Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-07-09
A SinFuInr and Ancient stone.

Euolb, July 9Th, go s. M
singular and Ancient stone.
Mr.. David Wyriok, Of Newark, seli-taught
man, and an enthusiast in natural science
has recently made a discovery, that's causing
some excitement. There has long been in
Newark number of citizens who cultivate
natural history, and take deep interest in
objects of general scientific value.
In the immediate vicinity of the place are
the most extensive remains of the works of
the mound builders yet discovered in Ohio
The presence of these ruins of lost race may
have had its influence in stimulating so many
intelligent gentlemen in their researches, par
ticularly in ethnology.
The Agricultural Society of Licking coun-
ty has purchased tract on which the for
est is still standing, that includes some of the
most striking earth works, in a group cover
ing several hundred acres. Here they hold
their Agricultural Fairs and celebrations
within ancient walls. of hight, extent and
thickness equal to modern fortihcatiOns. 1t
was in small horseshoe shaped enclosure,
connected with this group, that Mr.. Wyrick
made his discovery. he was digging in the
centre of small depression, within the work,
in search of human bones The cavity is at
present only slight circular depression,
about twenty feet across, and two feet deep
at the centre. To depth of twelve 10 four
teen inches Mr. Wyrick found only dark,
rich alluvial soil, which had apparently accu-
mulated by the wash of the rains, during a
great length oftime, and from the decay of
vegetation. He states that be was throwing
out this dark mould, and neBr the bottom Of
his pit, came to clay or clayey soil, of light
er color, with some pebbles, and which ap-
parently not had been disturbed. The first
stone seen by him was an oblong pebble, of
reddish quartz, nearly spherical, and very
smooth. Soon after, and near the surface OF
the clay, he saw on the bank, just after he
had thrown up another shovelful of EARTH
another stone Of singular form. On examin-
ing it, it appeared to be artificial, and hastily
brushing off the dirt, he saw, to his great sur
prise, that it had on its sides, plainly engrav-
ed characters Somewhat excited, he wash
ed and rubbed off most Of the adhering soil
The characters are large and distinct and are
the ancient HebreD letter. The form of the
stone is that ola truncated pyramid, with a
rectangular base, about two by one and a
half inches, rising about FIVE inches. 1t ap-
pears to be Of compact quartz, with faint
lines of original qualification. It's color is
brownish-yellow, or grey, every part of the
stone being smoothly ground and polished
The four faces approach each other towards
the top, which forms a square of about an
inch oproeq fha cor-,ors ,f ,.l,;o -, -o,,,,J al
of. On the base is a projection or knob,
with neck for the purpose Of suspending it.
The inscription occupies each of the four
faces Mr.. McCarty, Of this place, who is a
Hebrew scholar, has translated three Of the
sentences, as follows: "Holy of HOLES, -
1.-THE Word Of the Law" and "The Word
of the Lord the remaining one is not yet
definitely understood. Mr.. Cunningham who
is Free Mason, and well informed upon the
history Of the order, and upon antiquities in
! general, says the stone was one used by Ma
sons Of a certain grade in the East soon af
ter the building Of the first temple by Solo
mon, and before the erection of the second
/ It has in their system a well known meaning
/ its principal use in ancient times being fol
| deposit beneath whatever structure the Maste
Mason might superintend. This symbol wa!
not necessarily furnished with inscriptions
but the Mason entitled to use it. might pu
sentences upon it as this one has.
Il would be placed in the northeastern
part Of the foundation; and if it stood OF
its point, would indicate that something
more was deposited beneath If it lay OIL
its broadest face, the point, or small EN-
would indicate the direction where Othe
deposits would be found. These, if founl
would disclose facts connected with th
building. a-i."a.
No person was present with Mr.. Wyrick
but his son, thirteen or fourteen years {
age, who saw his father pick up the ston
from the earth, be had just thrown out. Tn
little earth still remaining in the depres
sions Of the letters, corresponds to that q
the bottom of the pit, and it is eyidentl.
ancient as well as all the marks on th
stone.
All the citizens whom / have heard spea
Of Mr.. Wyrick, say that the idea is not to B
entertained, Of his making an attempt to de
ceive the community in this matter. He
an old resident and has been Surveyor Of th
county. l have seen no one who discredit
his statements, as appearances at the plac
are such as to throw no suspicion upon then
Mr.. Wyrick showed the stone to Gen. Dill
and myself the evening after it was found
The Free MasOns here express no doubts 6
to its genuineness rs an ancient Masonic en-
blem, well described in their books Th
characters are nearly three-fourths Of an inc
long. Further excavations are being made
the rounded pebble may not be artificial; bu
it is singular, as Mr.. Cunningham represent
that two balls should accompany this emblem
wherever it is deposited.
When was it placed there by whom, an
for what purpose? This is the first instanC
Of inscriptions in a known language, foun
in the ancient earth works Of the West
Our Indians have been admitted into the Nj
sonic brotherhood from the earliest settlemer
Of the United States, and perhaps from Il
days Of Spanish discovery on the Gulf {
Mexico. But admitting the possibility Of a
Indian receiving the emblem due to tn
grade, why should the inscriptions appear
the most ancient Of languages? If lost
r accident, how could it be covered 10 30 grei
great depth by natural accumulation in s
J short a period2 If placed there by design
a monument, its antiquity must reach baC
to the DAYS Of the race Of the Mounds whe
these works were erected. Was it secrete
= there, in comparatively modern times, /
some worshipful master Of the savage race
by some person into whose possession it ms
: have Gomez As yet various impression
5 exist as to its origin, which for the presen
are only conjectures.-C. W., Newark, c
: July2, 1850,
Z The following by Mr.. Peixotto, Of Clevp