The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-12-10
CURIOUS DISCOVERIES IN MINNESOTA.
OUR ST. ANTHONY CORRESPONDENCE.
Remarkable Discovery Near the Head Water.
Of the 1Iississppi-Trnceso of American Pre-.
Historic Civilization, &c.

lttstOTiC lIvlIZatiOuy &C
ST. ANTHONY, MINI, Dec 8, 1866.
The monotony OF our quiet little town has been CON
siderably disturbed OF late, by discoveries OF most
curious and remarkable nature which have been made
within few days past In our midst They arc Of so
singular character 10 be beyond tho pale Of Gre
dence in the minds OF almost every who has not
been witness to the facts in the case; but they are
vouchcd for by citizens OF such known responsibility
and veracity that the genuneness OF the statements
regard 10 them is placed beyond doubt
Mr. Reuben Nesmth, who lives in a small house
near the German Catholic church, had occasion TO 60
down in the cellar the evening Of the LIST inst to ar.
range place for his winter stock Of potatoes which he
had been hauling that day from his farm about two
miles beyond hanomn. While engaged in putting
together temporary bin, and while digging to make
room Tor the timber used In constructing H. his
shovel came in contact with plate Of iron
VIII Oh after being cleared of earth proved 10 be
a trap door, which was secured by curiousIy
wrought lock, with heavy bolts running into
stone beneath II was SO much corroded by that
ittle pressure with crowbar caused the plate give
way, and upon taking up opening was dscov cred,
beneath which spiral stone staircase led down into the
earth Before venturing down this staircase Mr. Ncs-
NTH communicated tho fact OF It's discovery 10 his
brothern-law, Mr. Luther Chamberlain, and having
procured lantern the two proceeded to descend and
after going down one hundred and twenty three steps
they found themselves In narrow horizontal passage
dug IN the white sand which as every familiar with
the geological formation Of the banks OF the per Mis-
sissippi knows, underliee strata OF limestone Pro-
ceedine along this passage distance Of about seventy
five feet they emerged into a epacious artificial cave
also excavated in this white sand This cave was az an
oblong FORM aud leading out OF u were several smaller
ante chambers al Of which gave signs Of having been
at some former day occupied ~ repositories OF some
kind Iron and copper implements, or a rough Kind OF
workmanship, were found scattered about some OF them
evidently having been used for evcavaiing PURPOSES
others for cooking utensils, the Of re beng oh.
seryable the latter ON entering one Of the small
ante chambers number OF rude seats were found
and upon side OF the room an elevated platform
upon which stood roughly hewn stone something IKE
we reading deck Of an Episcopal church on the wall
bchnd this desk on either side OF a colossal human
lEutt 10 bass relief very curious eroglyrhics we're
found traced VI the white sand and an ornamental
thenty ~ peculiar ccegn covered the other al roe SIDES
q we chamber In tie next apartment sort % stone
hsf,ophaGs was found upon the top OF which was laid
~ 'nense iock, hrmy eemcnted 20 the burial case,
su winch reqnred the cseftous nf four mon 10
ism9Ne' TINS beng done, human skeleton Was found
uuueIneah we ZONES q which crunbed 10 powder inn
meaAey lpoh exposure 70 the ar Several copper
aud IRON rings wore found II the saroophasus a. Ala
curious SILVER ornament ocsgona In shape aud carved
10 unlutels0'e Characters * which orr,spoudea
ferred TO. "S0'' -
tn'rd chalnser was much larger In extent ,hso tho
others and The ceiling was very much ike an Inverted
funnel Ia shape, directly under The kpDx ~ .n,ch -
large oune haped stone which was stained with rsrts
Of tire and some other darE substance nud dnV, 81
hardened sEhes lay around il upon tho frnp,d M -.
evidently used ae sscrlcia altar and fs tbrv .cr
20 be confirmed by hs fact thai an an riurc arg ,oh
20 admit the body o Iaan opens from this eravtnent
into smaller one, tie boor Of which = below tbai az
The other rooms, and which y covered with a nmy
powder apparently The ASHES Of bones whether human
otherwise cannot be ascerfasned ON coni,ngIng
thor explorations the party found an iron plate door
which easily way upon Little pressure ana pas,
way about three feet Ia height and large enough
Tor one person 70 psss IN STOPPING posture sas ds.
covered Mr. Nesmlth and hts orotherin.lsw followed
tins passare way, which led In some what clrauItovs
direction 10 the vicinity Of the river This proved by
the sound Of water washing upon the shore. which may
be sAncty heard at tho end OF this passage way The
outer opening 70 which has apparently been flied up
from The inside With broken rocka and through the In
tertces " which frcsher than that Of the cave can
be feit blowing At umes
fhs whole AFFAIR mystery the roles found are not
~ Oil aboriginal IN character and NAV have been the
Bsk u naosa assisting long voore even these p,ar.cs