Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1871-02-03
A CHASTITY Discovery.
A CAVE OF SKELETONS uNEARTHED


For months past the papers of the
Northwest have been filled with marvel
lous accounts of the discovery here and
there of various relics, supposed to have
been manufactured by people who had
passed away and left behind no written
history. These relics, consisting of skel-
etons, household utensils, arms, agricul-
tural implements, pieces of pottery, etc,
have in the main been preserved with re-
ligious care by the heads of the various
scientific institutions to which they have
been consigned, butas yet no satisfactory
or even plausible hypothesis has been ad-
vanced concerning their origin.
On Saturday last, says the Dubuque
Times of the 9th, discovery fully as
wonderful as any yet reported in the
northwest was made by the workmen on
the Dubuque and Minnesota Railroad.
near the base of one of the tall frowning
bluffs overlooking the river, short dis
tance above Eagle Point. At the foo, of
this bluff squad of workmen were en-.
gagged in excavating in the loose strait
lied limestone rock for the railroad track
and while digging away with pick, and
spade and crowbar in the side of the
bank, they suddenly found their further
progress arrested by large square
smooth stone, on the outer surface of
which was inscribed number of strange
characters and devices, which none Of
the unlettered workmen of course could
make out. Under the instruction of the
foreman, and by the united exertion of a
number OF men, the stone was removed,
when. to their great astonishment, there
succeeded a violent rush of cold air,
from large square opening, which ex-
tended into the bluffs in horizontal di-
rection, the air rushing out with such
force that a lighted taper held in the
mouth Of the opening was extinguished
in an instant. Inspired by the thoughts
of hidden treasure, and that perhaps
"cache" of some of the early explorers
had been unearthed, it was resolved to
explore the mystery at once, and bring
out the strong chests and precious gems
reposing somewhere within.
Lights were procured, and, holding a
candle in each hand, five men, headed
by the foreman, set out to explore the
subterranean passage, which was about
four feet wide, and high enough to per-
init man to walk by bending over
little. Cropping their way along cautious
ly. and casting many fearful glances
around them as though they expected
every moment to encounter some dread
ful spectre, the party proceeded along
the tunnel which extended directly into
the heart of the bluff about fifty feet,
when they found their way impeded by
another large stone. Removing this,
they found flight of stone steps leading
downward distance of ten feet, and de-
scending these the party found them
selves in what appeared to be huge
chamber, cut out of the solid rock, about
twenty-five feet square and twenty feet
high. For a moment the men stood lost
in admiration at this wonderful work.
The floor beneath was hard and perfectly
smooth, while by the dim light of the
candies they could see that the walls
were embellished with a multitude Of
uncouth characters, intended to represen
flowers, birds, trees and other natural OBJ
jects, all carved in solid limestone. On
the south wall appeared a representation
of the sun, and Immediately below this
was man clad in loose flowing robe,
in the Act of stepping out of boat, and
holding in his hand dove.
The roof of the chamber was embel-
lished with stars, serpents and chariots,
the outlines ofall being revealed plainly
and distinctly. In the centre of the
apartment was large fat slab and up-
on removing this a large vault was re-
vealed below which was filled with the
skeletons Of some unknown race, all of
them being in sitting or standing pos
ture and almost perfectly preserved,
even to the smaller bones. It was ns-
ticed that all bad originally been inter-
ec 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 ex-
amined, and the bese found to contain
some animal bones and dark particles of
animal matter, which had evidently been |
placed in the sepulchre to support the
departed to the spirit-land, funeral rite !
in obedience to the wide spread customs |
among the many barbaric nations
Heads of arrows, stone batcheis and !
pieces of shells perforated with holes
were found scattered about the vault in |
profusion. The skeletons were arranged
in the form Of semi-circle, the largest
being placed in the centre Tbis skoIa-