The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-12-04

OPENING ANOTHER MOUND AT GRAVE CREEK, v1R-
GINIA-IN1EREsTING DEvELorE mEETs.

OPENING ANOTHER MOUND AT GRAVE CREEK, VIZ.
GINA INTERESTING DEvELoPE MENTs.
From the Wheeling lotelgsncer, NV 49,
We have heard and read considerable, and have
seen something of the Indian Mounds along tae Ohio
and Mississippi vaes. We were at one time familiar
with the so called Mammoth Mound atGrNe Creek
and all the contents, and we have more doubt that
when the mound was dug into, human skeletons,
emblems and inscriptions were found, and that
of beings who lived long anterior to any race OF
Indians OF which we have any authentic history, or
even plausible tradition buried some of their dead
perhaps some ofthe ilustrous of their race
in this mound than we have that. George Washington
was buried at Mount Vernon, or that thousands Of
the inhabitants of Wheeling were buried in the old
East Wheeling grave yard, whose bones we sa1 dug
up in wagon loads, and over whose dust we tread
almost daily. Neither have we any doubt that
small 6at stone bearing unknown characters, about
which there bas been considerable wranglng, was
found in that mound, for VIC saw it years ago. and
have seen it quite recently and were personally IA
miliar with the Investigations which led to the first
publication descriptive Of the mound and lis contents.
That any one should dispute these facts or write
long essays, burtheDed with show of learning and
scientific research some have done, to prove that
the persons who opened this mound and gave the
results to the world, practised an imposition the
public shows either great ignorance or great reck-
essness.
Apropos: We copied the other day from the Grave
Creek paper rather face ions description of rather
q ridiculous attempt to dig into anotheraod uaopen-
cd mound at Grave Creek. We knew nCthin of the
transaction, farther than of the party, our edto
rial iriend Of Grave Greek, humorousy stated. We
suppose bis article was substantially true and for
that reason published it, with comments of
own. At least the incident related Of one of the
party who went from this city, and attempted to
lake the lead i'm the whole mat, pitching headlong
into the mound without system, or any computation
Of the work before him, attempt to do 1t all hu
self in q few hours, characteristic, that we
have doubt it was perfectly true, however rdicu
lous 1t appeared.
We have now learned that DR.. w De Haas, by
whom the explorations OF this mound have been, and
still ale carried on has succeeded, after many days
hard work with several stou. hands, in reaching the
centre and developing the character OF its construc
tion and nature Of its contents. We have been IA
vored with sket Of his researches, and have now
before us some Of the articles found in the mound,
and give the result thus far as cOncisey pos
sibe.
The mound in which these explorations have been
group, and Is distant in northeast direction, about
one mile from the Mammoth Mound. IL is about
thirteen feet In height and two hundred and forty
feet in circumference
In opening this tumulus, drift was carried in
from the southern side to the distance Of about twelve
feet On examination 1t was found that stone could
be traced beneath, and accordingly the excavation
was borne down so 81 to approach 1t. The stone
work proved 10 have been vault extending some
fifteen or sixteen feet in its greatest diameter aud
sinking 10 the depth Of six feet in its centre.
IL had BEEN constructed by sinking est Blk feet
in depth In q slight natural eminence, then round
ing the sioes up regularly, and covering the whole
| with stone, first, however, having deposited the
ashes OF their victims or friends whichever the case
| may have been. Many Of the stones were Of largi
sze, and all bavc reen brought from the neghborine
| hills and creek They were rs firmly held in ths
| places rs to require much tabor to remove them
They appear to have been placed on their edges, u