Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-01-10
WONDERFUL Discoveries
NEAR DUBUQUE.
A Cave OF skcletons-One or them Seven Fee,
Eight Inches High.

Oh oaturuay last discovery fully
as wonderful as any yet reported in
the Northwest was made bv the
workmen on the Dubdoue q Mime
sofa railroad, near the base of one of
the tall, frowning bluffs overlook
ing the river, a short distance above
Eagle Point At the foot of this
bluff squad of workmen were enga-
ged in excavating in the loose STRAIT
efied limestone rock for the railroad
track, and while digging away with
pick, spade and crowbar in the side
of the bank, they suddenly found
their further progress arrested by
large smooth square stone, on the
outer surface of which was inscribed
number Of strange characters and
devices, which none Of the unletter-
cd workmen of course could make
out. Under tho instruction of the
foreman, and by the united exertion
of number of mon, the stone was
removed, when, to their great aston
ishment, there succeeded a violent
rush of cold air, from large square
opening, which extented into the
bluff ina horizontal direction, the air
rushing out with such force that
lighted taper held in the mouth of the
opening was extinguished in an in
slant. Inspired by the thoughts of
hidden treasure, and thinking that
perhaps cache of some % the early
explorers had been unearthed, 1t was
resolved to explore the my stery at
once, and bring out the strong chests
and precious gems reposing some
where within. Lights were pro-
cured, and holding a candle in each
hand five mon, headed by the fore
man, set out to explore the subter-
ranean passage, which was about
four feet wide and high enough to
permit a man TO walk by bending
over a little. Cropping their way
along cautiously, and casting many
fearful glances around them as
though they expected every mo-
ment to encounter some dreadful
spectre, the party proceeded along
the tunnel, which extended directly
into the heart Of the bluff about fifty
feet when they found their way inn
peded by another large stone. Re-
moving this, they found a flight of
stone steps leading downward dis
lance of ten feet, and decending
these, the party found themselves in
what appeared to be q huge cham Der,
cut out of the solid rock, about
twenty-five feet square, and twenty
feet high For moment the men
stood lost in admiration of this won
derful work The floor beneath was
hard and perfectly smooth, while by
the dim light Of the candles they
could see that the walls were embel-
lshed with a multitude of uncouth
characters and figures, intended to
represent birds, trees, flowers and
other natural objects, all carved in
solid limestone. On the south wall
appeared a representation Of the sun,
and Immediately below this was the
figure OF man clad in loose flow
ing robe, in the act of stepping out
of a boat, and holding in his hand a
dove. The roof OF the chamber was
embelished with stars serpents and
and chariots, the out lines of all be-
ing revealed plain and distinct. In
the centre of the apartment was
large fiat slab, and upon removing
this large vault was revealed below,
which was filled with the skeletons
of some unknown race all of them
being in sitting or standing posture
and almost perfectly preserved, even
to the smaller bones. 1t was notic-
ed that all had originally been inter-
red with their faces to the southwest
BY the side of each skeleton stood
small vase Of the most perfect form
and finish, each being filled with
species Of yellow colored earth
One of the vases was examined, and
at the base found to contain some an
imal bones and dark particles of ami
mai matter, which had evidently been
placed in the sepulcher to support the
departed TO the spirit land, funeral
rite in obedience to a wide spread
custom among many barbaric ma
tons. Heads Of arrows, stone hatch
cts, and pieces of shells perforated
with holes, were found scattered
about the vault in profusion. The
skeletons were arranged ia the form
of a semi-circle, the largest being
placed in the center. This skeleton
by actual measurement, stood seven
feet eight inches high. The teath
were white and glistened like ivory,
while in the palm Of one of the out.
stretched hands, securely locked in
the articulated bones, reposed
small pearl ornament. This person
had evidently been the chief of the
tribe, and was consequently buried
with unusual hOnors. By the side
of the Uranium were two ear orna-
ments of shell, while numerous min
ute bone and copper beads, covered
the floor of the vault. Vestiges of
fbrous cloth were also discovered
near the lower extremties of each
skeleton, but so thin and inpal pable
that it crumbled away at the slight
est touch. No ornaments of gold
or silver were found, but various
implements in copper were scattered
thickly about which had evidently
been procured from the mines of
lake Superior, as the evidences are
accommodating that these mines
were worked at a date long prior TO
the deluge.
After making a thorough exami-
nation of the chamber of death and
its ghostly occupants, the men came
out, closing the entrance behind |
them. To what race the skeletons
belong, by whose hands their tomb
was constructed. must ever remain
a mystery. is another leaf look
ing to the long ages of the past, an
other evidence of the fact that of
this world and it's founders we know |
but very little.