The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-01-09
w o n d e ful Discovery-A Cave of
skeletons Unearthed Near Eagle

FErom the Dubuque Times. Dec. 27.l

fErom the Dubuque Times, Dec. o..
For months past the papers of the North
west have been filed with marvellous &C
counts of the discovery hare and there, o
various relics, supposed to have been man
ufactured by people who have passet
away and left behind no written history
These relics, consisting of skeletons. house
hold utensils, arms, agricultural 1mple
ments, pieces of pottery, ETC., have, In th,
main, been preserved with religious ear,
by the heads of the various scientific insti
tutions, to which they have been consigned
but as yet no satisfactory or even plausible
hypothesis has been advanced concerning
their origin. This Is problem befor'
which the stoutest professors quail ant
acknowledge their weakness, and 1t is there
fore probable that the great mystery vii
never he solved.
On Saturday last discovery fully as won
derful as any yet reported In the NorthWes
was made by the workmen on the Du
buque and Minnesota railroad, near the
base Of one Of the tall, frowning bluffs over
looking the river short distance above
Eagle Point. At the foot of this bluff
squad Of workmen were engaged in exca
waiting in the loose stratafied limestone rock
for the railroad track, and while digging
side Of the bank, they suddenly found then
further pro gress arrested by large, smooth
square Stone, on the outer surface Of which
was inscribed a number Of strange charac
tiers and devices, which none of the unlet
tered workmen of course could make out
Under the instruction of the foreman, anG
by the united eXertlon of q number Of men
the stone was removed, when, to their great
aslnpishmeut, there succeeded q violent
rush of cold air from large, square open
ing, which extended into the bluff in Q
horizontal direction, the air rushing
out with such force that lighted
taper held in the mouth Of the open
ing was exti1guished in a. instant
Inspired by the thoughts of hidden trea
sure, and thinking that perhaps a CACHE
Of some Of the carly explorers had beer
unearthed, it was resolved to explore the
mystery at once, and bring out the strong
chests and precious gems rcposing some
where within. Lights were procured, and
holding candle ir 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 permit
a man to walk by bending over little
Groping their away along cautiously, an6
casting many fearful sslances around them
us though they expected every iiiv22ent to
encounter some dreadful spectre, the party
proceeded along the tunnel, which extend
ed directly into the heart of the bluff about
fifty feet, when they found their way i'm
peded by another large stone. Removing
this, they found flight of stone steps lead.
ing downward distance of ten feet, and
descending these, the party found them.
selves in what appeared to be 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 admira.
ton at this wonderful work. The floor be.
meath was hard and perfectly smooth,
while by the dim light of the candle they
could see that the walls were embellished
with j 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 ap-
peared a representation OF the sun, and i'm.
medlateIy below this was the figure of a
man clad in loose flowing robe, in the act
Of stepping out Of i boat, and holding in
his hand dove. The roof of the chamber
was embeilished with stars, serpents, and
chariots. the outlines Of all beng revealed
plain and distinct. In the centre of the
apartment was large fat slab, and upon
removing this large vault was revealed
below, which was flied 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 noticed that all had originally been
inferred 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 at the base found to contain
some animal bones and dark particles of ami
NAL matter, which had evidently been
placed in the sepulchre to support the de-
parted to the spirit land, a funeral rite in
obedience to widespread custom among
many barbaric nations. Heads of arrows,
stone hatchets, and pieces OF shells perfo-
rated with holes, were found scattered
about the vault in profusion. The skele.
circle, the largest being placed in the cen.
tire. This skeleton, by actual measure.
ment, stood seven feet eight inches high
The teeth were white, and glistened
like ivory, while in the palm of one OF
the outstretched hands, securely locked In
the articulated bones, reposed small pearl
ornament. This person had evidently been
the chief of the tribe, and was, consequent
ly, buried with unusual honors. BY the
side of the Uranium were two ear orna.
ments of shell, while numerous minute
bone and copper beads covered the floor OF
the vault. Ye<tiges of fibrous cloth were
also discovered near the lower extremities
Of each skeleton, but so thin and impalpa.
bic that it crumbled away at the slightest
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.
the chamber Of death and Its ghostly occu'
pants, the men came out, closing the en-.
trance behind them. To what race the
skeletons belong, by whose hand their
tomb was constructed, must ever remain @
mystery. 1t is another leaf looking to the
long ages Of the past, another evidence ol
the fact that Of this world and its founders
we know but very little. s ri. ,r<. ~
We understand that measures are or
foot to remove the skeletons and all of the
most important articles to the hall Of the
Iowa Institute of Science and Art. It II
to be hoped that they will remain here and
not be suffered to depart to enrich the mu
seums of eastern cities. Meanwhile some
of our learned savants would do well tc
investigate the cave and its surroundings
and establish, if possible, the identity O
the skeletons-whether Indian, Mexican
or Mound Digger. 1t will prove an inter.
esting research.
TIE I" Radicals" have not done very
bad thing for Virginia in securing the adop
tion of Constitution in which liberal pro
vision has been made for free schools. II
some counties in the Old Dominion there
Is not single school-house Of any descrip
tion. These counties are no places for Yan