Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-01-19
UNDERGROUND Discovsriss near Fond du

~
Lac.
The Fond du Lac Journal Of Thurs
day relates the following interesting facts
for speculation: s-
Some two years ago large shell OF
the Conch species was found near Belt
mill, Tayc heedah, buried deep under the
loose rocks that had at some remote
period fallen from the wall Of the ledge.
Some four weeks ago three similar shells
we're found together, about one mile
south of Belts, under aud closely COW
cred by an immense mass OF rocks
which had fallen from the edge Of the
ledge, and which were being quarried
and removed for building purposes.
These shells show unmistakable signs OF
having been used by man for some pur-
pose. They are some ten to twelve
| inches long, small hole one-eigh,h
of an inch in diameter is in
the small end of three OF
them, having the appearance OF being
drilled, aud proved so by the marks of n
similar hole drilled about half through,
and then abandoned for thinner part
through which the hole was made. At
the other end, and near the fange open.
ing, there is hole in each, half an inch
in diameter, one of which is square, and
shows good workmanship. These holes
are so arranged that on putting cord
through and passing over the shoulder,
the shell would hang in position to be
carried fall of wafer. This suggests
that they were used for carrying
water, by some people who made this
home or a stopping place. The many
springs of clear cold water that dow out
from under this great rock wall, the re-
tired and sheltered slopes and rnvines
that nestle at the foot of the frowning
precipice, had attractions to rude and
wild people that would make this a
marked resort. Even populous city
may have existed there, for there are
hundreds of mounds in that vicinity, |
built by human hands, and within which |
the bones of an extinct race may repose. |
The place in which these shells were
found precludes the idea that they were |
placed there since the rocks occupied |
their present position, for no sufficient
opening exists to admit man or animal.
The loose matter about them was black |
vegetable mould, once the surface of the
earth, and now OVERLAND by some fifteen
feet of limerick blocks, broken away
from the original strata of the ledge one
hundred feet above. Since they were
thrown down by some great convulsion
Of the earth's surface, q heavy forest has
grown up among and around them.
These shells correspond with the de-
scriptions given by Sir Charles Lyell, of
the shells apparently used by the mound
builders of America, which he says are
found abnndantly in the enrthwerks
about the Gulf OF Mexico, and sparsely |
scattered nortbward as far as the lakes,
They are tropical sea shell and in
good state Of preservation, although ex-
hibiting great age" The same paper of
the same date reports:
We have in our possession copper
spear head, found about foot below the
surface of the earth on the ledge in Oak
field. 1t is 81 inches long 1t wide in
the center, sloping to sharp point, and
is f-inch thick. The edges at the heel
are turned in so as to form socket one
inch long for the reception of handle,
and bent out of line sufficient to place
the center of half inch handle in line
with the blade. There is small hole in
this socket, by which to rivit the handle
on, On one side of the surface are seven
traverse cuts equal distance apart,
,ne near the point, and the other two at
4 place end to end, their depth being one
,ixteenth of an inch, and length three
.ixteenths, such as would be made by a
cold chisel. It hard to conceive of any
nse for these cuts, and yet their regular
ity shows design. 1t bears the appear
ance of having been cast in its present
shape, except the bending of the socket
There are some curious lines and marks
IN the surface, probably made by corro-
ion.