Randolph journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1865-186?, 1866-12-27
CURIOUS DISCOVERIES IN
MINNESOTA.
Remarkable Discovery nj ~. An
thony-Traees Of American IRE
historic Civilization, &C.

historic Civilization, &C.
From the New York Hers3d.l
The monotony of our quiet little
town has been considerably disturbed
of late, 10y discoveries of "A most curious
and remarkable nature which have
been made within a few days past in
our midst. They are of so singular
character rs to be beyond the pale OF
credence i'm the minds of almost every
one who has not been a witness 10 the
facts IN the case; but they arc vouched
FOR by citizens OF such known respect
ability and veracity, that the genuine
ness of the statements in regard TO
them is placed beyond a doubt.
= A Mr.. Reuben Nesmith, who lives
in IA small house near the German
catholic Church, had occasion TO go
down In the cellar on the evening Of
the first instant, to arrange place for
his winter stock of potatoes, which he
had been hauling that day from his
farm, about two miles beyond Mano-
min, While engaged in putting to-
gether n temporary bin, and while
digging to make room for the timber
used in constructing it, his shovel came
in contact with plate of iron, which,
after being cleared of earth proved tn
be trap door which was secured bya
ctiriously wrought lock, with heavy
bolts running into a stone beneath. II
was so much corroded by rust that
little pressure with crowbar caused
the plate 10 ogive way, and upon taking
it up an opening was discovered, be-
Meath which II spiral stone staircase
led down into the earth. Before VEN
turing down this staircase, MT.
Nesmith communicated the fact OF its
discovery TO his brotherin-law, Mr..
Luther Chamberlain, and having pro-
cured lantern, the two proceeded to
descend, and after going down one
hundred and twenty-thrcc steps, they
found themselves in narrow, hori-
zontal passage, dug i'm the white sand,
which, rs every one familiar with the
geological formation OF the banks Of
the Upper Mississippi, knows under
lies strata of limestone. Proceeding
along the passage distance Of about
sevcnty-fve feet, they emerged into n
spacious artificial cave, also cxcayatcd
I in this white sand. This, cave was Of
an oblong form, and leading out of II
were several smaller ante-chambcrs,
all of which gave signs of having been
at some former day occupied as de-
positorielp pf some kind. Iron and cop
4 per implements, of a rough kind OF
workmanship, were found scattered
! about, some ST them evidently having
been used for cXcavating purposes,
others for cooking utensils, the marks
/ of fire being Observable on the latter.
I On entering one OF the small ante
chambers, Il number of rude seats were
/ found, and unon one side of the room
an elevated PLATFORM, upon which
stood n roughly hewn stone, some.
thing like the reading desk of an
Episcopal church. On the wei be-
hind this desk, on either side of a
colossal human figure, in bass relief,
very curious hieroglyphics were found
Traced i'm the white sand, and an orna-
mental traccry Of peculiar design COW
cred the other three sides of the
chamber. In the next apartment, a
SORT Of stone sanOphagus was found,
upon the top of which was laid an inn
mcnsc rock, frmly cemented to the
/. burial case, and which required the
united exeftions Of four men to re-
move. This being done, human
skeleton was found underneath, the
bones of which crumbled TO powder
Immediately on exposure TO the air.
Several copper and iron rings were
found in the sarcophagus, also Curl
Gus silver ornament, octagonal in
shape, and carved i'm unintelligible
characters, some ofwhich corresponded
with those upon the wall of the apart
ment above referred to.
A third chamber was much larger in
textent than the others, and the ceiling
was very much like an inverted funnel
in shape, directly under the apex ol
which was large tube-shaped stone,
which was stained with marks af fire
and some other dark substance, and a
deposit of hardened ashes lay around
lit upon the ground. 1t was evidently
used Is a sacriiicial altar, and this
theory seems 20 be confirmed by tho
fact that an aperture large enough tC
!. admit the body of a man opens from
tlfA apartment TO smaller ono, The
floor of which -is below that of the
tothd rooms, and which is covered b,
a lirny powder, apparently the ashes o
bones; whether human or otherwise
can not be ascertained.- On continuing
their explorations, tho party found ar
iron plate door, which easily gave way
upon a little pressr ., and a passage
way about three feet in hight, and
la-ge enough for one person to pas
in stopping posture. was discovered
Mr.. Nesmith and his Drother-in-lav
followed In the passage way, which lee
+ in q somewhat circuitous direction Il
the vicinity Of the river. This is prove
by the sound of water washing upqr
. the shore, which may be distinctly
, heard at the end of this passage way
; tho outer opening OF which has ap