Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-04-22
Wonderful Discoveries.


per, containing an account Of recent wonderful
discoveries made in a cave in that territory b
a party Of which his brother, Mr.. 4. A. Whit
tier, OF Black Foot city was a member
The cave, known as King Solomon's Cave, 70
+ some time has had a more than local reputation
on account Of curiosities which it was sup
posed to contain, and this party, consisting o
four persons, finally concluded to make thor
ough investigation Of its mysteries Ate
preparing themselves with three days ration
and the other necessary outfit, they entered IN,
cave at about nine O'Clock in the morning. --
After going as far as the cave bad ever be
fore been explored they penetrated through ar
opening about four hundred feet, when they sud
denly emerged into magnificent chamber, about
thirtyfve feet high, fifty -four feet in width and
eghty.six feet long. At first sight it seemed
as If this cave had been cut out Of solid rock
by human hands further investigation
however, disclosed the fact that it was nat
ural cave. Within this chamber were found
an old-lashioned Fireplace, and several pieces
of charcoal Leaning against one side OF the
chamber was huge piece Of copper, Gity-scyeu
inches in length and tbirty-six inches wide,
wrought in the form Of shield IL had evil
IDENTIFY been wrought by hand Within cav
ty in the wall was found the petrifed body Of
a giant This pctrilaction was found 90 be nine
/ feet seven and one-half inches in length, thirty
| eight inches across the breast, and two feet in
| thickness, It was covered from head 10 foot
] mil %.
roof and pillars Of the cave. and was hard as
/ limestone. a helmet Of brass or copper. Of g-
gantic proportions, was found upon bis head,
which the corrosive elements Of time had sealed
upon his brow. Near this specimen were found
two mammoth spear heads, eighteen inches
Z in length, and six inches in width at the widest
point.
! On the wall near the tomb we're discovered
/ the pictures Of three ships, and some strange
looking letters, apparently executed with a
sharp pointed instrument There were no Lett
tiers resembling ours, though the writing, ir
interpreted, would doubtless give the history OF
/ the giant king Of the cave A mc smile % tLc
drawing Of the ships and a portion Ut thc
writing on the wall, were transcribed hy the
parties The ships have three mast-, the mid.
die one being only two-thrds the height Of the
outside masts. On the opposite side Of tle
chamber was discovered a huge fiat stone, on
the smooth surface of which was another en-.
craving Of a ship, much larger than tie first,
and near the bow the picture of largo man
with spear in hand, apparently drawn to rep
resent an explorer landing and taking some
country.
/ On removing this huge stone, passage way
was discovered, leading into a smaller chamber,
where the bones Of mrn at least nine feet to
height were discovered, as well as several
skulls Near the centre Of the room wa- q
primitive quartz-crusher, in the shape Of q
huge stone, followed out like mortar.
Around this were a number Of tools, large and
small, and one large ~ledge lay on the edge OF
1 the mortar, just as the workman left il when
he struck his last blow At what precise date
that was, we leave it to other and wiser head.
than ours to determine. The tools On seemed
to be made Of copper, though tempered until
they we're nearly as bard as steel.
Considerable quantities of rich quartz speci-
mems were picked up, aud about half a ton of
good-looking gold quartz lay in a corner. 1t
was the opinion Of the explorers that the
quartz was taken from some part Of the cave,
probably further in the mountains, when a
slide from the mountain above the cave filed
up its mouth, and left these miners to their
destruction, as it is plain to be seen that the
entrance had formerly been much bigger, and