Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-01-28
RELICS OF APAST PEOPLE.
ExpIOratiOns in the Bowls Of the
RRrth.-The Hidden Mysteries of

ExpIOratiOns in the Bowls OF the
Rarth.-The Hidden Mysteries of
ssBOne Cave"
From the Manchester Temp Democrat, Jan. ..
Near this city is a cave commonly known
as "Bone Cave" from which has been
brought at various times by boys and other
persons who have tried to explore its hid
den recesses, human bones OF unusual size.
The popular legends Of the people are to the
effect that it is somehow connected with the
people or race which erected the ''Old Stone
Fort" that stands a short distance to the
west of the town. 4 few days since some
bows discovered an 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 the leg
was longer than an ordinary mans lower
limb. foot and AN. The jaw bone Of this
Giant would slip over the face of an OrdIna-
~ man. Stimulated by these discoveries,
and laudable curiosity to learn the secrets
ofthis mysterious cavern, onlast thursday,
six gentlemen, including the editors OF TINS
paper, made the necessary preparations ana
started out to explore the 'Boue Cave"
After an celebrating walk Of two miles
through a clear, bracing air, we reached,
the entrance Of the cave, where, dlVeSJlhS
ourselves Of Our OvercOats and lighting our
torches, we entered one Of the many pas
sages, but after a short scramble, we found
further advance stopped by large pieces OF
of rock that had fallen and blocked up the
passages. Again We started, and tins time
we were correct. Going back about $50
feet we found the passage growing more
and more narrow; until we had TO 20
"suake fashion" At this point we found
where. but rocks detached and sent whlTl-
ING down, reverberated and Tebounded I'M
til the sound was lost in the distance. At
ter some pounding away of rocks, a pas
SAGE was made large enough for one man TO
"sGuirm" through. A tough, long grape
vine was then procured, and turned down,
and while the upper end was held by two
stalwart men: the senior editor grasped 1t
and swung off determined to find the bot
tom of that cave, China, Or-some other
Mace. At a distance Of about TIVE nty-hye
feet we struck bottom, but found it was
only shelving platform that Sloped of and
led-no one knew where. Soon other
members of the party came down, and eX-
vibrations commenced. We found our
selves in a yaulted chamber about twenty
five feet wide by sixty long, with passages
leading in every direction. Following one,
we rambled on for forty or fifty feet and
then there appeared one Of the most
beautiful lakes We have ever seen. The
water was clear and sweet, and the cell
ing over the water studded with stalac-
tites, reflected back the light Of our
torches like diamonds. We had no
means of asceItaiug the size
of the lake, for the banks were
perperd Cular, and it seemed like peal
iet in a bed of rocks. Another passage
which was explored by 3. T. Fleming, was
found to extend in a direct line towards the
"Old Stone Fort" This passage followed
for a distance Of nearly 200 feet, when
further progress was stopped Toy the passage
being filed up with debris. his passage
looks as if il had been cut from the solid
lock bv the hand Of man, and gives rise 10
the hypothesis that at some time, Tar back
in the dark ages this cave was used 10y a
race of men-giants, II you lNe-,haI punt
the Stone Fort and the "MOunGs, and mat
this underground passage led from the + orr
TO the Cave, mile distant. Alter SOou
look AT this part Of the cave, We returned
to daylight, having been underground LhIee
hours. and traversing over a mile inside OF
the cave. After partaking OF a lunch klIid-
" sent us by a very hospitable lady who
lives noar.and whose name we have Inislaid
but not her kindneSS-we had short
search in the tunnel known rs the "Dead
House." Here we found many bones, but
all in state Of decomposition and decay.
This tunnel or chamber is coated with soft,
loose soil to a depth of a foot or more, into
which one can plunge a stick with perfect
ease, while all the rest of the cave IS solid
rock. This soil is supposed to be decayed
animal matter-fesb and bones. We in
tend shortly to make another trip to the
cave. and go prepared to learn more Of its
mysteries. and if possible, to obtain some
kew to the genealogy of the race of men
who built the "Old Stone Fort and inhab-
tied the Bone Cave.