The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-01-06
remarkable Discoveries Relics OF
Antiquity-Tndian Sculpture
Unearthed-The Statue of
a Beautiful xEdian Mai
den found-Tromen-
dous Excitement
on the Island.

| Rock ISiuid-the present site OF tue Ohlleu
States Arsenal and the discovery Of anti
ouarian relics of the rarest and most inter,
esting character
The entrance to largo caye,as our home
readers are doubtless aware, is plainly yisi.
bic from the ferry landing, as well as other
portions Of our city bordering on the river
bank, and although some ten feet IN diane
ter at the entrance, j, gradually dininishes
IN size until some twenty five feet are reach.
3D. when II is with difficulty that a person
ran effect an entrance by Granting through
the apperture, but when once fairly through
tbeze IL no dFculty 10 standing erect
Until tho recent interesting discoveries
were msie by the party Of eu,erprisiug eN
plorrIs, representing an eastern scientific
society and who are now soiourning in our
city, this cave has never been known TO be
over one hundred and twenty feet in depth,
and has possessed nothing more than ord
nary interest, except rs having been thought
! By Inc stern old Sac warrior, Black Hawk,
! 10 have been the chosen abode Of the Great
! Spin, that presided over their destiuies.-
! But upon q close examination at the termi.
nus OF one Of the darkest aud most intricate
recesses a narrow cavity was discovered in
! the rock, and, By the aid of torch forced
! into il, an interior apartment was found, up.
on entering which the party were enabled
| to explore the suJlerraneou5 passage for
| distance Of nearly one thousand feet. The
main passage is some six feet in width and
about nine in height and is evidently a
natural carerH, though in several places
! there are evidences Of its having been
| wiicucd, as chsnl marks can be distinctly
! discovered on the wallg-besides numerous
small rccr-scs at regular intervals Of fifty
feet which bear traces Of having been hewn
out OF the massive solid rock.
The second corridor, leading from the
main one is very extensive containing six
p0ndcrous pillars, cHwreathcd with gorgeous
decorations. Beyond this Is shorter cham
Der in which ls the entrance to the Sductlm
SqHciyrUm, and which contains one Of the
grandcst collections Of antiquarian curios.
ties ever discovered on this continent. II
contains huge pedestal in the centre con.
structed Of solid copper upon which IS erect.
ed magnificent shrine which, with its
unique inscription, denotes the antiquity Of
its devotees. Surrounding it are the coIlos.
sal figures OF the twelve worshippers in
kuceHng posture, and quite contiguous to
them Is the symmetrical though Giminutive
figure Of an Indian maiden, with COunte
nance Of surprising beauty, aud strongly
marked features, indicative Of deep thought
aud wondering surprise, pointing with one
L.. 81 4
the Shcoi-indeati thereby that the
end Of their destiny and race is at hand
Above them all, on its projecting and cres
cent shaped roof, are arranged in systematic
precision, cross-bOws, arrows and other
weapons in warlke profuson-remindiug
one Of the ancient sons Of Persia and Greece.
The atmosphere in this apartment is nj.
most unfit to sustain animal lie-hcing
damp, heavy and very impure, The torches
of the exploring party were several times
eEtnguished and the persons having the
! expedition in charge, barely escaped suGlo
! cation.
Immediately adjoining the room contain.
! ing these wonders is an ObeGsk Of s0iid
brass some seven feet in height, beautifully
scuipturcd on four sides, There arc, in all,
twcuty.onc small has rolief3, and above, BE-
low and between them is carved All iuscrip
ton scvcnly.six lines in length The Who'll,
is IN the best state Of scrvalion-scarcci,
] character OF the inscription IL wanting
and the figures are as sharp and well Dc
fined az if executed only "a few days age
One Of the scenes represented is n circle c
the ancient Aborgines sitting in council
with the all .poteut pipe Of peace pcriormn
its wOnted circuit, while the fortunes Of wa
and peace are being discussed in the pre-
ence of the whte.wingcd presiding ceniul
Another scene represented Is a royal chic
tain followed BY his attcudants--a prisOno
is at his feet, while men are being ntIC
duced leading various animals and carrying
pondcrous crossbows, iavcIjns and othe
r weapons. The animals represented are the
elephant, polar bear, lion, stag and yariou
kinds Of monkeys. The ornaments deli
cately craven on the robes of the party, the
tassels and iringos, the bracelets and arm.
lets, the elaborate curls Of the hair anC
beard are all entire One Of the chiefs
stands very erect and carries in his arms al
animal resembling chUroi2 upon hisright
arm, and in his left hand branch bearing
fire flowers. Around his temples are fllet
adorned in front with a rosettc. One of the
other characters, in & tragical attitude, hold,
a square vessel, resembling a basket in his
left hand, and drawn dagger in the right
while on his head is worn rounded cap
at the base of which is a horn. The gar
meuts Of both consist of robe falling from
the shoulders to the ankle, and short uniC
underneath, descending to the knee, and are
richly and tastefully decorated with EN-
hroideries and fringes, whilst the hair auC
beard are arranged with study and taste
The limbs are delniRted with peculiar &C
curacy and the muscles and bones faithfully
though somewhat too strongly marked
After proceeding farther the party reached
large room with high arched roof il
which were the entrances to many Other
chambers. This contained the browning
gem of the understanding less than a
huge sarcophagus of copper-nine feet long
and three feet in width, infinitely sculpturod
within and without, with several hundred
| figures representing On immense funeral
| procession and ceremonies relating to the
| deceased chieftan. with emblems and other
| devices. The lid was partially removed
! and revealed q quantity Of bones aud Ave.
| Inns.
In one of the secluded corners Of this
apartment, and a few feet below the level
Of the floor, is the arched entrance to an
unexplored chsmber-approached by mar
row passageway down through a hideous
stone stairway. The party, after repeated
efforts to effect an entrance, we're obliged
to abandon it. In plainly defined Indian
characters, it bears the significant iuscrip
ton, Gan hope abandon, We who enter in"
an admonitoD which, while it tended only
10 excite and increase the curiosity of the
exp orers, was wisely needed.
The knowledge of this ancient and inter.