IP Logged

Awesome, I have always wanted to see in there. A little disapointing though on the caves part. I expected a big room back there somewhere. Bring Tidd with you next time, he ain't scared of snakes :)Goodtimes Bro.

Comments by ''Teta'' from United States on Saturday, October 06, 2007 at 7:23:00 PM - IP Logged

Chris, this is awesome! I have always wanted to go in there. You HAVE to go back with a skinny person! I'm dying to see in there further.

Comments by ''rackum'' from United States on Saturday, October 06, 2007 at 12:32:47 PM - IP Logged

Chris, like the rest of the comments made here I thought it was really different and i enjoyed it very much, thank you. Maybe you could go to other sites on the river and take a "walk about" on dry land. Quite a few of us have been by these places but never stopped to explore. Might bring some business there if more people could see what they are missing. Thanks again.

Comments by ''Alana'' from United States on Saturday, October 06, 2007 at 8:22:19 AM - IP Logged

Chris,
That was a great link. I know as a teenager working at Uncle Sam Boat Tours we used to tell the story of Bill Johnston and there were so many different versions. I like the video too and tell Nick that for dinner and drinks at Coleman's I'll climb inside the cave-haha.

Comments by ''travis'' from United States on Saturday, October 06, 2007 at 2:54:29 AM - IP Logged

chris you should nick take us out in the boat before it cold and i will try to go in as far as i can.

Comments by ''Elliot'' from United States on Saturday, October 06, 2007 at 1:34:01 AM - IP Logged

I think that was awesome and you should deffinetly get someone who could fit up in there and do it again. thanks for the great site Chris

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