The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-02-01
Relics Of Past neutrality-suspicious.
i'm the Bowels Of the Earth--TEe Hid-
dos, ,systeries OF Bone Cavc.''

From the Manchester (Tcnnj Democrat, January27
Near this city is n cave commonly known
rs "Bonc Cave from Which has been
b, ought at various times by boys and other
persons who have tried TO explore its hidden
ruccSscs human bones of unusual size. The
popular legends Of the people are TO the e.
feet that it is somehow connected with the
Ucoplc or race which erected the "O!d Stone
Fo,to that stands Il short distance TO the
west Of the town. a few days since som"
bows discovered M almost entire human
skeleton of mammoth size. The bones OF
the forearm were nearly twenty inches long,
While the bone Of the lower part Of tie leg
was longer than III ordinary mans lower
limb, foot and all. The jaw-bonc OF this
.:iant would slip over the face OF al ordinary
man.
Stimulated by these discoveries and laud-
able curiosity To learn the secrets of this
mysterious cavern, on last Thursday SIX gen
tlcmcn, including the editors Of this paper,
made the necessary preparations and started
out TO explore the Bone Cave" After an
cyhiarating walk of two miles through q
clear, bracing air, we reached the entrance OF
| The cave, where. divesting ourselves Of our
ovcrcoats and lighting our torches, we ell
! tered one Of the many passages, but after Il
short scramble we found further advance
stopped by large pieces Of rock that had
iallcn and blocked up the passages. Again
we started, and this time we were correct.
Going back about $50 feet, we found the pass
ago growing more and more narrow, until
We had to 20 it "sllakc fashion" At this
point we found sharp descent leading we
| knew not where, but rocks detached and
sent whirling down, reverbcruted and re-
bounded until the sound was lost in the dis
t.Ince.
After some pounding away of rocks pas
sage was made large enough for one man to
''squirm" through. A tough, long grape
vine was tlien procured and turned down,
and while the upper end was held by two
stalwart men, the senior editor grasped it and
| swung off, determined to find the bottom Of
| that cave, China, or-some other place. At a
| distance Of about twenty-five feet we struck
bottom, but found it was only shelving plat
! form that sloped of and led--no one knew
where. Soon other members of the party
came down, and explorations commenced.
| We found ourselves in q yaulted chamber
about twenty-five feet wide by sixty long,
with passages leading in every direction.
Following one, we rambled Oh for forty OF
| tily feet, and then there appeared one Of the
most beautiful lakes we have ever seen
| The water was clear and sweet, and the
ceiling over the water, studded with sta.
Iactitcs. reflected back the light Of olll
torches like diamonds. We had no means OF
ascertaining the size of the lake, for the banks
were perpendicular, and it seemed like &
pearl set in a bed of rocks. Another passage
which was explored by Is. L. Fleming was
found to extend in direct line towards the
"Old Stone Fort" This passage followed
for o. distance Of nearly two hundred feet
when further progress was stopped by the
passage being filled up with debris. Thi:
passage looks rs if it had been cut from the
solid rock by the hand of man, and gives rise
to the hypothesis that at some time far bach
in the dark ages this cave was used by race
Of men-giants. if you ike-that built the
Stone Fort and the " Mounds" and that thi
underground passage led from the fort to tn,
cave, mile distant. After good look at thi
part Of the cave we returned to daylight
having been underground three hours, anC
traversing over g mile inside of the cave.
After partaking of q lunch kindly sent VI
by q very hospitable lady who lives near
and whose name we have miSlaid-hut no
her kindness-we had short search i'll th'
tunnel known rs the Dcad-Ilouse." Her,
we found many bones, but all in state o
decomposition and decay. This tunnel Of
chamber is coated with soft, loose soil to ;
depth Of foot or more, into which one Cal
plunge stick with perfect ease, while al
the rest Of the cave is solid rock. This sol
is supposed to be decayed animal matter
flesh and bones. We intend shortly TO MAKE
another trip to the cave, and go prepared
to learn more of its mysteries, and if posi-
bic to obtain some key to the genealogy 0
tile race of men who built the "Old Ston
Fort" and inhabited the Bone cave.
SCENE IN A STREEr-C AR.-The Philadelphia