The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-02-19
From the ST. Louis Republican, January IS
Important to .H,Utsss'aIisfs.

PT0W We o. LOUIS itepn0tec0n, january 10
1 Important to .s'utsss'aItsfs.
PREHISTORIC REMAINS, DATING BACK Al
B. O., FOUND AT ST. LOUIS.
1t is generally known in this country, ano
in scientific circles in Europe that the gigan
tic undertaking of bridging the Mississippi
River at this point has been already begun
and that for more than year, when the
state Of theriver would permit, the sound
OF the ponderous machinery has ceased NOT
day nor night, but the work of excavation
has been going on until the solid rock has
been reached for the foundation of the piers
upon the western shore. One of the piers
is already above low-water mark-a tri-
umph of mechanical skill. The blocks OF
stone of which it is built are as huge as
those of the Pyramids, and yet, by the ap-
plication of original principles of mechan-
ical and engineering skill, these gigantic
blocks are moved as easily as the common
foundation stones Of our dwellings. The
outer pier is not yet begun, the excavations
therefor not being quite completed. At
this point the wonders begin, the end of
which is not yet. What effect the discov-
cry of this tunnel under the river may have
upon the location of the bridge the board
OF engineers will soon determine. About
A T. M: yesterday the workmen engaged
IN blasting the rocks in the bottom of the
excavation for the foundation of this pier
discharged an extraordinary large blast of
powder, when Immediately after the report,
o strange phenomenon presented ITSELF
Instead of having the usual time tor the
smoke to clear away they saw it ascend
rapidly in column, as though issuing from
the smokestack of one of our steamers.
This soon cleared, and it was found that
steady amount of air with strange damp
odor was issuing from the cavernous exca-
walton, showing that an opening had been
made into some unknown subterranean
passage. Upon descending to the bottom
the usual mud and water had disappeared
through dark deep opening in the rock
about ten feet in diameter, made by the
last discharge of powder. Ropes, ladders,
and torches were Immediately procured and
careful explorations begun. We cannot
now enter into detailed description, but
having been invited to accompany the
board of engineers with delegation from
the Academy of Science and Historical So
clety, we must reserve a full exposition of
the wonderful discovery until we shall have
made more careful survey. Suffice it for
the present to say it is certain that it pass
es entirely under the river to the Illinois
shore, and whether it is wholly the work
OF some ancient race who once inhabited
This land, whose interesting remains are
strown so thickly up and down this great
valley, 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 to be about
twenty feet high by fifteen broad, and sys-
tematically arched overhead; part of the
way by cutting through solid rock and
part by substantial me sonry. The bottom
seemed to be much worn, as if by carriage
wheels of some sort. There are many lat
eral passages, which, of course, we had no
time to enter These are about eight feet
higR and sp fist SIT 5f entering one of the
lateral passages we soon emerged into
large chamber supported by pillars of solid
rock when the chamber was excavated.
Around the walls of this chamber there
were what seemed to be inches closed with
closely fitting slabs, each slab covered with
inscriptions in Runic uniform characters
which to our eyes bore marvellous resem-
blance to those upon the slab in the Mer-
camille Library, which was brought from
the mines of Nineveh. Between the inches
were projecting pilasters, with draped Alb
yssinian or Egyptian heads, presenting
a most impressive and awe-inspiring effect
as they were illuminated by the torchlight.
Those sweet, sad faces looked down upon
us from the ancient ages, like the souls of
the departed. One of the passages opening
on the north side seemed to follow the
course of the river, and it is believed ex-
tends to the great mound now being re-
moved by the North Missouri Railroad,
which was the theme of much interesting
remark at the last meeting of the Historical
Society. To those who have not seen the
mounds around st. Louis, it may be neces-
sary to say that the mound known as the
Big Mound, is about one mile above the
great bridge now being built The mound
known as Monks Mound is on the other
side of the river, and is but one ola contin-
uous chain of mounds extending from the
river to the bluffs, distance of nine miles
1t is conjectured that the tunnel under the
river and the mounds are intimately con-
nected, and that there was in ancient times
an opening through the mounds from this
subterranean highway. Of course every
| SClcutlHC HAL IL III pcTlcCI icNcI VI cACltt-
ment at these grand discoveries which seem
80 full of promise to archaeological and
chronological inquiries after truth. 1t will
be remembered by our citizens that some
few months since an examination of Monks
Mound was made under the auspices of
some Eastern scientific society; and during
the excavations there were frequent exhala-
tions of disagreeable gases and odors Yet
we will not speculate, but wait in almost
breathless suspense for future Developments.
AS we returned from our hasty examine
ton, passing through its pilastered hall
above described, we observed descending
opening about seven feet high by three feet
wide. Following this in its windings
about fifty yards, we came to flight Of
forty-one steps, ascending which, we found
ourselves in another chamber of wonders
oval in shape, about seven feet long, twenty
feet high, and three feet wide. The walls
of this last chamber were sculptured in
magnificent bas-relief and Runic inscrip-
IONS ..-.. r..
~- A distinguished German professor