The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-05-09
What Is 9te-A Western Wonder for
Wiaeacres.
(rrom the s.. Paul Pioneer, Apral all !.

from the Ss. Paul Pioneer, April II. -
A few days since, while the workmen
were engaged in excavating for the cellar Of
the new residence to be erected by MajoS
J. G. Becht, corner Of Ramsey and Wilkin
streets, they unearthed or exposed what
is ?" that has and is attracting great at
tention from our scientific sayans and lovers
understanding of the wonder brought to
light it should be stated that the eXcava-
tion is being made through rocky substra-
tum similar TO that wbicn can now be seen
in the excavation on the corner Of Waba-
shaw and Seventh streets, and which un-
deries the whole upper portion of the city.
At The time the discovery was made the
work1nen We're down nearly three feet III
the rock, when, upon removing solid
slab OF stone about four inches iii
thickness and nearly three feet square, q
hole, walled with red-colored brick, leading
Ito the bowels of the earth, was expo i.
There was but one course OF brick, the ends
piping, leaS; cavity or hole about six
iuche square. The workmen jmmc uiately
ci'lcd the attention OF 4 gentleman stand
u" by, who, a..cr'a brief examination,
With some Others who had been drawn to
the spo., proceeded to make thorough eS-
p'orat;on. At tirSt small stones were drop
y d in. but nothing was gained by this, the
S'oncS Giving for,h no sound indicating bot
tom. IA 'inu in this. 4 clo. be- liue was Sc
cured, and tying hammer to one cad 1t
W. LIT down into the hole. DoNl, down,
| went ,hc haTTer, until ln2ny the ror2
s .kenHd, showing tilat bottom or an oc-
81. 'ct;on o. ONE I'd had been reached.
| Tee $ OK Of the rone was then ken up
and the rope II keu IT the mouth Of the
c t.ty, when it wa1 pulled up and mea
urcd, show 1ca depth }, n..y feet. On an eX-
ar;ra,on 0. the hammer notf'rg WIS
forlu he, 'lg 50 it showing moi ,.Lre or
:r .bny TO { ve an idc, Of what the Oh.
ST lction wa. A%a:r the barDer was
lowered '1to the cav .ty, reaching the same
deDih =, ! FORE, when it Yves drawn up
quietly. 'me e;rht ,et and suddenly drop
pea. When it C ne il cont.ct " ith the o.
ne d al tie mouth of the c-yity, .oem lg
to 'rt'c te tb-t the p .:-'e 1t Vh.t depth
We merely clog, cd up, and th.t the re L
bottom i id not been re e! d. The expert
ment We repH-tc0 cveral tire. but V th
no other re 'rlt. The han'rer WA" then
drawn up and a lirh; d p6'e att,ch d
to the rope and slowly lowered 'lto The
hole. BY It's mc-ns It was t1 .of-
erad thu the b.icll-work extonGed do" IL
w;rd about TED fcHS and th..t 'om I It
poi II the caNity was .oi ned olit OF the s. nd
rock, circular in iorm, amp. emily about
eight 'nche; in diameter. out beyond tn :
nothing could be discovered. o.lce that
time the place b.S been 'Sited by crowds,
among them were rany members of the
Historical Socie.y and the Academy OF
Natural Science. Of cou,>e speculation is
rife as 10 the object for which the eXcava-
ton was made, now the rock fol nation
came over the mouth, the means by which
the bricks were placed IN their posit'oi,
when it WAS done and by whom. nearly as
many theories being advanced as there nave
n.~ n visitors on the ground. The facts we
have given, and when some Of our iSe
men" study out ant. decide on the ways
aux, wherefores, we will siye those, III IL
'shed us.