Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-02-08
The TiStcri0lS Sepulchre Of an Tn
hHOWn Race.

Some very remarkable discoveries Of
relics of the race that in unrecorded times
occupied this country, have lately been
made in le7e.ing the great mound at East
st. Louis. ill., Al. the relics and remains
found in this have accorded both in char
acter and mode Of deposit with those Of
other mounds throughout the West, and
have thrown nO now Light on the nature
and origin Of their builders. Still more
interesting than these researches is the
unique cave recently found in ezcayating
for the Dubuko and Minnesota railroad, at
Eagle Point Workmen cutting through
the loose limestone at the foot Of tall
bluff, struck anon fat stone, inscribed
with strange hieroglyphics. This they at
once removed. and descending, found them
selves in a passage four feet wide and high
enough to walk iu. which, they fol-
lowed for fifty feet directly into the heart
Of o buH At thi, point removing stil
another large stone. ihc party descended
other ten feet, and then found thomle.yes
In q huge chamber cut out Of the solid
rock, about twenty five ieor square, and
twenty feet high The floor was hard and
perfectly .mooth while the walls were en-
helished with uLccuth characters and hC-
ureS. intended 20 represent birds, trees,
flowers and other natural objects. all carved
in solid limestone. On the south wall APP
rcarcd @ representation ct the sun, and I'M
mcdiately below this the figure Of man
clad in "a loose flowing robe I'm the act of
stepping cut of boar. and holding in his
hand a dove The roof q the chamber
was emheiisbcd 8ith stars, -orpeuts and
chariots. the outlines an being plain and
distinct. Tn the centre OF the apartment
was q fiat slab, and upon removing this a
vault was revealed below, filed with the
skeletons Of some uubuoVu race. IN Ia sitting
or standing posture and almost perfectly
preserved even 10 the smaller bones. All
had originally been inferred with their
faces 10 the southwest. By the side Of
each skeleton stood q small vase of the
most perfect foam ana finish. each filed
with vc.low earth One 5t the vases was
examined, and 40 the base found to contain
some auima. bones and dark particles Of
aniua. matter. which had evidently been
placed IN the -cru.-hre 20 support the de-
parted to the ~r.rit and, q funeral rite IN
obedience to q widespread custom among
many barbaric nations Heads Of arrows.
stone hatchets, ana pieces Of shell perto-
rated with holcs,wore found scattered about
the vault I'D prolusion. The skeletons
were arranged in the form Of of semi
circle. the argc-, being placed in the cen
ter This skeleton. iy actual measure
meut. stood seven feet eight inches high.
The teeth were white and gIistened ike
ivory, while liz tie palm Of enc Of the cut
stretched hands, securely .ockod ia the ar
ticuated bones. rcpo>ed a small pearl orua-
meut. This person had evidently been the
chief of the ribc, and was consequently
buried with unusual bouors. BY the side
Of the Uranium were TWO car ornaments OF
shell. while numerous minute bone and
copper beads covered the floor Of the vault
Vestiges of q fbrous cloth were also dis
covered near the lower extremitieS of the
skeletons, but So thin and impalpable that
they 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 evident
ly been procured from the mines Of Lake
Superior, as the evidences are aecumulat-
ing that these mines were worked at date
long prior to the deluge. Measures are on
foot to remove the skeletons and ali of the
most important articles to the hall of the
Iowa Institute Of Sicence and art in Du-
5uke.