The Tarboro' southerner., 1869-04-01
The TarbOrO' SOutherner.
THURSDAY, - APRIL l, 1869
Astounding Discoveries s-sPr0hiStOrlc Re-
mains Batting Back to the Founding Of
the AsSyrian Empire Forty flour Cen
turieS BEFORE Christ

of date some months since, which re-
veal an insight into little of the past
history of the World which seems
more like fiction than truth:
1t is generally known in this coun-
try, and in scientific circles in Europe,
that the gigantic undertaking of bridg-
ing the Mississippi river at this point
has been already begun, and that for
more than year, when the river would
permit, the sound of ponderous machin-
cry has ceased not day nor night, but
the work of excavation has been going
on until the solid rock has been rea>
ched for the foundation Of the piers
upon the western shore
One of the piers is already above low
water mark-a triumph Of the mechan-
ical skill. The blocks of one of
which it is built are huge as those Of
the Pyramids, and IT by the applica-
tion of original principles of mechani>
cal and engineering skill, these gigan-
tic blocks are moved as easily as the
common foundation stones ofour dwell
Jugs. The outer pier is not yet begun,
excavations therefor not being quite
Completed At this point the wonders
begin, the end of which is not yet
What effect the discovery of this tun-
uel under the river may have upon the
location Of the bridge the board of en-
gineers will sron determine.
About half past four p NJ, yesters
day, the workmen engaged in busting
rocks iu the bottom of the excavation,
for the foundation ofthis pier, dischar-
sed an extraordinary large blast of
powder when, immediately after the
report, strange phenomenon presen-
ted itself. Iustead of having to wait
the usual time for the smoke to clear
away, they saw it asceLd rapidly in a
column as though issuing from the
smokestack of Que of our stcamers.-
This soon cleared, and it was found
that a steady amount of air with a
strange, damp odor, was issuing from
the cavernous excavation, showing
that an opening had been made into
|
Upon descending to the bottom, the
usual mud and water had disappeared
through dark, deep opening in the
rock about ten feet in diameter, and bv
the last discharge Of powder. Ropes,
ladders and torches were Immediately
procured and careful explorations bc>
gun. We cannot now enter into de>
tailed description, but havin" been in
vited to accopany the board of engin-
ecrs with a delegation from the Acade>
my Of Science aud Historical Society.
we must reserve full exposition of
this wonderful discovery until we shall
have made a more careful survey
Suffice it for the present to say it is
certain that it passes entirely under
the river to the Illinois shore, and whe-
ther it is wholly the work of some an
cient race who once Inhabited this land
whose interesting remains are strown
SO thlckly up and down this great val
ley, or whether it is partly natural and
partly artificial remains to be seen. In
any case it is none the less stupendous
The main passage we should judge tc
be about twenty feet high by fifteen
broad, and Systematically a:ched over,
head; part of the way by cutting
through solid rock and part by sub.
stantial masonary. The bottom seemed
to be much worn as if by carriage
wheels Of some sort. There are many
lateral passages which of course We hae
no time to enter. These are abou
eight feet high and six feet wide. Ii
the main passage we saw no tools o.
implements of workmanship, but OF
= entering one of the lateral passages w
soon emerged into a large chamber sup
} ported byleaning pillars of solid rocl
f when the chamber was excavated.-
Around the walls of this chamber ther,
were what seemed to be inches close,
with closely fitting slabs, each slal
covered with inscriptions in Runic uni
form characters, which to our eye
bore 4 marvellous resemblance t
those upon the slab in the Mercantil
Library, which was brought from th
mines of Nineveh. Between the nj
= ches were projecting pilasters, wit
draped Assyrian or Egyptian heads
which presented most impressive al
y awe>inspiring effect as they were illun
mated by the torchlight. Those swee
K sad faces looked down upon US fror
: the ancient ages, like the souls of tn
!, departed. One of the passages open
ing on the north side seemed to folio,
n the course of the river, and it is believ
ed extends to the great mound now b
ing removed by the North Missoul
railroad, which was the theme of inter
esting remark at the last meeting {
the Historical Society. To those wh
} have not seen the mounds around S
), Louis, it may be necessary to say tn;
the mound known as the Big Mount
'r is about one mile above the great bride
$ now being built. The mound know
$ as Monks Mound is on the other sic
OF the river, and is but one of cont,
.s uous chain Of mounds extending trol
the river to the bluff, a distance
!, nine miles 1t is conjectured that tt
v tunnel under the river and the mount
d are intimately connected, and thu
Is there was in ancient times an openiu
i through the mounds from this subtel
sr ranean highway. Of course ever
scientific man is in perfect fever
excitement at these grand discoveri'
% which seem so full Of promise to a
theological inquiries after truth:
v will be remembered by our citlzer
y that some few months since an exam
A. ination of Monks Mound was mac
< under the auspices of some easter
scientific society; and during the exc
walton there we're frequent exhalatior
of disagreeable gases and odors. Y