The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-07-13


to the entrance and guides us through.
A crop Of heavy oats nearly ready for
harvesting was growing on the field.
The entrance is mere stairway with q
slight roofing, and leads us down thirty
feet under ground, where commence pas
sages about three feet wide cut through a
soft took, with masonry in various places
where large vaults are formed In the
sides of the passages. recesses are hewn
for receiving the bodies, laid in, parallel
to the passage--the recesses being usually
only large enough to receive them, the
roof part sloping down to the bottom
on the back side. Numerous small frag-
ments of bones still remain and the
Wondering ashes. The fragments crum-
BILE to dust on being taken up. We found
a small remnant of jawbone, contain
| ing three or four teeth, apparently those
of a child, which we secured, but the bone
soon crumbled, leaving the teeth only.
We also found the upper part of one skull
in very good state of preservation,
which we were determined to bring away
and nothing but the determined obstina-
cy of the guide prevented We tried
afterwards to steal it when passing by it,
but were unsuccessful. Our orthodox
friend, the Rev. Dr., may call in question
our morals but we must for this occasion
beg his indulgence, We know it is a
heinous offence to rob grave, but we
feel reckless under such circumstances.
The passages branch off in various direc-
tons and become very intricate and ex
tensive, so much so that it is not difficult
to loose the way. In the family vaults,
walls are decorated with paintings, some
of which are quite distinct. Persons of
distinction seem to have been inclosed in
stone sarcophagi, and the remains of two
bodies have been placed under glass
coVers-one resembling mummy, the
other nearly persisted. The common
/
containing an inscription, most Of which
weEe quite distinct where not broken to
pieces. Most of them, however, had been
opened. Our guide furnished us with
short pieces of candles only and was
anxious to hurry us through, but we lin
gered until our candle burned out, and
brought piece Of a marble sarcophagus
The front and cover of the sarcophagi are
usually deliberately carved, in figures rep
resenting some scene in life. Fees one
franc.
On the same Via is situated the tomb
Of the Scipios, which consists Of cata-
combs of small extent. The works of
this tomb are partially above ground, and
below is considerable brick mason work
The first of the Scipios buried here was
Roman Consul about three hundred B.
G. Many of the youngest Scipios and
other persons of distinction were buried
here as the Inscriptions indicate, which
are still legible. To those who are at
all conversant with Roman history, these
remains are highly interesting. Many of
the tombs have been opened and found to
contain coins and other articles. We
were entrusted with an GRAND by our
friend Dresser to procure some specimens
of European coins for him, and we hope
come of these which we secured at mod.
crate prices will be acceptable. We know
they must be genuine for the lettering is
sufficiently distinct to showSthey are Ro-
man. The old lady ofwhom we bought
| them was honest. Fee, Is Ira. s
! An ancient work of more than twoI
thousand years, and in state of good
preservation is sewer called Cloacel
Maxima. It was built for the purpose of
draining the low ground adjacent to the
liest known application of the arch prin-
APPLE to any works OF Rome. Here we
came near witnessing a "scrimmage."
Two young soldiers were beating the
tenor drums so violently that nothing
else could be heard, and the old man W no
showed us the work requested them to
1desist Some angry words ensued, when
the boys both dropping their drums
rushed at the old man with fury threaten
ing all manner of vengeance. Our friend
Pojero and ourself interfered, and it was
with much difficulty we prevented scene
of violence. - M &
After several days wandering amid
the ruins of Forum, palaces, catacombs,
collisseum, &C., for short time, we turn
ed our attention to civilized life, and as
we had kind of itching vanity to call
on the Rev. Mr.. Mastai Ferretti (some-
times nicknamed Plus Ky we began to