Nebraska advertiser., 1869-02-11
From The Omaha Times.
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From the Omaha Times.
Wonderful Discovery Of q
Great Cave Near Omaha.
From a reliable person we gather
the following very interesting infor-
nation which will add much to the
numerous areh@OlOgical discoveries
recently made ia the Missouri and
Mississippi valleys. The various
mounds both north and south Of our
city have heretofore given rise to much
speculation and conjecture. The facts
which we hereby relate viii undOubt-
edly throw a brilliant light on al that
relates to the history and customs OF
the ancient races who once Inhabited
the Missouri Valley.
About a mile south of the valuable
property Of the Credit FOncier Co,
known rs Trainville, lies the Omaha
Stone Quarry Reserve, now owned by
our enterprising citizen. John Green.
The immense demand for building
rock to be used by the great Missouri
bridge company and for the erection Of
the many proposed railroads and pri-
vate dwellings, caused the employ
ment OF large force by Mr.. Green.
who Is steadily engaged In breaking
rock and other work IN his stone
quarry. Great quantities Of rock have
already been taken out, and one ofthe
shafts Is now over one hundred feet
below thesnrface. Saturday afternoon,
two Bohemian labOreFs named Wen
eel Zika and John Slama, while at the
bottom Of this shaft attempting to raise
q large rock, suddenly missed their
footing by the fan Of the rock into a
cavity about five feet below, which al
so carried both men with il. They
were somewhat stunned by the fall,
butWith the exception of q few slight
bruises, sustained no other injury.
Upon further examination they dis
q passage leading IN q south
easterly direction. As the men were
not prepared 20 follow up their discov-
cry, nothing further was done till
Yesterday morning, when q party of
i've wOrkmen, properly supplied with
tOrch-lights, spades, etc. wore lowered
into the opening.
They entered the passage, which
seemed nothing more than a natural
formation. The gray limestone walls
were covered BY an irregular arch
about three feet wide and five feet high,
opening wider and higher as the par
ty advanced. After proceeding about
one hundred feet, O Kissing sound re-
semhling the escape of steam was
heard and q strong sulphur smell
evidently from the other end
Of the passage. After q short consul
tatiOn, the party resolved to proceed at
all hazards and solve the mystery.
They had not advanced more than
fifty feet when the passage suddenly
turned sharp angle to the south, 81
at the same time disclosing q wide
opening into q han OF magnificent
This great hall. or ratf-
er cave, Is about two hundred feet
long, forty feet wide, the greatest
height in the centre estimated about
fifty feet. Beautiful staIectites, Of q
light grey color hang down from the
lofty ceiling. AT the entrance and
along the sides, grOtesque columns
formed from the dripping Of tile lime
deposit now supported the massive
arch above.
The ground Of a dark color, covered
by brown brittle crust, showed a vol
eanie origin. At one end of this hall,
the cause Of the kissing noise and sui
phurOus smell was soon discovered in
the shape of rock from which Jets Of
salphuric steam were steadily forced,
while below was huge basin-shaped
rock, containing sulphur water which
was boiling up, although it did not
overflow the basin.
But the most wonderful discovery
made by the explorers was the record
of an ancient civilization, i'm the char
lcters and figures engraved and pain
ted on the walls. These are described
rs drawings Of animals, some of which
no animal now known, and
Of men and women who resemble the
rather than the American
race. On the largest Of the pillars, q
double triangle enclosing an eye, ham
mer, and square was distinctly traced
IN black.
Not far from the sulphur spring, a
large deposit of bones of enormous size
was found, among them q tusk which
nearly five feet long, this
5he party carried away. It can be Seen |
In the show window at 236, Farnam
street. There was also found what |
seems to be a saddle and bride made
Of bones of some animal, and instead |
Of leather there are dried sinews and
strings resembling cat-gut; the stirrup
Is about four inches wide, and in the
shape Of the fore part of q boot and Of
. metal which seems 70 be q compost /
ton Of copper and silver. This dis
eovery is particularly interesting to
as IL was heretofore be-
lieved that horses were first introduced
into America by COrtez.
Theparty found 3 number Of arrows,
IN AK of this same material as the stir
rup, aud other small implements of
stone. A passage was also discovered |
leading to some other apartment, but
rs this was almost entirely blocked by
rocks, which must have caved into the |
passage, the exploring party returned
further search.
It is now easy to account for our
Saratoga sulphur spring north Of this
city, which evidently has q subtera-
neOus connection with the spring in
the cave. AS we now have party Of
scientific men taking astronomical OBJ
In this city, it would be well
If this discovery, with its hierOglphy-
les, could be examined and reported on.
Mr., Green's quarry will undOubted-
ly hereafter be a resort for tourists and
curiosity seekers. We shall report
further particulars Of this discovery
after personal inspection.
g-o-