The Shasta courier., 1868-01-18
SHASTA COURIER.
Discovery of Ancient Indian Relics in
Montana.

A wonderful story reaches US from Mon
tana-lndeed, a tale which we should hardly
credit wereit not related to us by one whom
we consider worthy of credence. The gen
tleman who related the circumstance to us
came down on the steamer yesterday, and
had himself conversed with Mr.. Edward
Parsons, one of the lucky adventurers, wLo
gave him the following particulars:
In july last, company of FIVE prospectors
was made up in Helena, who, having heard
of the unexplored country around the head
of the Yellowstone, determined to visit that
district in search of lodes. The country was
found to he almost entirely free from Indians,
and there was abundance of game, until
they arrived within two days journey of
Yellowstone Lake, where the scene entirely
changed, the country being entirely barren,
and permeated in every direction with hot
springs, and assures in the rock, from which
issue smoke and noxious gases.
Continuing their journey through seorch.
ing atmosphere, and encountering some peril
among the rough and irregular ridges of
bare rock, which everywhere distinguished
the landscape, the Travellers on the third
day, came to the margin of small lake,
from which issued a river which they Judged
would lead to the Yellowstone. They noticed
a long, irregular mound, crowned on the top
by an ancient T" stone cairn,n similar to
those seen in some parts of New Mexico,
which was half concealed in grass and a
growth of low bushes. As the work of re-
moving the stones did not appear difficult
one, they being uncemented and of medium
size. it was proposed to open the /" cairn,
which was done after half days labor, and
below was found q solid cemented floor,
which sounded hollow to the tread. Being,
however, determined to complete their work,
the travellers, after some labor, dug down
some twelve inches, when they came to an
immense stone, seven feet long, which took
the united strength Of the party to remove =
Beneath there was long, low chamber, and
when the ewes of the intruders became ac-
customed to the darkness, it was seen that
an Indian catacomb had been unearthed.-
Seated in a single row around the quadrangle
were the remains of upward of thirty war
riors, from whose forms the flesh had long
since mouldered away, and whose very
bones crumbled into dust at the touch of the
spectator. On the floor around lay numer-
Gus instruments of the war or the chase,
some of iron and some of stone; and the en-
tire apartment was covered with fine and
impalabe dust, which was all that remained
of the furs and robes with which this abode
Ol utdlu udu QOuDlleSS dI Ullt llue UeeE Cdr-
peted.
Lying beside the bones were numerous
ornaments indicating the rank of the dead
and among them were many of those twisted
circlets of gold known to antiquarians as
'' torques,n which had at one time entwined
the neck and arms of their savage owners
Some of these were of unusual size, weighing
one and a half to two pounds, and many
minor ornaments of the same precious metal
were also secured by the happy finders
What chiefly attracted attention, however.
was a massive basin or kettle that occupied
the centre of the apartment, and was doubt
less used as sacrifical censer for burning
incense, it being two feet high, and two and
a half in circumference. This massive arti-
Gle, wonderful to tell, proved, on examina
ton, to be of pure gold, and was so heavy
that the party had difficulty in removing it
from its resting place, and bringing it to the
open air. Endeav0rs were then made to
break the vessel, but the pure quality of the
gold caused it only to bend beneath the
blows inflicted upon it. After great exer.
tions the adventurers were enabled, bv
means of their axes, to sever the mass into
portable pieces, laden with which the party
turned their steps homewarl having them.
selves to walk the greater part of the way
to give relief to their burthened animals-
The whole amount of gold was brought to
Helena. and Mr.. Edward Parsons calculated
that his share of the treasure amounted to
S2l.000, the whole bulk being at least $780,
0U0 in value. Mr.. Parsons is a native of
Montana, and resides Mt Green Vale, near
Helena, where he is well known. Notwith-
standing his extraordinary luck, he intends
to return to the river where these discoveries
were made, and which he calls Grave River,
feeling convinced that there are more cata.
combs in that vicinity.