Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1869-09-08

SINGULAR DIsClvERIEs AT TIE STAR SPRING.
in excavating for the foundation Of the new
bottling house at the Star Spring some devel-
opments have been made, which are likely
70 excite widespread interest One of our
reporters made special visit to the Spring,
and was amply repaid by an examination of
the curious developments he found Upon
the northwest portion of the lot, nearly in
rear of the old bottling house, at a distance of
twelve feet from the surface, the wOrkmen
removed solid piece of rock weighing nearly
ton. Underneath this, was found what is
supposed TO be a fireplace, which undOubted-
y was used by the Indians as long ago as
1890. From present indication it had been
constructed with much care, being neatly
carved, and from the top was removed huge
stone which would weigh upward ton. At
the foot of the fireplace we discovered ashes.
bones, and other relics, which we suppose to
have been formed by the water between the
layers of rock. From colonial historic sketch
es, we learn that this property in the year
1872 was IN the possession of A family by the
name of Swain, and that it was a custom in
those days to boil the water from this spring,
which was then known as the Iodine Spring,
the salts being used as medicine
From these facts, it is evident this fireplace
was used for that purpose, and the stones
with which it was formed had been originated
by the spilling of this water, in a medlcatet
| form, upon them and through the long period
which they had remaired has become as hard
a substance as the Ssre rock itself The
| h mes which -vero fosA-a bear rrs-sed evidence
/ of belonging to the animal kingdom, aud no
other idea Of their origin can be formed than
chat they came out of the meat which prOba-
| DIV had been cooked in this fireplace, and had
been east away, only to bear faint resemblance
IF those who had inhabited this tract. when
the value and present use of the water were
unknown. At a distance of about two feet
from the fireplace is a large cave, which as
vet has not been developed sufficiently to as
certain of what dimensions or depth it may
ne The mouth is about a foot large and
| from indications keeps growing larger, TO the
| iepth of twenty feet. We saw pole twenty
feet in length run into it and failed 70 meet
Instructions, or find any bottom. 1t contains
water, and is evidently very large, as it would
fioat on either side, sixteen feet
No definite idea, as to what it is, or how it
has been constructed can be found, and fur
ther excavations will only develop WI at now
lies hidden,s unde meath the mass of rock
which seems to form a substantial wall en-
tirely around it. Whether this wall is the
work of past generations, or has been formed
by a cavity in the rocks, yet remains mys-
tery. But we hope to be able to learn more
substantially of it's originality soon, and If
possible, give some information of what char
act er, and what time it was built.
Other relics novel in appearance and beau
ty, such as ore, coal and limestone have
been extracted Among them a perfect in
fant's leg in state of petrifcation, found in
the rock-the length from toe to knee being
eleven inches with about five and three-quar
ters inches the thigh, the foot being four
inches long The limb was found in po-
sition to indicate that it had been buried in
sitting posture. The rock in which the
petri6catiOn was found. giving the full i'm
preston of the leg, is preserved These Gu
riosities, will be on exhibition for short
time at their bottling house and alone are
worth a visit to this spot. We shall endeav-
or to learn in due time. more concerning
these curiosities, and shall transmit them to
the public, who will wait with much inter
est what will next bear evidence to these
factS.-Saratoga Post