Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1866-12-19

Head Waters of the N1lsslSslppl
.-rraces Of American Pre-Elie.
torlc Clvillxallon, Etc.
Correspondence Of che New rk.Hsrald.
Sr. ANTHONY, Minn., Dec. g..
The monotony Of our quiet little town has
been considerably disturbed o: late BY dis>
coveries of . most curious and remarkable
nature, which have been made within the
past few days IN our midst. They arc Of SO
singular character as to be beyond the
pale OF crcdcnce in the mirds OF almost
every one who has not been witness to the
facts in the casc but they are vouched for
by citizens of such known rcspectability and
veracity, that the genuiuencss Of the states
ments in regard to them is placed beyond .
doubt.
A Mr.. Reuben Nesmith, who lives in n
small house near the German Catholic
lar on the evening Of the Lat instant, to af
range . place for his winter stock Of
potatoes, which he had been hsuling that
day from his farm about two miles beyond
Manomin. While engaged in putting
together temporary bin, and while digging
to make room for the timber used in
constructing il, his shovel came in contact
with . plate II iron, which, alter being
cleared Of earth, proved TO be trap door,
which WAS secured BY = curiovaly wrought
lock, with heavy bolts running into stone
beneath. 4 was so much cofroded BY rust
that little pressure with crow6ar caused
the place TO give way, and upon taking
i up an opening Vas discovered, beneath
uhch spiral stone staircase led down into
the earth. Before venturing down this
staircase Mr.. Ncsmith communicated the
fact Of its discovery 70 his brother-in law,
Mr. Luther Chamberlin, and, having pro.
cured lantern, the two procseded 10 de.
scend, aud after going down ono hundred
and twenty>thres steps, they found them.
selves in narrow, horizontal passage, dug
in the white sand, which. and every one f.
mliar with the geological formation OF the
banks of the Upper Mississippi knows, IN.
dcrlics a strata Of limestone. Proceeding
along the passage distance Of about seven
tv-iive feet, they emerged into . spacious
artificial cave, also excavatcd in this white
sand. This cave Was Of On 0blong form,
and leading out Of it were several smaller
ante chambers, all of which gave signs Of
having been ct some foruer day occupied 40
"
implements, Of rough kind Of workman
ship, were found scattered shout, some Of
them evidently having been used for exca
waiting purposes, others for cooking uten>
sils, the marks Of fire being observable On
the latter. On entering one Of tho small
ante chambers, number Of rude seats were
found, and upon one side Of the room an
elevated platform. upon which stood =
Youghly hcwn stone, something like
the reading desk Of IN Episcopal
church. On the wall behind this desk,
on either side OF . colossal human
figure, In bas relief, very sarious hisro-
glyphics were found traced in the white
sand, and an ornamental tracery Of peculiar
design covered the other three sides Of the
chamber. In the next apartment sort Of
steae sarcephagus was found, upee tAe top
Of which was laid an immense rock, firmly
cemented 10 the busiA cass, and which 70.
ouired the united exestions Of four men 70
remove. This bsing denc, huaaD G1de
ton was found Underneath, the booee Af
which crumbled to powder Immediately up.
on exposure to the cir. GovsBal soppee ane
iron rings 1srs found in The ssecophagus,a 40
also . curious sllvR bfaaa.Sa4 ocsaeonal in
ters, some Of which correspouded With those
upon the wall of the apartment shave refer
rcd TO. 7 ist
A third chamber Was much largss IL u.
tent than The others, and the ceiling NJ
vcry much like an inverted fuonsl o60hApo.
directly under The apex Of which MAS alasge
marlo Of fire and some other DIRK sub.
stance, and deposit Of hardened ashes ~
around it upcu the ground. Il Wa evtdsot.
" used 20 an artificial altar, and ghis theory
scems % b confirmed By the fact thae N
aperture large enough to admit the body Of
. man opens ffem thie apartment into .
smaller ore, the floor Of which 10 below that
Of The other fooms. and which b covered
with . kny powdss, apparently the ashes Of
bones, whether humsa O. Otherwise can
not b. asceftained. On containing their
sxplssasisss Che party Seund IN irsa-
plate door, which easily gave way upon Z
| little pro -ooruy aoA Z peom6o vay, shout
three feat in hight, and large enough fos
one person 10 pass, n stopping postdFe,
was discoversd. NJ. Nsenith end his broth
erin Law followed this passege way, which
| ia = : sUsns~hst clfcui(uos disseatsa d
the vfcinioy ct The siter. This b prostd
by the sous1 q W6bG 66Gh6ae up % ths
shsss. which may b distinctly bsosa q ths
end u this passags W4y, the oat9 0Qoaino
to which - appofeauy heea and - ftsln
~ inside with bsohea techD. aaa tk1pugt
The intssstieos Of which ffUGAcf a. I'm a.
Of the cavs can - fla1 t1ooine - lfinsA
r. ne WholeselG1p b mySeG(8ySAD fu1ie1
loppd ~ uoe q ~ absstGiaat u Gnna61ss
/ .~A sne~ kav~ e,~~sn Aka sm,oh -