Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1873-10-24
DISCOVERY OF A WONDERFUL
CAVE IN MONTANA.
From the Deer Lodge Independent


From the Deer Lodge Independently
EDITOR INDEPENDENT:
send You by to-day's mail hasty
sketch of our new discovery. have
lust returned from King Solomon Cave,
up Ophir gulch, the existence of which
YOU are no doubt aware, rs it has been
mentioned in some OF the Territorial
papers Yesterday morning, however,
four of us determined upon further in
yestigation to satisfy ourselves, if posi-
BILE, OF the extent Of the cave. The party
was made up of Messrs. Lon. Whittier,
Geo. Bernard, Abe Echols and your
informant. We outfitted with three days
rations, blankets, candles, pitch-pine for
torches, twine, compass, and, in short,
everything necessary to prosecute q thor
ough exploration. We reached there at
9 o'clock, and proceeded to the Middle
Chamber, as it is called, where we made
camp, and after an hours rest, began our
labOrs.
At the end OF the Middle Chamber are
Il number of long, narrow passages. Into
the largest of these we insinuated our
selves, one behind the other, and by
sometimes crawling, and again finding
room to walk half erect, we worked our
way for over 400 feet, when we suddenly
emerged into
MOST MAGNIFICENT CHAMBER,
The ceiling of which we found to be
about 30 feet high, the length of the room
sc feet, and width "a feet. As we held
high our flaming torches, the walls pre-
sented an appearance of beauty and
grandeur it seldom falls to the privilege
OF motal eye to witness. At first sight
we were impressed with the belief that
this wonderful chamber had been cut out
of the solid rock by human hands, for it
did not seem possible that nature could
by accident form 80 rare Temple, with
such a wonderful display OF architec-
ture, beneath the surface Of the earth.
After somewhat recovering from our sur
prise, We proceeded to examine minute
ly this strange place. Immediately to
the right of the entrance, and in the cor
ner close to the wall, we discovered indi-
cations of
AN OLD FIREPLACE.
Several small pieces of charcoal were
picked up, and the blackened floor, as
well as the smoke-stained wall, furnished
evidence that in this hall some person or
persons had at one time taken refuge.
Continuing along the right side, we had
not progressed over 40 feet when we met
with further evidences of the cave having
once been
THE HrDISG-PLAcE OF MEN.
Leaning against the wall was huge
plate of copper, 81 inches in length and
36 inches in width, and about one fourth
Of an inch in thickness. This we took
to be shield, as near the center were
two holes eight inches apart, used doubt
less for inserting a strap through which
to slip the arm. 1t was wrought by hand,
as the marks OF sledge or other heavy
instrument were plainly visible on it.
On discovering this, a feeling akin to
fear came over the party, and we were
almost ready to beat hasty retreat and
leave further investigations to those who
delight to explore tombs and resurrect
the remains of those who lived in the
ages of long ago, when it was intimated
by one of the company that we might
possibly find hidden treasure or trinkets
OF value slowed away in some nook or
corner; and preparing new torches, with
increased energy we renewed the search.
About ten feet beyond where the shield
was found, and eight feet from the floor,
was cavity in the wall ten feet in length,
and over four feet high. Placing few
large stones one upon another, Barnard
climbed mp and held his light in to see
the extent of the opening, but he imme-
diately turned toward us with fright
ened look, and it was some seconds be-
lore he could explain the nature OF the
discovery he had made. But when he
assured us that in that niche lay
PETR1FIED GIANT,
All were eager to get look at him, and
one after another we climbed up and
sazed in. The opening had every indi-
cation Of being natural--no marks of
tools were visible within it. In the
Cascade we'll, in the first chamber, are a
number Of similar caverns, but not so
large). Two Of the party being hoisted
up to take the
DIMENSIONS OF THE MONSTER MAN,
He was found to be 8 feet TX inches in
length, 50 inches across the breast and
two feet deep. He was covered from
head to foot with a coating, from one to
two inches in thickness, similar to that
found on the roofs and pillars, in num-
ber of places, hard as limestone; and
along the sides this casing, as it appeared
at first to be, had united with the rock
on which it lay, leaving this relic of the
Stone Age, or some other distant age,
literally
ENcAsED IN COFFIN OF STONE.
A helmet Of brass or copper, of gigan-
tic proportions, was upon his head,
which the corrosive elements of Time has
sealed to his brow. 1t is the most per-
feet petriication have ever seen-the
whole body being as solid as though cut
out of block of marble. Near this rare
specimen, were found
TWO MAMMOTH sPEAR-HEADs,
Eighteen inches in length and six inches
In width at the widest point. One of them
was intended to be fastened in q han
Ole, after the fashion of an arrowhead,
while the other had socket of silver in.
10 which to insert huge pole or handle.
Near by. on the floor, was picked up
large hook made of fbone-probably man.
niactured from the tusk of some Levia.
than Of the land-which one of the party
suggested was a portion Of the war ac-
eoutrements of the giant. as such. q
weapon on the end of 40-foot pole, in
the hands of active attendants, would be
success in dragging out the victims of
the great warrior a. fast as he slew them,
and by this means kept the way clear.
on the wall near the tomb we discov.
cred some strange looking letters, or
characters of some kind, and the
PICTURES OF THREE SHIPS,
apparently having been executed with a
sharp-pointed instrument There were
no hgures resembling ours, though I
navo no doubt the writing, If ifinterprsted,
would give the history of the giant king
ol the cave, whose body lay stone-dead
oeiore us. Inclosed send fac-simile
oi the drawings Of the ships, and por-
tion OF the writing on the wall. The
snips have three masts, the middle one
oeing only two-thirds the height of the
outside masts. 80 -
on the opposite side Of the room from
rom this, we discovered a huge fat stone
le0nlug RQAinst tho walI n, tba sn,ooth