Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-01-20
ABORIGINAL.
The Reported Discoveries al
Rock Island
Wonderful Relics Statues In
COppe--An Ob9Iisk
Of Brass.

/ Argus says.
We nave the pleasure this evening OF
laying before cur readers the result OF
one OF the most interesting gsubteTraneous
/ exploring expeditions ever attempted on
/ this continent. II is nothing less than
an underground DesssgeWsY under Rock
IsIaEd-the pres e1E site CT ths United
/ States arsenai-aEd the discovery OF an
/ tiquArian relies OF the rsrest and most in
/ terestirg character.
/ The entrance to large cave-a5 our
home reapeCs are doubtless aware is
I plainly visible from the ferry landing,
vel as other portions of cur city border
ing on the river bank, and although
some ten feet il diam cter at the en
trance, ii z adually dimiEishes iu siz g
until some twenty-five feet are resCasd
when tits with difficulty thsta person can
effect an entrance by crawling through
the aperture, but when once fairly
through, there is no d!ffieultyin standing
erec..
Until the recent interesting discOve-
ries were made by the enterprislng ez-
plorers, representing an + ,stern 5cien-
tiic Society, and who are now sOiOurn
ing in our city, this cave has never been
known TO be over one hundred and
twenty feet in depth, and has possessed
y
cept ss having been thought by the stern
old Sac warrior, Black Hawk, to have
been the chosen abode OF the Great Spirit
that presided over their destinies. But
upon close examination &C the terminus
of one OF the darkest and most intricate
recesses, a narrow cavity was discovered
in the rock, and by the aid OF torch
forced into it, an interior apartment was
fouuC, upon entering which the party
were enabled tOexpiOre the subtarraueCus
passage for q distance or nearly one
thousand feet. The main passage is some
six feet in width and about nine in
height, and Is evidently natural cav.
ern, though Ia several places there are
evidences OF its having been widened, as
chisel marks can be distinctly discovered
on the waiis-besides numerous sma
F6cesges at regular intervals of fifty feet,
which bear traces OF having teen hewn
out Of the massive solid rock.
The second corridor, leading from the
main one, is very MISUNDERSTANDING
six ponderous pillars enwrea;hed with
gorgeous decorations. Beyond tnat Is a
shorter chamber, in which is the en-
trance to the S0pct3tBI saact0ruAa, and
which contains one OF the grsndest col
leclioBs of antiquarian cuFiosities ever
discovered on the continent. L contains
a huge pedestal in the center constructed
of solid copper, upon which is erected
magnificent shrine which, with its
unique inscription, denotes the antiquity
OF its deVOtees. Surrounding it are the
colossal figures of the twelve Worship
peFs 10 kneeling posture, and quite cJn-
tiguous 10 them is the symmetrical
though dimiuuive figure Of an Indian
maiden, wiki e1u ltenance OF surpass-
ing beauty, and strongly marked
features, indicative OF deep thought and
wOndr0us surprise, pointing with one
hand to the expressive word engraved
upon the wsll-SheCk indicating there
by that the end Of their destiny and race
is st hand. Above them all, Oh its pro-
jeeLing and eresGeBt-shsped roof are
arranged in SYST maiic precision, cross
bows, AFRO VS. and ether weapons IN war
like rofusion-remindiDg one OF the an
cient sOns Of Persia and Greece.
The atmosphere in this apartment is
almost unfit to sustain animal life, being
damp, heavy and very impure The
torches Of The exploring party were sew
ersl times extioguishC d, and the persons
having the expedition IN charge barely
escaped suff0cstiun.
Immediately adjoining the room con-
taiuing these wonders is an Oselisk OF
solid brass, some seven feet in hight,
scu pturcd on four sides.
There are, in all, tWeBtY.one sRsll b2s-
reiiefs, and above, below and between
them is carved an inscription, seventy
six lines 10 length. The whole is in the
best state of preservation, scarcely a
character Of the inscription is wanting,
and the figures are Is sharp and well de-
Hned as if executed only q few days |
sgO. Oae Of the. scenes represented is = |
circle Of the ancient sborigines sitting in |
the all-pOtent pipe Of /
peace performing its wOnted circuit, /
whiie the fortunes Of war and peaes are /
being discu' Il ia the presence Of ths /
while winged presiding genius. Az |
other scene represented Is rough |
chic tain followed by his a.tendants-I
q prisoner is az his feet, Wills men I
are being introduced leading vaIicns |
animals and carrying p0nder9u5 cross
O1Ws, javelins, and other weapons. The |
animals represented are the elephant. |
polar bear, lion, stag, and various kinds /
lf monkeys. The ornaments deiicalely |
craven on the robes Of the party, the t8s-
sels and fringes, the brg celets and arm
cts, the elaborate cu5la Cf the hair and
beard are all entire. Oae OF the chiefs
stands very erect and carries in his arms
in animal Tesen0 bling aehsmOis upon his
light arm, and IN his LETT hard branch
Jeariug fire flowers. Around his tenn
1les are q fillet adorned IN font with a
'osette. One of the other charE csefs, in
! agical attitude, holds square vessel,
'esem bling basket, in his left hSnd, ana
l drawn dagger in the right, while on
lis head is worn u rounded cap, at the
J1se of which il horn. The garments
IF both consist of robe falling from the
shoulders to the .nkle, and a short tunic
descending 10 the knee, and
are richly and tastefully decorated wi h
and iriDges, whilst the hair
and beard are arranged with study aud
.aste. The limbs are deijneated With De-
,uIiar accuracy, and the muscles and |
bones faithfully Though somewhat loo
strongly marked.
After proceeding further, the party
reached large room with q high arched |
roof, in which were the entrances 10 |,
many other cham bsrs. This contained
he cTOWning gem of the wOnders-po-
hing less than a huge sarcophseus of
feet long and three feet In
width, minutely sculptnred within aud
without, with seversl hundred figures
an immense funeral proees
Jion and ceremonies relating to the de-
,eased chieftain, with em blems and other
ieyices. The lid was par tally removed.
md revealed a quantity Of bones and
avelins.
In one Of the secluded corners OF this
and few feet below the level
# the floor, Is the arched entrance to an
lnezplored cham er-approached by q
larroW passage wsy down through
li6eous stone stairway. Tde party, af-
er repeated efTorts to effect AZ entrance,
we're obliged TO abandon it. In pleinly
lefined Indian characters, it bears the
ignifcant inscription, All hope aban-
Ion, ye who enter 10" an admonition
Fhicb, while it teBded only to excite and
Deresse the 0uriosity OF the explorers,
vas wisely needed.
The knowledge of this ancient and in.
erestlpg race does not seem, by any
nean', TO have been confined to statuary
md sculpture. Their weapons, and the
eWsl ORNAMENTS With which their peg-
ons were adorned, though priacipally
u copper, are, in some instances, finished
With gold a0d silver, and carved in the
most exquisite manner conceivable, in
ii6adng I0eshaDisal genius and seien-
ldc attainmcnts OF the highest order.
fhe llxury and refinement of an en-
ightened civilization are clearly define
sted 10 these mysterious images and de-
TiCla. rather than fha yFrokossari,,ns.s l., I