Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1869-03-18


! torches of the exploring party were sevs
eral times exting guished and the person
having the expedition in churgc, barely
escaped sufi"caiion. +
Immediately joining lie roOmcontaining
these wond, Is IL an oi el;sk of solId brass
some seven feet In hight, beautifully
all, twenty one base>reliefs, anu above,
below and between them is carved an in
lscrption seventysix lines in length. The
who.e is in the best state of preservation,
scarcely character OF the inscription is
wanting and The cures are as sharp and
well drfined as if only executed few
days age. One Of the scenes represented
il circle Of ,aborigines sitting in council
with the ali potent pipe of peace performs
ing its wonted circuit, while the fortunes
of war aud peace are be;n- discussed in
the presence of the white>winged spread>
ing genius. Another scene represented is
that of royal chicftain followed by his
attendert-a prisoner is at his feet, while
men are being introduced leading various
animals and carrying large cross bows and
other weapons The animals represented
are the elephant, besgs lion and variops
kinds oemenkeys. The ornaments deli
cately craven on the robes of party, the
tassels and fringes. the bracelets and srm-
lets, the elaborate curl OF The hair, and
beard are ell entire. One Of the chiefs
stands very erect and holds in his arms
an animal resembling chameis. Around
his temples Is a fillst adorned with flows
ers. One Of the ether characters, 10 q
tragic attitude, holds square vessel re-
sembling basket In hi. left hand, snd
dagger in his right, while on his head Is
worn rounded cap-at the base of which
was horn. The garments cf both cons
sisted of robe falling from the shoulders
to the ankle and a short tunic under
meath descending 10 the knee ,aodiare beau
tifully decorated with embroiderics and
fringes, whilst the hair and beard are ar
ranged with study and taste. The limbs
arc deleniated with peculiar accuracy and
the muscles and bones faithfully, though
somewhat too strongly marked.
After proceeding further the party
reached a .args room With high arched
roof, in which were the entrances to many
other chambers. This contained The
crowning gem OF the wonders, nothing less
than huge sarcophagus of copper nine
feet long and three feet in width. minute>
Iy sculptured within and without, with
several hundred figures representing sn
immense funeral procession and ceremony
les relating TO the deceased chiefta;n. with
many other devices. The lid was remov-
ed and disclosed quantity of bones and
jayelins.
In one Of the secluded corners Of this
apartment. and few feet below the level
of the floor, is the arched entrance 20 an
upexplored chamber-approached by a
narrow passage way down through hid
eous stone stair way. The party, after re
pealed efforts to enter, were obliged to
abandon it.
The knowledge of this ancient and in
teresiing race does not seem, by any means
to have been connned TO statuary and
sculpture. Their weapons and the jew
els with which they were adorned, are.
in some instances, finished With gold and
silver ard carved in the most exquisite
manner conceivable indicating mecbans
ical genius and scientific sttainments OF
the highest order.
The luxu ~ and refinement or an en-
lightened civilization are plainly delieuat>
ed in these mysterious images and devi>
ces, rather than wre;chedness, ignorance
and supers,itions ef semi barharous race.
as eminent authors of the age have SUR
missed our country, previous ts its DIS
covery by Columbus, 10 have been inhab-
tied by.
At present the striciest vigilance is Oh.
served al the cave-no person being al
lowed D enter without permission from
the explorers. who are all ut pr, sent, the
tovored guests of the Rodman House.
During the interval of proceeding fur
ther with their investigations, we under
stand it to be the intention OF the party
having the relics in their possession, TO
ship the movable portion of them to New
York-F permission from the war departs
ncnt for their removal Can be obtained
Rock Island Argus.