Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1871-01-12
INTERESTING DISCOVERIES.

The Dubuque Iowa Herald of the
26th ultimo contains an account OF 2
strange discovery made on the sat,Ir-
day preceding, by workmen on the
Dubuuue and Minnesota railroad, on a
bluff overlooking the river, a short
distance above a spot called Eagle
Point, The men were ~excavating the
loose stratifled limestone rock, for the
railroad track, and were surprised to
find their progress INSTRUCTED BY q
large, smooth, square stone, the outer
surface of which was partially covered
with hieroglyphics. They succeeded
In removing the stone, when a large
opening, extending into the rock hori-
zontally, was discovered. An explora-
tion was determined upon, and, lights
being procured, six of the men pro,
ceeded into the cave, which they found
to be about four feet wide and nearly
high enough to enable q man to walk
UPRIGHT. When they had advanced
about fifty feet their further progress
was impeded by another large stone,
which they removed, when they de-
scended q flight Of stone steps about
three feet In hight, when they found
themselves In a chamber, apparently
cut out of the solid rock, about twenty
five feet square and twenty high. The
floor was lard and smooth, and cut In
the walls were figures of birds, trees,
flowers and other natural objects.
The south wall of the room was
adorned with q representation OF the
nun, surrounding the figure Of a man
clad in n loose flowing robe, stepping
out Of a boat, with a dove in his nand.
The roof of this strange room was
embellished with distinct outlines OF
stars, chariots and serpents. In the
center of the floor was a flat slab, and
on removing 1t a large vault was dis
covered, which was filled with per-
fectly-preserved skeletons Of human
beings, all either sitting or standing.
By tile side of each stood a small vase,
perfect In form, all OF which were filled
with yellow earth, and one, being
closely examined, was found to contain
bones and dark particles of animal
matter. The impression produced was
that these vases had been placed by the
side Of the inmates Of the vault at the
time Of burial, with sustenance to sup
port them while en- route from this to
another state of being, as Is customary
at this day with some heather tribes,
Heads Of arrows, stone hatchets and
pieces of perforated shells were found
scattered on the floor of the vault,
The skeletons were so placed as to form
asemi-circle, with one, which measured
seven feet eight inches high, In the cen
tire. In the palm Of one Of his out
stretched hands was . small pearl orna'
ment. There were also two ear orla'
mcnts, one each side Of the skull. Yes
tiges Of flbrous cloth were found neal
the lower sxtremities Of leach skeleton,
but 80 thin and worn that 1t crumblet
at the slightest touch. No ornament:
OF gold or silver were found, but small
bone and copper beads and implement:
Of various kinds were strewn about the
floor.
After satisfying their curiosity. the
explorers returned to the land Of the
living, and their strange discovery
being noised abroad, the Herald say:
steps were taken to remove most OF the
contents of this singular cave to the
Iowa Institute of Science and Art.